Master of Architecture - Program changes in 2023 - School of Architecture, Design and Planning

What is changing?

From 2023, the Master of Architecture program has been restructured and new courses will be offered. Students commencing their studies in 2023 will be enrolled in the new program structure. Continuing students who commenced prior to 2023 can continue to follow the program requirements from the year that they commenced, or they may be able to elect to follow the new structure (if eligible).

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Why have the changes occurred?

The Architects Accreditation Council of Australia released the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA). The updated NSCA are active as of 2022, and you can read more about this here. As a result of the updated NSCA, the School of Architecture undertook a review of the Master of Architecture to ensure that the program we deliver continues to meet accreditation requirements. This resulted in changes to the Master of Architecture course list and program requirements.

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What does this mean for current students?

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What has changed?

ARCH7031 and ARCH7041 have been discontinued and will be offered for the final time in 2023 – What are the replacement courses for ARCH7031 and ARCH7041?
ARCH7043 replaces the suite of 'MArch Design courses' (formerly known as Part C design courses). ARCH7043 can be studied as a MArch Design Course/Part C design course in the pre-2023 program structure.
ARCH7001 will not be offered after 2022. ARCH7003, ARCH7004 and ARCH7015 will continue to be offered, but completion of these from 2023 onwards for students following the pre-2023 program structure will contribute to the MArch Design Elective Courses instead of the ‘MArch Design courses’ (formerly known as Part C) - What are the replacement courses for ‘MArch Design courses?’.

What are the replacement courses for ARCH7031 and ARCH7041?

ARCH7031 and ARCH7041 are compulsory courses in the pre-2023 Master of Architecture and will be offered until the end of 2023. These courses will be replaced by ARCH7034 and ARCH7044 which will be offered from 2024.

Students following the pre-2023 structure need to:
Option 1: Complete BOTH ARCH7031 and ARCH7041
or
Option 2: Complete BOTH ARCH7034 and ARCH7044

It is important to note that to complete either option you need to complete both courses listed for the single option.

As of January 2023, if you have completed either ARCH7031 or ARCH7041, you should choose Option 1. This means you should enrol in and complete the remaining course in 2023 (Semester 1 2023 for ARCH7031 and Semester 2 2023 for ARCH7041).

As of January 2023, if you have not completed either ARCH7031 or ARCH7041 and you do not expect to graduate in or before July 2024, we recommend you select Option 2. This means you should complete the new courses (ARCH7034 & ARCH7044) from 2024 instead. You can enrol in the first two core courses (ARCH7014 and BLDG7021) in 2023.

If your situation does not fit into the above two scenarios, please contact adp@uq.edu.au for advice.

What are the replacement courses for ‘MArch Design courses’ (formerly known as Part C)?

If you commenced before 2023, completing a 'MArch Design course' (formerly known as Part C) is a compulsory requirement of your program. The National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA) produced by The Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) identifies performance criteria required for the professional accreditation of architecture programs throughout Australia. This section of the course list relates to meeting some of these competencies. Three of the current courses in this section (ARCH7003, ARCH7004 and ARCH7015) will continue to be offered from 2023; however, from 2023 these courses will not contribute towards satisfying accreditation requirements.

Students following the pre-2023 program structure need to select one of the following course combinations:
Option 1: Have completed ARCH7001, ARCH7003, ARCH7004 or ARCH7015 pre-2023
and/or
Option 2: Complete ARCH7043 Architectural Practice: Design

ARCH7043 will be offered from Semester 1 2023. This course will only be offered in Semester 1 each year and has the prerequisite of completion of 4 units of MArch core courses, so please consider this when drafting your study plan.

If you have completed ARCH7001 or ARCH7003 or ARCH7004 or ARCH7015 before 2023, there is no requirement to complete ARCH7043. However, you may opt to enrol in ARCH7043 and this would count towards the 4 to 16 units required for this section of the program.

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Which program structure will I be following?

Continuing students who commenced prior to 2023 can continue to follow the program requirements from the year that they commenced. In some instances, they may be eligible to elect to follow the new program structure. We encourage you to use this flowchart to help you determine what options are applicable to your individual circumstances.

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I want to continue in the existing pre-2023 program structure

Please be assured that if you are enrolled in the Master of Architecture program prior to 2023, you will be able to complete the program by following the structure and rules that were in place for the year that you commenced.

It is important to note that some courses will no longer be offered, and new courses have been introduced, so there may be some changes to your study plan. The transition checklist is available to guide you through this process. The transition checklist has been developed to help ensure that no student will be disadvantaged by the changes however it is your responsibility to ensure that your enrolment is correct and allows you to meet the program requirements.

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I want to change to the new program structure

In some instances, pre-2023 students may choose to follow the new program structure. We have developed a flowchart to help you understand if this may be an option for you.

It is very important that existing students complete the transition checklist and seek academic advice before making a decision to follow the new program structure. If you choose to follow the new program structure, you will be required to follow the 2023 course list and program requirements. Please note that in some instances, there are no existing substitutions for new compulsory courses in the new program. This may mean that you will be required to complete additional courses above the minimum program requirements. In addition, due to the progressive rollout of some new course offerings, this may also result in a potential delay to your graduation.

Following individual academic advice, if you determine that the new structure suits your academic circumstances, please contact the EAIT Faculty to confirm the course list year that you are following by emailing enquiries@eait.uq.edu.au.

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Where can I get help?

Checklists have been developed to assist you to make a plan for your enrolment. The checklist outlines your enrolment options for continuing in your current program or transitioning to the new program structure.

Please visit the ADP Reception on level 3 of Zelman Cowen (building 51) between 8:30am - 4pm weekdays, or email adp@uq.edu.au. You will need to provide your completed checklist.

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Will the School be checking if my enrolment is correct?

It is your responsibility to ensure that your enrolment is correct and allows you to meet the program requirements. It is very important that you follow the transition checklist and study plans to ensure that you will meet the program requirements. It is strongly recommended that you attend a drop-in session where staff will assist you to complete the transition checklist.

Graduation checks are completed by the EAIT Faculty during your expected final semester. It is not possible for the School to identify sooner if you are not following the program requirements.

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