Digital Architecture and Construction MSc
About this course
Digital technologies have altered the field of architecture significantly in recent years, resulting in an increasing demand for digital specialists in the profession.
This course will enable students to challenge current and prevailing digital orthodoxy in the built environment. You'll determine strategies to future-proof design and construction processes and acquire the digital theoretical, multi-disciplinary, technology and design management skills needed to become leaders in the field of digital architecture and construction.
The MSc in Digital Architecture and Construction strengthens the connection between design concepts, digital technologies, and real-world applications within the built environment. The course emphasises the knowledge, methodologies, and reasoning behind software, preparing you to adapt to any existing or emerging technologies in the architecture and construction industries. This includes our key specialisms: artificial intelligence (AI), computational design, parametric modelling, physical computing, mixed-reality (VR/AR), building information modelling (BIM), building performance analysis, historical building information modelling (HBIM), rapid prototyping, and sustainability.
Keep up to date! Follow our MSc Digital Architecture and Construction Instagram channel to find out more about the course, our projects and students.
Main image: Antreas Neofytou student work
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Based in our Grade II* listed Gothic Revival Style Arkwright building, you'll work with our specialist facilities and design studios, including our Creative and Virtual Technologies lab. -
2nd most sustainable university in the world (UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2024). -
Showcase your work at our annual final year degree show, attended by architecture professionals, industry experts and potential employers. -
Hear from visiting experts and discuss contemporary issues in architecture. Our recent industry speakers have included a number of RIBA Stirling Awards prize winners.
What you’ll study
The course will cover:
- Sophisticated digital approaches to design analysis, underpinned by the systematic integration of architectural intentions, construction management and materials technology.
- Relationships between digital theory and practice, focused on design project management for profitable business administration.
- The critical evaluation of issues related to design, technical research, construction and professional management in social and cultural contexts.
- Architectural technology - and relevant specialisms within it - applied to the identification of new professional, digital and technical opportunities and constraints in the built environment.
- Advanced and effective digital communication techniques applied to a range of built environment projects and scenarios.
Course structure
The course is formed of six core modules, two of which are a large-scale dissertation / applied research project and a design studio project. Your six taught modules will total 180 credit points. The modules’ credit points are weighted based on the total time you can expect to spend studying the module content, both in terms of contact hours and non-contact hours.
Semester One:
- Digital Architecture Design Studio (40 credit points)
- Building Performance (20 credit points)
- Computational Design (20 credit points)
- Law of Digital Practice (20 credit points)
Semester Two:
- Digital Architecture Design Studio (40 credit points)
- Collaborative BIM (20 credit points)
- Research Project (60 credits)
Semester Three:
- Research Project (60 credit points)
Digital Architecture Design Studio
40 credit points
- This module will teach you the theories and provide you with experience of using advanced digital design techniques and methodologies to support architectural design and construction processes.
- You'll explore theories of digital architecture and construction, artificial intelligence (AI), mixed reality (including virtual reality, augmented reality), rapid prototyping and 3D printing, historical building information modelling (HBIM) and 3D data acquisition and processing.
- You'll develop conceptual, methodological and technical skills in architectural design and construction, and have the opportunity to apply them through a focused design project that emphasises both digital and physical outputs. This practical experience will deepen your understanding of industry relationships, materials, and technologies in a practical context.
Computational Design
20 credit points
- You'll be provided with the essential conceptual, methodological, and technical knowledge and skills to support the architectural and urban design process, by engaging with contemporary trends in computational design.
- The core content of this module focuses on three main areas: parametric modelling, computer scripting for design purposes and physical computing in architecture.
- You'll explore the applicability of parametric modelling in the building life cycle, computer programming using a scripting language (e.g. Python) for its application in the design process, and physical computing to support the construction, evaluation, and communication of interactive physical prototypes that respond and adapt to the analogue world. For this, you'll use common microcontroller platforms (e.g. Arduino).
Building Performance
20 credit points
- This module focuses on three core aspects of building performance and their performance during the building life cycle: acoustic comfort, energy efficiency and building emergency evacuation.
- You'll explore building thermal performance in terms of heat transfer, human comfort and user behaviour, and acoustic comfort in the context of building acoustics, sound insulation, indoor noise level and reverberation times of different buildings.
- You'll be provided with opportunities to design, evaluate and optimise different building components to achieve optimal performance, with a focus on the thermal, acoustic quality, and fire safety of new and existing buildings. This will also enable you to gain hands-on experience of using a range of simulation tools including crowd movement simulation.
Law of Digital Practice
20 credit points
- This module provides you with a critical insight into the potential legal issues of data sharing between parties including consultants, manufacturers, facility managers and contractors in a digital environment (including BIM platforms).
- You'll be exposed to real-life case studies which utilise different methods of dispute resolution, including examples of BIM-supportive contract framework, copyright and intellectual property, liabilities, risk management, process, data and interoperability.
Collaborative BIM
20 credit points
- This module provides you with an overview of the multi-disciplinary nature of building information modelling (BIM) and its collaborative methodologies, technologies and processes.
- You'll gain hands on experience in developing collaborative BIM models, merge models of different natures for coordination purposes, and undertake clash detection, cost analysis and construction planning.
- You'll explore various BIM packages (e.g. Revit, NavisWork and Synchro 4D) while developing an understanding of working with data merging, sharing and interoperability across various BIM platforms.
