This master’s programme adopts a reflective, research-informed stance toward architecture and urban life. You will explore architectural ideas, concepts and theoretical frameworks, then translate them into built proposals that respond to and engage with a specific urban context. Emphasis is placed on thinking about architecture in relation to the city rather than treating buildings in isolation.
Teaching is studio- and project-led: design work carried out within the university is continuously tested and expanded through excursions, on-site studies and applied research. The curriculum is supported by a programme of academic activities such as summer schools, conferences and research projects, giving you regular opportunities to test ideas, receive feedback and situate your work within broader debates.
For an international student this means sustained exposure to real urban fabrics, a balance of conceptual and practical work, and multiple platforms for building a professional and scholarly portfolio. The programme is suitable for those who want to develop both design competence and the ability to articulate and implement architectural theories within contemporary city-making processes.
Key features
This master’s curriculum begins with a concentrated first semester that builds a theoretical and technical foundation. Core modules include Architectural Theory, two sequential Building Construction courses (I and II), and Urban Analysis and Representation. Together these courses develop your ability to read and represent urban conditions, understand construction systems, and situate design decisions in theoretical frameworks.
In the second semester the focus shifts to a hands-on engagement with existing buildings: you carry out a structured sequence of analysis, design and detailing that addresses interventions within an existing fabric. This semester emphasizes the complexities of working with pre-existing structures—from diagnostic assessment through design development and construction-related solutions—so you learn how new design integrates with and adapts what’s already built.
A range of elective courses lets you broaden or deepen particular interests before completing the program with a Master’s thesis. Electives provide flexibility to pursue specialized topics or methods that complement the core coursework and the practical renovation/conservation project, and the thesis gives you space to synthesize theory, design and technical skills in a substantial individual research or design project.
Key modules
Learning outcomes
Practical note for international students: this structure balances theory, technical competency and applied design work, preparing you for roles in design offices, conservation and adaptive reuse projects, or further research.
To qualify for admission you must hold an undergraduate degree in Architecture (Bachelor’s or “Diplom”) and meet the programme’s academic and application standards. The standard entry route requires at least 210 credit points from your prior degree, a final grade of 2.5 or better, and successful completion of the programme’s application procedure.
If your Bachelor’s degree comprises only 180 credit points, there is a route to eligibility: you can complete a preliminary course to acquire the additional 30 credit points. This preliminary course includes hands-on practical experience in an architectural office in Germany plus a design project. The practical pre-course must be started and successfully finished no later than the winter semester to secure entry into the regular programme for the following summer semester. International applicants must also document their eligibility for higher education entry by submitting previous qualification certificates and demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency.
Winter Semester (International)
There areno application deadlines, so you can apply at any time until all of the places in the programme have been filled.
Graduates are prepared for professional roles in architecture and related fields, such as architectural design practices, urban design and planning offices, project management in the built environment, and positions in research or teaching. The programme’s combination of architectural theory, building construction, urban analysis and studio design equips students with technical, conceptual and communicative skills valued by employers.
For students entering via the preparatory practical pre-course, the required internship in a German architectural office provides direct workplace experience that aids transition into German practice and enhances employability both nationally and internationally. The programme’s international partnerships and English instruction also support careers in multinational firms and cross-border projects.
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg — Cottbus
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar — Weimar
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar — Weimar
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar — Weimar