University of Oulu

Master of Science in Architecture

Welcome to meet and chat with the University of Oulu students and staff to hear about our English-taught degree programmes, doctoral training and the study experience we offer for you in Finland under the Northern lights.

Master’s Program in Architecture, Master of Science (Architecture) (2 years)

• Northernmost architectural school in the world.
• Design-oriented study program.
• Leads to an EU-notified professional architect’s degree.

The international master’s degree program in Architecture is a two-year design-oriented study program. The courses are taught by professionals with a wide range of expertise in the field of architecture and urban design. Professors of the school are internationally recognized architects actively involved in the profession and architectural debate both in Finland and internationally.

The degree awarded is an architect’s professional degree, providing the right to practice the architect’s profession in Finland and the European Union according to the national laws and decrees.

The study program provides students with skills, knowledge, and advanced tools in:

• Design of Urban Areas and Spaces
• Public Building Design
• Detailing of Buildings and Urban Structures
• Use of Nordic Building Materials (e.g. wood)
• Architectural Lighting
• Interior Design
• Research and Theory of Architecture
• Academic Writing
• Teamwork and Presentation

Courses are organized as semester-long integrated studio projects, ranging from large-scale urban design tasks to designing public buildings, as well as detailing of buildings and urban structures:

• Design-led Urban Renewal
• Design of Public Buildings
• Advanced Architectural Design
• Thesis project

Studies are carried out both individually and in multicultural teams in an international working environment. Nordic nature, climate, and light circumstances offer a living laboratory for lighting experiments in a 1:1 scale. Varying courses and additional study options give possibilities to integrate student competitions or workshops in the student’s individual study plan.

The School of Architecture has recently become a part of the university’s main campus in Linnanmaa, and will at the beginning of the year 2018 move into tailored and newly renovated premises on the campus.

The school has its own computer labs for architecture students and workshops for professional model making. In Fab Lab Oulu the university provides common facilities, tools, and instruction for digital fabrication and 2D and 3D laser cutting.

Career prospects

After graduation, the students are eligible to carry on to doctoral studies at the University of Oulu. Most architects work as building designers and urban designers. Additional career options for an architect may be:

• Entrepreneur
• Expert
• Teacher
• Researcher
• Concept designer
• Visualizer