Master of Architecture (Professional)

The Master of Architecture (Professional) prepares you for a career as a practising architect. You will hone your skills as a designer of buildings and spaces—developing your ability to think visually and in three dimensions. You’ll understand and implement solutions for complex buildings. The MArch(Prof) gives you the creative and intellectual skills to tackle big 21st century challenges, such as climate change and a lack of affordable housing. You’ll consider architectural challenges as well as creative, technical, and cultural issues. Our industry connections in Wellington and across New Zealand will give you the opportunity to work alongside practitioners in both research and construction projects. Through practical, real-life experiences, you’ll learn how best to meet your clients’ needs. The MArch(Prof) is accredited by the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB). This means that it meets its academic requirements for registration to practice as an architect. After completing your MArch(Prof), you’ll need to spend three or more years gaining practical work experience before you can apply for registration. To register, the board will assess your professional competence. Our MArch(Prof) not only leads to registration as an architect in New Zealand—you can also be registered or licensed in Australia, some parts of the United States, and the United Kingdom. You will also be able to become a member of the Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA), the professional organisation for architects. Learn through a combination of taught courses and a major design research project that will prepare you for professional practice and develop mastery in your area of interest. You’ll be part of a strong culture of research and work with experienced staff who have published a variety of scholarly articles, books, and conference papers. Find out more about your study options. Fill in a form to download our Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation handbook. If you are interested in researching a particular aspect of architecture—or if you want to deepen your undergraduate learning in a specific area—the Master of Architecture might suit you better. Graduating with a MArch(Prof) will prepare you for a career in mainstream architecture in a private practice or a government organisation. We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. The Wellington School of Architecture has a variety of scholarships and awards available to their students. Browse an impressive range of student talent across the different year levels from Te Wāhanga Waihanga-Hoahoa—Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation. The Hand of the Engraver, for ARCI 591 Architecture Research Thesis, by Ryan Western, finalist in the 2019 NZIA Resene Student Design Awards. The Hand of the Engraver, for ARCI 591 Architecture Research Thesis, by Ryan Western, finalist in the 2019 NZIA Resene Student Design Awards. Applying a design guide to university spaces: Celebrating Care, a design for an Āwhina lounge for all students in the Rankine Brown building, for the Master of Architecture (Professional) thesis by Tessa Lynch. You can get support to stay on top of your finances by downloading our money management resources or by meeting with one of our student finance advisers. We can show you how to manage your student loan or allowance, and help you sort out your budget. For students facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for support from the Hardship Fund. Depending on your situation, you might also be able to get government or community support. You may be able to work as a research assistant while you study. These are fixed-term, short contracts where you assist an academic on a specific research project. You may be able to tutor undergraduate Architecture courses. If you are interested in becoming a tutor, get i