Master's Programme in Architecture and Urban Design 120 credits

UMA 2023 Slututställning
I arkitekthögskolans slututställning visas alla studenters arbeten från det femåriga arkitektprogrammet, med särskilt fokus på avgångseleverna i årskurs fem. Vi önskar alla varmt välkomna att ta del av utställningen och se vad studenterna arbetar med.

Image: Mattias Pettersson

About the programme

Do you want to take part in designing sustainable architecture and developing socially just cities for the future? The Master’s Programme in Architecture and Urban Design is operating in-between the artistic and the scientific field of knowledge. The programme is characterized by a consistent focus on sustainability and has an exploratory and experimental profile with teachers from all over the world.

International learning environment

Focus on sustainable architecture

Well-equipped and accessible workshops

While studying

Ecological challenges such as climate change and social crises such as unequal local and global development and migration places raises a strong demand on architecture to develop new solutions based on broad interdisciplinary perspectives. In the Master's Programme in Architecture and Urban Design these complex issues are dealt with in various design studios. Departing from your own experience and ethical position the programme wants to challenge the conventional contemporary architectural practice and the future of the profession.

Creative campus environment

The School of Architecture is situated on the Arts Campus – a creative environment with workshops and infrastructure for production and making, together with the Art- and Design School, the incubator Sliperiet and Bildmuseet.

The Master's Programme in Architecture and Urban Design is built up by studios with different thematic orientations. You will work with the exploration of new fields of knowledge related to architecture and urban planning in a learning environment like a laboratory.

Develop your critical thinking

The aim is to develop your own critical thinking and in the exploration of these fields of knowledge develop and apply new perspectives, designing alternative architectural proposals, strategies and practices that can contribute to change in today's societal- and urban development.

Focus on sustainability

Important elements of the programme are social- and environmental sustainability, resource awareness, work on different scales, experimenting with technical solutions and prototyping through full-scale construction and architectural interventions and installations in the physical environment.

The Master's programme is based on experimental pedagogy where theoretical knowledge is integrated with process-oriented and artistic investigations, where the development of the subject takes place in the exploratory and artistic approach to the practice and profession.

All instruction in English

During the first three semesters of the education two seminar courses run in parallel with a synthesis course in the form of a design project. During the fourth semester a Master's thesis project is carried out.
The seminar courses introduce and deepen theoretical and technical concepts, methods and processes and issues concerning the profession and professional practice.

Design projects are carried out within different studios, allowing you to choose approach departing from your personal interest.
The programme is taught in English by teachers with backgrounds from different countries and with specialized knowledge of the subject.

Experimental methods

The design process is explored through investigative and process-oriented methods. Modes of working are tested and developed through unconventional experimentation, where prototypes, models, projects and ideas are tested with the aim to develop alternative strategies that can create new forms and methods within architecture, design and urbanism.

The conditions for an approach that involves a collaborative architecture culture and practice are created, where the strategies and proposals are developed through collaboration. The aim is to create a work environment where individuals can develop issues and projects, both individually and in groups, in a collective spirit to create a common base of knowledge.

Develop holistic approach

The teaching is focused on empowering you as a student and giving you opportunity to develop from a holistic approach to education. We work in seminars and roundtable discussions, and see self-assessment and feedback as an interactive and open dialogue process.

Courses within the programme

Year 1

Year 2

Show programme syllabus

Future and career opportunities

The programme leads to a Master of Fine Arts, which means you can work with architecture and urban planning in both the private and public sectors. The international character provides good preparation for work in Sweden as well as in the rest of the world. Good conditions for those who want to do research on the subject are also to be found here.

Increased demand for architects

The subject area is under strong expansion and development in order to meet the current societal developments and an increased demand for expertise in sustainable development in architecture, urban planning and development.

Apply

Autumn 2025
- Master's Programme in Architecture and Urban Design
  
  International admissions round
  
  HT25 / Umeå / English / On site
  
  Show more Show less
  
  Start
  Autumn term 2025
  
  Number of credits
  120 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On site
  
  Study pace
  100%
  
  Length
  2 years
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-M5032
  
  Eligibility
  A Bachelor´s degree of at least 180 ECTS with a main field of study in Architecture and submitted work samples/portfolio. English language proficiency equivalent to (the Swedish upper secondary school) English course B/6.
  
  Selection
  
  Selection among qualified applicants is based upon submitted portfolio. Application is made in two steps. Step 1: Through the national online application service universityadmissions.se. Deadline for application: January 15. Step 2: Portfolio sent to Umeå School of Architecture. Information about application at https://www.umu.se/en/umea-school-of-architecture/architecture-and-urban-design/portfolio/
  
  Degree
  
  Following completion of the degree programme, the student may apply for and obtain a Degree of Master of Fine Arts pursuant to a local qualification descriptor adopted by the Vice-Chancellor (refer to http://www.student.umu.se/examen/bestammelser/examensbeskrivningar/). The degree is awarded with Architecture as the main field of study, as well as Architecture and Urban Design as the specialisation.
  
