University of Lugano, MA, Architecture

Students who have obtained the title of BSc at the Academy, at ETHZ or at EPFL: access is automatic, provided the conditions of the Regulation of Studies and the examinations of the Academy have been complied with. Students who have graduated BSc from another university: access is not automatic and is subordinated to their possession of the necessary educational credits and to availability of places. The Mobility Commission evaluates each application in relation to the curriculum of studies of the Academy. The following Bachelor’s degrees are not considered valid for admission to the MSc courses: Interior Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Construction and Civil Engineering or BSc degrees conducted by telematic education (e-learning). Students who have graduated under the previous regulations in another university: access is not automatic and is subordinated to their possession of the necessary educational credits and to availability of places. The Mobility Commission evaluates each application in relation to the curriculum of studies of the Academy. Students possessing an Arch. diploma SUPSI or from other swiss professional universities (FHS, HES) may enrol in the MSc course by accumulating at least 30 educational credits as defined by the Academy. The Academy reserves the right to examine the candidate’s specific curriculum. Taught in italian.

Students will develop their theoretical knowledge and practical skills by attending lectures on historical-humanistic and technical-scientific subjects as well as the design studios (ateliers). In their final semester of the MSc, students will work on a research and study project that will constitute the Diploma syllabus. The historical-humanistic courses and scientific-technical courses fall into four subject areas: Theory of Art and Architecture (which comprises history of art and architecture, philosophy and theory of restoration), Culture of the Territory (comprising urban planning and sociology, urban economics and geography), Construction and Technology (comprising construction techniques, materials, equipment, and building envelopes), Structures and Exact Sciences (comprising mathematics and computer studies). Architectural design will be of central importance through the whole course of studies and will be closely related to the teaching of the historical-humanistic and technical-scientific subjects. The design work will be organized in design studios.