Master of Architecture | DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

Overview

The Department of Architecture is the leading Centre of professional training in Architecture in East and Central Africa. Our mission is to train high calibre professionals in the discipline of Architecture through teaching, research and consultancy.

Founded in 1956, the Department of Architecture was at first the only Department of the Faculty of Architecture, which later became the Faculty of Art and Architecture of the Royal Technical College of East Africa.

The Department offers a six-year Bachelor of Architecture Course leading to the degree of B.Arch. The first five years of this programme tackle design issues of increasing scale and complexity at individual, group and community levels, in the context of urban and rural human settlements. The sixth and final year of the programme requires each student to prepare and submit a Written thesis and a Design project in an area of choice, as approved by the Department.

Additionally, the Department offers a Master of Architecture program which began in 1992. This postgraduate programme offers qualified graduates the opportunity to gain further education and experience in design and research in selected areas of specialization in Architecture.

Schedule of intakes: September every year

Philosophy

The underlying philosophy of the programme is consistent with the institution’s philosophy which states:

The University of Nairobi Philosophy is guided by the need to connect and inspire the Kenyan community to provide leadership and stewardship and to give hope and faith to the Kenyan society so that it can excel in whatever it chooses to do with passion, moral responsibility and a strong sense of patriotism.

The Department of Architecture and Building Science’s philosophy is a dedication to the search for authentic Architecture through the promotion of a sustainable environment with the pursuit of excellence in meeting needs in the community, national and global built environment.

Rationale

The Department offers the two-year Postgraduate Master of Architecture Programme which comprises coursework, studio projects, examination and thesis.

Guided by market surveys, needs and stakeholders’ assessments, this programme is tailored to nurture and inspire postgraduates to meet the needs of the Kenyan, East African region as well as the global built environment.

Goal of the Programme

The goal of this programme is the advancement of the discipline of Architecture to create a physical environment that enhances the quality of and harmony of human habitat.

Objectives

At the end of this programme, the learner should be able to:

Use advanced design techniques as well as advanced professional skills in the selected area of specialization.
Pursue issues and to reason coherently concerning the selected area of specialization’s matters with a clear mastery of the scientific procedures.
Demonstrate full awareness of the current “state of art” in the selected area of specialization and proficiency for independent research in the writing of his/her thesis.

Areas of Specialisation

The programme will offer qualified graduates the opportunity to gain further education and experience in design and research in the selected areas of specialization in Architecture. The specialization will be offered in the following areas:

Architectural Design
Environmental Building Science
Building Technology
Landscape Design
Urban Design.

Contact of Support Persons

Phone: (+254) 020-4913519
Email : architecture@uonbi.ac.ke

Notable Alumni

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

The common regulations for the Masters’ Degrees in all Faculties of the University of Nairobi shall be applicable. The following shall be eligible for registration for the degree of Master of Architecture:

A holder of the first degree in Architecture of at least Upper Second Class standing, or its equivalent, conferred from the University of Nairobi or any other recognised University.
A holder of a degree of at least Lower Second Class Honours in Architecture or any relevant discipline from the University of Nairobi or any other Institution recognized by the Senate as being of comparable academic status with a relevant Postgraduate Diploma or other equivalent qualifications from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized as being comparable academic status or with at least (2) years of relevant work experience.
A holder of a Pass degree in Architecture of any relevant with credit pass in a relevant Postgraduate Diploma or other equivalent qualifications from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by Senate as being of comparable academic status or with at least four (4) years of relevant work experience.

Credit Transfers and Exemptions

A student seeking a credit transfer for any course or courses shall send a formal application on the prescribed forms to the Academic Registrar through the normal university procedures attaching relevant documents.

