Environmental Architecture MA
London, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
GBP 39,200 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* as the RCA received a high number of applications we encourage you to apply as early as possible to secure your place on your programme.
** overseas and EU
Key Summary
About: The MA in Environmental Architecture at the Royal College of Art explores design-led, field-focused research that reconfigures co-dependence between life forms and earth systems. You’ll study transdisciplinary methods combining architectural and ethnographic research, technoscientific tools for environmental data, histories of environmental change, and climate justice. The programme offers practice mentorship, access to RCA’s interdisciplinary networks, and open days for applicants.
Career Outcomes: Graduates take roles in architecture, urban design, territorial planning, environmental consultancy, policy, community engagement and research. Many launch studios or enterprises. InnovationRCA supports incubation and commercialization. Career opportunities include environmental architect, urban designer, sustainability consultant, researcher, founder.
To provide prospective students with opportunities to find out about the RCA experience and programs we run several on-campus and online open days as well as events in various countries around the world. You can find out about upcoming events or watch replays of past open days on the RCA website.
The program aims to constitute a new field of knowledge production and practice concerned with the design of alternative forms of co-dependence between life forms and earth systems. The MA in Environmental Architecture is a design-led and field-focused course that emphasizes a transdisciplinary approach to design research. The program proposes a unique approach to environmental architecture education that brings together architectural and ethnographic research methods, with the use of technoscientific tools for analyzing, classifying, and producing environmental data.
At the same time, students are exposed to the perspectives of those on the frontlines of environmental struggles across the world, to histories and theories of environmental change, and to the most recent advances in the related fields of environmental law and climate justice.
What will I learn?
The MA Environmental Architecture program aims to expand the scope and content of design-led research in the fields of architecture, environmental studies, and territorial management. Possible areas of inquiry can include sustainable forms of urbanization; concepts of stewardship and care for nature; environmental change and its effect on migration and settlement patterns; climate justice adaptation to land use practices; impacts of resource extraction on ecosystems; environmental impacts of the energy transition; post-development and degrowth; indigenous struggles for land and environments; among many others.
Students in the MA Environmental Architecture program will have the opportunity to pursue a degree within a world-leading art and design institution and to access the rich culture of radical and experimental interdisciplinary work at the Royal College of Art. Moreover, the program will help students establish a network of colleagues and mentors by offering them the opportunity to connect to leading figures in Environmental Architecture both in London and internationally through an innovative practice mentorship scheme.
Meet the RCA
We host a range of online and on-campus open days as well as recruitment events in cities around the world. These events can include 1-to-1 meetings and portfolio advice, informal chats, presentations, and sessions with staff, students, and alumni.
Check the RCA event webpage for details of upcoming events.
Please refer to the programme webpage for the most accurate and up-to-date information about the programme, its structure, modules and any updates or changes.
The MA Environmental Architecture at the RCA is a design-led, field-focused programme that expands the scope of architectural research by exploring alternative forms of co-dependency between life forms and earth systems. Through long-term, community-engaged research studios situated in frontline environmental contexts, you work alongside activists, NGOs, academics and local stakeholders to address resource extraction, climate justice and ecological transformation. Seminars on topics such as “Metabolic Rifts” and “Critical Future Scenarios” complement design interventions, while your independent research project enables you to develop speculative, evidence-based architectural proposals grounded in critical ecological thinking.
Programme structure
Term 1
In term1, you take Research Studio I: Architectures of Extraction, which introduces design-based research methodologies focused on the role of resource extraction in climate and environmental crises.
You also take Seminar I: Metabolic Rifts, exploring theories of environmental change and architecture’s role in mitigation, delivered through lectures, workshops, and a class dialogue submission.
Additionally, Media Studies I, provides a critical engagement with historical and contemporary media practices through lectures, tutorials and workshops.
Term2
In term2, you take Research Studio II: Environmental Interventions, where you develop a design strategy for intervention in your chosen site, considering stakeholder scenarios and environmental, economic or political externalities.
You also take Seminar II: Critical Future Scenarios, which introduces scenario planning tools and worldbuilding, using roundtables, mapping exercises and reflective writing.
In the same term, you choose one school-wide elective.
Term3
In term3, you take an Independent Research Project, developing a self-directed design research project from your Term2 proposal. It culminates with a public presentation or exhibition and allows use of a variety of media (drawing, film, model-making, animation) to communicate complex environmental ideas.
AcrossRCA
During the first two terms, you participate in the AcrossRCA college-wide unit, collaborating with students from other programmes on a self-initiated themed project that addresses cultural, social, environmental or economic issues.
Core Skills
The Core Skills unit supports the development of academic and professional skills for your personal projects and beyond in your professional practice and career. It focuses on key skills for your discipline through three themes: Making Meaning (focusing on critical thinking and research), Making Together (focusing on collaboration and inclusive practice), and Making Public (focusing on communication, engagement and leadership).
The Royal College of Art is the world’s leading postgraduate art and design university, providing students with unrivalled opportunities to develop their practice, build their networks, enhance their career and to deliver art and design projects that transform the world.
For 12 consecutive years, the RCA has been ranked as the world’s number 1 art & design university in the QS World University subject rankings (2015-2026) - attracting artists, designers and communicators from across the globe.
What will I learn?
The MA Environmental Architecture programme aims to expand the scope and content of design-led research in the field of architecture, environmental studies and territorial management. Possible areas of inquiry can include: sustainable forms of urbanisation; concepts of stewardship and care for nature; environmental change and its effect on migration and settlement patterns; climate justice adaptation to land use practices; impacts of resource extraction on ecosystems; environmental impacts of the energy transition; post-development and degrowth; indigenous struggles for land and environments; among many others.
Students in the MA Environmental Architecture programme will have the opportunity to pursue a degree within a world-leading art and design institution, and to access the rich culture of radical and experimental interdisciplinary work at the Royal College of Art. Moreover, the programme will help students to establish a network of colleagues and mentors by offering them the opportunity of connecting to leading figures in Environmental Architecture both in London and internationally through an innovative practice mentorship scheme.
RCA offers a wide range of funding opportunities to support postgraduate study, including a variety of tuition fee and living cost scholarships.
Beyond financial support, many of these scholarships also provide networking opportunities with peers, partnership organisations and professional bodies to enhance your experience.
You can find more information about available scholarships and their eligibility criteria in the link below.
What types of jobs to graduates go on to?
The RCA has consistently produced world leaders in the fields of creative endeavour – acting as a launchpad for the careers of major international figures.
Our alumni shape the world – whether founding their own studios and brands, pushing the boundaries of possibility through their start-ups or taking on impressive roles with global companies across a wide range of disciplines.
What if they want to start their own business?
Our creative students have ambitions of being their own boss and making their own decisions, so launch their own enterprises or studios either soon after graduating or any some time employed in industry. Many did not intend to start their studies considering themselves entrepreneurs but discovered an idea during their studies with their fellow students that they believe would make a successful business. InnovationRCA – the College’s centre for student and graduate enterprise and entrepreneurship – supports students and recent graduates to transform compelling ideas into successful businesses, providing incubation, intellectual property and commercialisation support.
Students from over 70 countries come to the RCA. We welcome applications from talented, creative individuals from all over the world. Many are from backgrounds you might expect such as art, design, architecture, communications, media and humanities. Others come from disciplines as broad as engineering, social sciences, technology, toolmaking, medicine, business, law, physics, life coaching, economics, teaching, music, etc. The list is endless. What RCA students share is the potential, commitment and ambition to make change in the world through art and design.