  Application
  Application deadline was 15 January 2025. The application period is closed.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 118,400
  
  Total fee: SEK 473,600
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding
  
  Application is made in two steps
  Step 1: Apply through the national online application service universityadmissions.se. Deadline for application: January 15.
  Step 2: Send your portfolio to Umeå School of Architecture. Information about application at www.umu.se/en/umea-school-of-architecture/education/programmes/masters-programme-in-architecture-and-urban-design/portfolio.
Autumn 2026
- Master's Programme in Architecture and Urban Design
  
  International admissions round
  
  HT26 / Umeå / English / On site
  
  Apply
  
  Show more Show less
  
  Start
  Autumn term 2026
  
  Number of credits
  120 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On site
  
  Study pace
  100%
  
  Length
  2 years
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-M5032
  
  Eligibility
  
  A Bachelor´s degree of at least 180 ECTS with a main field of study in Architecture and submitted work samples/portfolio. English language proficiency equivalent to (the Swedish upper secondary school) English course 6/level 2.
  
  Selection
  
  Selection among qualified applicants is based upon submitted portfolio. Application is made in two steps. Step 1: Through the national online application service universityadmissions.se. Deadline for application: January 15. Step 2: Portfolio sent to Umeå School of Architecture. Information about application at https://www.umu.se/en/umea-school-of-architecture/architecture-and-urban-design/portfolio/
  
  Degree
  
  Following completion of the degree programme, the student may apply for and obtain a Degree of Master of Fine Arts pursuant to a local qualification descriptor adopted by the Vice-Chancellor (refer to http://www.student.umu.se/examen/bestammelser/examensbeskrivningar/). The degree is awarded with Architecture as the main field of study, as well as Architecture and Urban Design as the specialisation.
  
  Application
  Online applications are now open. Application deadline is 15 January 2026.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 118,400
  
  Total fee: SEK 473,600
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding
  
  Application is made in two steps
  Step 1: Apply through the national online application service universityadmissions.se. Deadline for application: January 15.
  Step 2: Send your portfolio to Umeå School of Architecture. Information about application at www.umu.se/en/umea-school-of-architecture/education/programmes/masters-programme-in-architecture-and-urban-design/portfolio.

Apply online via universityadmissions.se
You apply to our programmes and courses via universityadmissions.se – the official website for higher education applications in Sweden. There, you can track your application, check that your documents have been registered, and log in to find our your admission results.
 
Late applications
Admissions to most programmes and courses typically close after the final application deadline. However, some programmes and courses may still accept late applications if seats are available. These are marked “Open for late application” on universityadmissions.se. Please note that late applications are not guaranteed to be reviewed.

More about application and admission

Later part of programme

If you have completed courses equivalent to at least the first semester of a program, you can apply for admission to a later part of the program.

Spring 2026
- Later part, Master's Programme in Architecture and Urban Design
  
  Second admissions round for EU/EEA citizens
  
  VT26 / Umeå / Swedish / On site
  
  Show more Show less
  
  Start
  Spring term 2026
  
  Number of credits
  120 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On site
  
  Study pace
  100%
  
  Length
  2 years
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  Swedish
  
  Application code
  UMU-S5047
  
  Eligibility
  
  A Bachelor´s degree of at least 180 ECTS with a main field of study in Architecture and submitted work samples/portfolio. English language proficiency equivalent to (the Swedish upper secondary school) English course 6/level 2.
  
  Degree
  
  Following completion of the degree programme, the student may apply for and obtain a Degree of Master of Fine Arts pursuant to a local qualification descriptor adopted by the Vice-Chancellor (refer to http://www.student.umu.se/examen/bestammelser/examensbeskrivningar/). The degree is awarded with Architecture as the main field of study, as well as Architecture and Urban Design as the specialisation.
  
  Application
  Application deadline was 15 October 2025. The late application period opens on 15 December 2025 if there are seats available. Please note: This second application round is intended only for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 118,400
  
  Total fee: SEK 473,600
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding
  
  Application is made in two steps
  Step 1: Apply through the national online application service universityadmissions.se. Deadline for application: January 15.
  Step 2: Send your portfolio to Umeå School of Architecture. Information about application at www.umu.se/en/umea-school-of-architecture/education/programmes/masters-programme-in-architecture-and-urban-design/portfolio.

Research excellence at Umeå University

Be a part of a world-class environment for teaching and research – where the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 geneediting began, and where innovation continues to shape the future.

Innovative with international impact

Research for society, nature and the future. Read about our research research environments and infrastructure.
Open climate for groundbreaking research

Emmanuelle Charpentier credits the research environment in Umeå as a key factor in her discovery.