A Student from a recognized University or any other equivalent institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate, wishing to transfer to the Master of Architecture programme at the University of Nairobi shall be allowed to transfer credits from his/her University if those credits are deemed relevant and meet the required minimum contact hours.
A University of Nairobi student who obtains a credit or credits from a recognized university shall also be allowed to transfer those credits to the University of Nairobi.
The transferred credits shall not be more than a third (1/3) of the total prescribed credits and/or course units required for the award of Master of Architecture degree.
Where a student wishes to be exempted from any course unit, he/she shall follow the procedure set out below:
- - The student shall send a formal application for exemption to the Academic Registrar through the Dean of the School, justifying his/her request and attaching evidence of the credentials, which would support such a request.
  - The student shall undertake to submit himself/herself to an exemption examination set and administered by the School and approved by the Senate. In any such examination, the pass mark shall be 50%.
  - A student who has to take an exemption examination shall be required to pay to the University an exemption fee as may be prescribed from time to time by the School.
  - The School may, for reasons of exceptional academic merit, recommend to Senate the exemption of an applicant from a core course or an elective course without being subjected to an exemption examination.
  - No exemption shall be considered for Diploma, studios/portfolios and research projects. The exemption shall not exceed 1/3 of the total number of course units. For a course to be considered for exemption a candidate should have attained a Credit at Higher Diploma or in a Degree and it shall not apply to the last two years of study. The exemption shall be in accordance with approved senate regulations

Application Information

You will be required to enter some basic information, including your email address and to choose a password. We will then send you an email to the address you entered, so that we can validate your account. When you have clicked on the validation link (sent to you in the email), you will be able to log in to the application system using the "Login" box below

For instructions on how to apply click here

To apply online here

Fees and Funding

Masters in Architecture-Year I (TOTAL of 11 units)	Semester 1	Semester 2	Yearly TOTAL
TUITION	258,000	258,000	516,000
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)	6,500		6,500
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)	7,000		7,000
CAUTION - (ONCE)	5,000		5,000
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)	5,000		5,000
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)	2,250	2,250	4,500
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)	5,500	5,500	11,000
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)	1,000		1,000
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)	2,000		2,000
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)	1,000		1,000
TOTAL	293,250	265,750	559,000
Masters in Architecture-Year 2 (TOTAL of 10 units)

	Semester 1	Semester 2	Yearly TOTAL
TUITION	258,000	258,000	516,000
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)	6,500	-	6,500
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)	7,000	-	7,000
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)	5,000	-	5,000
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)	2,250	2,250	4,500
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)	5,000	5,000	10,000
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)	2,000	-	2,000
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
THESIS EXAMINATION		30,000	30,000
TOTAL	287,750	295,250	583,000

Grand TOTAL			1,142,000

Structure

Mode of Delivery

The programme shall be offered face-to-face through full-time and part-time studies as well as through open, distance and electronic learning (ODeL) mode of study.

Face-to-Face Mode

The programme will require a minimum of four semesters of study.

Each course shall have a minimum of 45 contact hours and shall be covered within a semester and each portfolio course unit shall have a minimum of 135 contact hours and shall be covered within a semester.

Each student shall be required to take and pass all units stipulated for a given semester.

Open, Distance and e-Learning Mode

The course structure and requirements for the degree programme through open, distance and electronic learning remain the same as under the face-to-face full-time and part-time mode of study.

The open, distance and electronic learning mode of study will be offered off-campus using the multi-media approach, including a variety of self-instructional print and electronic study materials.

In addition, there will be face-to-face instruction for the Applied Studio course units.

Blended Learning

This will involve an appropriate mixture of face-to-face instruction for the Applied Studio course units and open, distance and electronic learning (ODeL) for suitable theory course units.