Research Project
60 credit points
This module guides you in developing two key academic outputs. First, you'll create a clear, concise research proposal on your chosen topic, forming the foundation for your research project. You'll then produce either a full dissertation or an equivalent-length journal article. Through this process, you'll enhance your research skills, critical thinking, and academic writing. These competencies are crucial for postgraduate success and valuable in many professional contexts.
- Through a series of lectures and seminars, the module will provide an overview of a range of real-life research projects, highlighting appropriate research methodologies, languages, methods, knowledge and skills.
- This module provides you with an opportunity to undertake an independent research project where you'll apply the academic, digital and technical skills gained throughout your studies.
- The module offers supervisory meetings throughout semesters one and two to support and monitor your progress in the project.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
FAQ's | MSc Digital Architecture and Construction
How you're taught
How will I learn?
- Through the use of regular formative feedback, reflection and review, your learning will be developed and refined in the area of specialism that you wish to follow.
- Teaching and learning methods include lectures and seminars, tutorials, critiques, case studies, workshops, visiting industry speakers and directed and independent learning.
- Non-contact hours include direct out-of-classroom reading and activities, and independent learning and reading is deemed necessary to achieve the learning outcomes for the course.
- The course enables collaborative working across disciplines, including presentations involving students studying other (related) courses at NTU.
Study trips
Field trips and study visits are an important part of your learning. Trips may include site visits and visits to practices, museums, exhibitions and events. Where a trip is mandatory it will be aligned to your modules and inform project work, and substantive costs – including travel and accommodation – will be paid for by the school.
Optional trips may also be organised which can provide additional opportunities to enhance your knowledge and experience. Optional trips will incur an additional cost of approximately £500 for participating students.
A valid passport and any associated visas will be required for trips outside of the UK.
Engage with research
The Creative and Virtual Technologies Lab is a multidisciplinary research environment where architects, artists, designers, engineers, computer scientists and human scientists collaborate to explore the potential of new visualisation techniques and digital design models and processes. This will enhance the quality of our buildings and cities in a sustainable way meeting user expectations.
Our academics are engaged in research that focuses on the understanding of the human intelligence involved in the design processes of our buildings and cities and the role advanced digital and media technologies can play in order to support the design of more economically viable and more sustainable buildings. You'll be able to learn from research-informed teaching and take part in exciting projects.
How you're assessed
To ensure you get the support you need to select your individual learning pathway and achieve the relevant module learning outcomes, a review will undertaken on commencement of your studies to appraise your level of professional skills and expertise (a skills audit). Through this you'll identify strengths, weaknesses and potential for development and workshops will be offered to address individual learning requirements.
- All assessment methods are coursework based. Assessments vary from module to module and require you to undertake practical work together with research and critical evaluation in order to demonstrate the link between theory and practice.
- Assessment techniques include technical reports, case studies, individual and group projects and presentations.
- An assessment schedule will be provided at the start of the academic year, and care is taken to provide you with timely, constructive, formative and summative feedback.
Careers and employability
NTU has an outstanding reputation for producing highly employable architecture graduates.
We're ranked Top 5 for the percentage of Architecture graduates who are in graduate-level jobs or further HE or professional study within 15 months of graduating (Guardian University Guide, 2023).
Our Employability Team
Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies, and for up to three years after completing your course.
Throughout the year, our Employability team runs a series of events specifically for students studying in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, such as the NTU Built Environment Jobs Fair, offering employers the opportunity to advertise roles to our students.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
Re:search Re:imagined
To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From sustainable cities to smart and virtual heritage technologies, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.
Find out more: ntu.ac.uk/research
What our students are doing now
Showcase 2024 Student Spotlight: Antreas Neofytou
Student Spotlight featuring MSc Digital Architecture and Construction, Antreas Neofytou and his project, 'Metamorphosis Exhibition'.
Nottingham Trent University wins highest national honour for cultural heritage science research
Campus and facilities
Workshops and laboratories
Our Maudslay building boasts a number of industry-standard workshops and facilities. Supported by a team of expert technical staff, we offer woodwork and metal workshops, model making studios, structural testing equipment, concrete, soil and materials laboratories.
Future Factory Research and Consultancy facilities
You'll have access to the provisions available in the School's state-of-the-art Future Factory, including our Creative and Virtual Technologies lab. This is the only provision of its kind in the UK and fosters the collaborative and multidisciplinary expertise which is embedded throughout the course.
Entry requirements
UK students
Academic entry requirements: 2:2 honours degree in a relevant architecture or construction-related subject including, but not limited to, architecture, architectural technology, interior design, construction management, surveying and civil engineering.
Other requirements: A digital portfolio and interview. If your portfolio is accepted, you'll be asked to interview with the academic team. Your interview will be held via telephone or Microsoft Teams. Your interview will help us to decide whether we feel you are suitable for the course and will help you to decide if this is the right course for you.
Additional requirements for UK students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Other qualifications and experience
We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Academic entry requirements: 2:2 honours degree in a relevant architecture or construction-related subject including, but not limited to, architecture, architectural technology, interior design, construction management, surveying and civil engineering.
We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international qualifications on our international entry requirements page.
Other requirements: A digital portfolio and interview. If your portfolio is accepted, you'll be asked to interview with the academic team. Your interview will be held via telephone or Microsoft Teams. Your interview will help us to decide whether we feel you are suitable for the course and will help you to decide if this is the right course for you.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
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Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
