Manchester School of Architecture

Manchester School of Architecture
Location
Manchester England
Information
Head of school	Prof. Tom Jefferies
Website	http://www.msa.ac.uk

The Manchester School of Architecture (MSA) was formed in 1996 with the merger of the architecture departments of the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, in England. The MSA is a joint school of the University of Manchester School of Environment and Development and the Manchester Metropolitan University Faculty of Art and Design. This arrangement allows MSA students to draw on the facilities and resources of both institutions. On graduating, the students' degree is awarded by both Universities.

Researchers from the Manchester Architectural Research Centre (MARC) input directly into the graduate teaching. MARC is a multidisciplinary research team based at the University of Manchester: its staff and post-graduates are researchers in a variety of affiliated fields of study, and offer an interdisciplinary context for architectural research at MSA.

The School covers three main aspects of architectural education. An undergraduate course (BA Hons) which has exemption to the RIBA Part One exam; a professional postgraduate course (M.Arch.) offers exemption to the RIBA Part Two exams; and finally a range of postgraduate Masters and PhD courses. As of 2008-2009 an innovative course focusing on mapping controversies in architectural design was launched. It aims at following the debates surrounding buildings design and uses visualisation tools to present the problem in its complexity.

The School was rated at number 2 in the country with a maximum score of 10/10 for "job prospects" and a 6/6 for the quality of staff by The Guardian University Guide 2006. The school has been consistently ranked as the eighth best school of architecture in the UK since 2014.

Guardian subject rankings

Year	Rank
2010	7
2011	9
2012	10
2013	12
2014	8
2015	8

Graduation ceremony

Graduation ceremony of Manchester School of Architecture is held in turn annually between the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. For example, graduates of 2013 attended the ceremony with fellow University of Manchester students in Whitworth Hall, while the 2014 graduation was held by Manchester Metropolitan University in an external rented venue.

Notable staff and alumni

• Leslie Martin KBE
  • Royal Festival Hall (Grade I)
• Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank (Pritzker Prize: 1999, Stirling Prize: 1998, 2004)
  • Willis Building (Grade I), Reichstag dome, Millennium Bridge, Swiss Re Building, Millau Viaduct, HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building)
• Stephen Hodder (Stirling Prize 1996)
  • 17 New Wakefield Street, Centenary Building
• Dalibor Vesely (RIBA Annie Spink Award for Excellence in Architectural Education 2006)
• Michael Starling (current Chairman of Architects Registration Board)
• Roland Paoletti
  • Jubilee Line Extension, London Underground

External links

• Manchester School of Architecture Website
• MARC Website