Courses and Electives per semester

FIRST YEAR
First Semester (Compulsory courses)			Hours
BAR	701	Introductory to Applied Design Studio	135
BAR	703	Theory of Design.	45
BAR	705	Research Methods	45
BAR	707	Human Settlements	45
BAR	709	The Human factor in Environmental Design	45
Second Semester (options to be chosen in block)
a)	Architecture Design
BAR	700	Applied Studio in Architectural design	135
BAR	702	Building Types	45
BAR	704	Community Design	45
BAR	706	Design for Conservation	45
BAR	708	History of Architecture & Regional Design	45
BAR	710	Real Estate Studies	45
b)	Environmental Building Sciences
BAR	720	Applied Design Studio in Environmental	135
BAR	722	Acoustic Environment	45
BAR	724	Thermal Environment	45
BAR	726	Luminous environment	45
BAR	728	Regional Environmental Design History	45
BAR	730	Environmental Building Economics	45
c)	Building Technology
BAR	740	Applied Design Studio in Building Technology	135
BAR	742	Theory of Structures	45
BAR	744	Building Technologies & Materials	45
BAR	746	Building Systems	45
BAR	748	History of Building Technology	45
BAR	750	Building Economics	45
d)	Landscape Design
BAR	760	Applied Design Studio in Landscape Design	135
BAR	762	Site Planning	45
BAR	764	Landscape Plants and Horticulture	45
BAR	766	Structural Design & Landscape Engineering	45
BAR	768	History and Theory of Landscape Architecture	45
BAR	770	Land Economics	45
e)	Urban Design
BAR	780	Applied Studio in Urban Design	135
BAR	782	Urban Planning	45
BAR	784	Theory of Urban Design	45
BAR	786	History of Urban Design	45
BAR	788	Urban Sociology and Community	45
SECOND YEAR
First and Second Semester
BAR	800/801	Design Project
BAR	803/802	Thesis

Careers

Attachment Opportunities

Attachment in Central and County Government offices
Architectural firms the country.
Attachment to work with a registered architect in the country

Career Prospects

The programme will offer qualified graduates the opportunity to gain further education and experience in Architecture and research in the selected areas of specialization in Architecture. Specialization will be offered in the following areas.

1. Architectural Design

2. Environmental Building Science

3. Building Technology

4. Landscape Design.

5. Urban Design

Exam Regulations

EXAMINATION REGULATIONS

Candidates must attend in full all the courses, both the compulsory ones in the First Semester and the selected ones in the Second Semester, to be allowed to sit for the respective examinations. In the First Year, every candidate must choose the selected area of specialization within the first month from the commencement of the degree programme

Written Examinations

1. Every candidate must choose whether to pursue, in the Second Year, a Design Project or a Thesis 3 months before the end of the Second Semester of the First Year.
2. Each First-Year student shall be assigned a supervisor for the Design Project or for the Thesis by the Department of Architecture before the end of the First Year of Study.
3. The First Semester examinations shall consist of an applied studio and 4 subjects. Each subject shall be examined by means of a 2-hour paper. In addition, continuous assessment specified in regulation (7.1.6) below shall form a part of the First Semester Examinations. Applied Design Studio will be examined by the assessment of all the student’s design work at the end of First Semester.
4. The Second Semester examination shall consist of an applied design studio and 5 subjects. Each subject shall be examined by means of a 2-hour paper. In addition, continuous assessment specified in regulation (7.1.6) below shall form a part of the Second Semester Examinations. Applied Design studio will be examined by the assessment of all the student’s design work at the end of the second semester.
5. Applied design studio shall be equivalent to three theory subjects in a semester.
6. The pass mark for each paper shall be 50% and shall include continuous assessment.
7. A candidate who scores less than 50% in each of the papers shall be allowed to take supplementary examinations in those papers before the next academic year.
8. A candidate who fails in 4 or more papers or in a subject with a mark of less than 50% or a supplementary examination shall be discontinued.
9. To be allowed to proceed to the Second Year, a candidate must pass in all compulsory and selected courses in the first year curriculum either during the ordinary University examinations or the supplementary examinations.
10. In preparation for the submission of the Design Project or of the thesis for examination, during the second year the “Common Regulations for the Master’s Degree in all Faculties of the University of Nairobi” shall apply.
11. All candidates who fulfil the coursework and examination requirements for both the First and Second Year of Study shall be awarded the degree of Master of Architecture in the specific areas of specialization.