Overview
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely.
This course will be available for students to study remotely during 2022 if they are unable to undertake face-to-face study. Please note that some units of study that are not essential to completing the degree may not be available to be studied remotely. For the latest updates on course availability, visit the COVID-19 information page.
About this course
Develop your skills in understanding the increasingly important area of efficient and environmentally responsive buildings, both new build and retrofitted.
As a sustainability specialist, you can choose from a range of career pathways across the built environment in commercial property, sustainability consulting, architecture and engineering.
With extensive experience analysing and controlling the physical phenomena affecting buildings, practitioners of Architectural Science have a profound impact on the function, aesthetics and efficiency of architectural spaces. Sustainable Design professionals are responsible for developing efficient and environmentally responsive buildings, and retrofitting existing buildings to meet today's environmental demands.
Sustainable designers are critical to ensuring that the plans on paper become a reality during and after construction. In the Sustainable Design program, your skills in sustainable design are enhanced through the Faculty's expertise in the built environment.
Our `first principles approach enables you not just to perform energy analyses and building assessments, but also to critique and develop further the tools and approaches required for sustainable building.
Your research-leading lecturers take you on-site visits and expose you to a range of international collaborators. We leverage our extensive links with industry to bring you internship opportunities with leading businesses and consultancies.
And you can use a wide range of electives to pursue your interests in the application of sustainable design theories and methods in architecture, planning, urban design, building services and facilities management. More detail on the Program (including course planner, credit request forms and timetable links) can be found at the Faculty of Architecture, Design & Planning home page .
Subject areas
Shared pool
Your entry requirements
English language proficiency
Find out if you need to prove English language proficiency (depends on your country of origin and educational background).
For academic requirements check the ‘Admission requirements’ section on this page.
Your fee
How to apply
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Standard closing dates:
Semester 1 - 31 January of the commencing year
Semester 2 - 15 July of the commencing year
We strongly encourage applicants to apply as early as possible, offers are made on a rolling basis and places are limited. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Starting date
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Standard closing dates:
Semester 1 - 15 January of the commencing year
Semester 2 - 25 June of the commencing year
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow time for visa and travel arrangements. Separate scholarship deadlines may apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Starting date
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
Admission requirement
A successful applicant for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Architectural Science (Sustainable Design) will have a bachelor's degree or will have completed the Graduate Certificate in Architectural Science (Sustainable Design) with an average mark of 70 per cent. This program can be taken with a secondary stream in combination with another Architectural Science Program. To undertake a double degree, the core units from the secondary degree are generally taken as the electives in the primary degree. Please see the Faculty Handbook for enrolment advice for secondary stream structure, and apply through the specific double specialisation course page. Masters and Diploma students may also opt to graduate with a lower level of certification once the required units are complete. Please note that students may commence studies in Semester 2, however some courses are only available in part-time capacity due to the units on offer.
Credit for previous study
For more information about the University’s credit policy, please see the Credit for Previous Studies page.
Option to combine with
Career Pathways
The course will provide building design professionals and allied para-professionals with further knowledge and skills in the area of sustainable design. The knowledge and skills developed would be relevant to: urban planners in achieving sustainable development or sustainable cities; sustainable architects in order to reduce the collective environmental impacts during the production of building components, the construction process, or the lifecycle of the building; and those employed in design-related roles in the public sector or in a consultancy that specialises in public and non-profit client work.Domestic students
International students
