The Master of Architectural Science (Sustainable Design) enables you to develop efficient and environmentally responsive buildings and to retrofit existing buildings to meet today’s environmental demands. With this knowledge, you graduate as a sustainability expert and can choose from a range of career pathways include architecture, property development, construction or urban planning.
Sustainable designers are critical to ensuring that the plans on paper become a reality during and after construction. Your skills in sustainable design are enhanced through the school’s expertise in the built environment. Our ‘first principles’ approach enables you not just to perform energy analyses and building assessments, but also to critique and develop further the tools and approaches required for sustainable building.
Your research-leading lecturers take you on site visits and expose you to a range of international collaborators. We leverage our extensive links with industry to bring you internship opportunities with leading businesses and consultancies. You can use a wide range of electives to pursue your interests in the application of sustainable design theories and methods in architecture, planning, urban design, building services and facilities management.
The field of Architectural Science is enjoying rapid and exciting technological innovations. With extensive experience analysing and controlling the physical phenomena affecting buildings, practitioners of Architectural Science have a profound impact on the function, aesthetics and efficiency of architectural spaces.
Through interdisciplinary access to our leading academic researchers and laboratories, our program emphasises the knowledge and critical thinking skills that will enable students to adapt to—and lead—future changes in our built environment.
Most Sustainable Design core units are taught in block mode intensives over several full days rather than weekly lectures.
Indicative course progression
Unit code | Unit of study | Sem | CP |
DESC9200 | Introduction to Architectural Science | 1 | 6 |
DESC9014 | Building Construction Technology | 1 | 6 |
DESC9147 | Sustainable Building Design Principles | 1 | 6 |
Elective | 1 | 6 | |
DESC9169 | Daylight in Buildings | 2 | 6 |
DESC9201 | Indoor Environmental Quality | 2 | 6 |
ARCH9080 | Urban Ecology, Design and Planning | 2 | 6 |
Elective | 2 | 6 |
Unit code | Unit of study | Sem | CP |
DESC9148 | Sustainable Building Design Practice | 1 | 6 |
DESC9015 | Building Energy Analysis | 1 | 6 |
Elective | 1 | 6 | |
Elective | 1 | 6 |
Credit points required per semester: 24
Indicative progression based on a 72 credit point master’s degree with a Semester 1 enrolment.
A successful applicant for admission to the Master in Architectural Science will have a bachelor's degree or possess experience which is considered to demonstrate the knowledge and aptitude required to undertake the course.
Students who complete the Graduate Certificate with a WAM of 70 or higher are able to apply to to continue into the Master in Architectural Science in the same course stream.
This program can be taken with a secondary stream in combination with another Architectural Science Program. To undertake a double degree, the core units from the secondary degree are generally taken as the electives in the primary degree.
Please see the Handbook for enrolment advice for secondary stream structure, and apply through the specific double specialisation course page.
Masters students may also opt to graduate with a lower level of certification once the required units are complete.
Please note that students may commence studies in Semester 2, however some courses are only available in part-time capacity due to the units on offer.
Embarking on a research degree at the University of Sydney is an opportunity to work alongside some of the world’s brightest and most accomplished academics.
Our program produces graduates who are leaders in sustainable design in many of the best-known professional firms and consultancies across Australia and Internationally.
Indicative Postgraduate Student Contribution Amount
The student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.
Indicative Postgraduate Domestic Tuition Fee
The tuition fee for a domestic postgraduate student is an indication only of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount.
Annual review and fee increase
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the student contribution and/or course fee. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protected clothing and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html.
Visa/MasterCard surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa or MasterCard. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
Indicative International Tuition Fees for Postgraduate Students
The tuition fee for international postgraduate students is an indication only of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the tuition fees. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html. In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.
Visa/MasterCard surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa or MasterCard. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.