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
With a specialisation in Illumination Design, this degree enables you to extend your sustainability expertise into the lighting design area. With this knowledge, you can differentiate yourself as a graduate and can choose from a range of career pathways include architecture, sustainable and energy-efficient lighting consultancy, product design and distribution.
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. Architectural Science courses can be taken as single or double streams. In the double stream program, the core units from the secondary degree are taken as the electives in the primary degree. The double stream program is completed as 96 credit points over two years, allowing you to draw expertise from an aligned Architectural Science stream and prepare to pursue or develop your career within a wide range of areas in the built environment.
PRIMARY STREAM
Sustainable design involves an approach to creating buildings that meets the world's need to reduce our impact on ecological systems. The built environment professions - including architects, engineers, urban designers and planners - are increasingly held responsible for the performance of their designs and projects, including accordance with promised environmental principles. Sustainable design skills are highly demanded by the construction and design industries, environmental consultancies, government agencies and in the day-to-day operation and management of commercial buildings. This program is tailored for design and related built-environment professionals who wish to improve their knowledge and skills in sustainable design. Our integrated approach to Sustainable Design provides you with the knowledge you need to address sustainability considerations without compromising building functionality or profitability. You will combine the aesthetic approaches to design with a thorough understanding of energy efficiency, analysis and performance metrics. You will be exposed to ratings systems, myriad testing methods and will come to understand energy and resource use from ecological, economic and governance perspectives, as well as the storage and release of energy and how to design for both performance and comfort.
SECONDARY STREAM
The Illumination Design program offers strong technical education in human visual perception, methods for quantifying light, lighting techniques and issues of sustainability. The course is suited to program architects, interior designers, engineers, ergonomists and related professionals looking to expand and deepen their knowledge in this area. This program is one of only a few in the world, with an emphasis on producing qualified lighting designers through focus on the multidisciplinary background of lighting knowledge. It will develop your understanding of the relationship between lighting and allied-build environment disciplines as well as the interaction of optics, psychology and physiology. You will be given the preparation you need to adapt to technological changes and lead future breakthroughs.
Commonwealth Supported Places
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)* are available for postgraduate study for eligible domestic students. This means that your course fees are subsidised by the Australian Government and you pay a student contribution amount (SCA). CSPs are limited in number and are allocated based on academic merit.
*Some available streams, subject to availability.
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.
Applying for a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
There is no separate application required to apply for a CSP. Once you apply for admission, if you are successful in securing a CSP, you will receive notification via an offer of admission.
A Commonwealth supported place (CSP) is not guaranteed as there are a limited number of CSPs available for postgraduate courses. The number of available CSPs for a course can change each semester/year. CSPs are also not automatically awarded for course transfers and upgrades.
CSPs are awarded for the duration of a course based on academic merit determined by the University and eligibility criteria specified by the Australian Government. Learn more about CSPs. If you do not qualify for a CSP you may be offered a domestic fee-paying place.
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 Master in Architectural Science will have a bachelor's degree or possess experience which is considered to demonstrate the knowledge and aptitude required to undertake the course. Students who complete the Graduate Certificate with a WAM of 70 or higher are able to apply to continue into the Master in Architectural Science in the same course stream. Please see the Faculty Handbook for enrolment advice for secondary stream structure. Masters 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.
Career Pathways
The course will provide building design professionals and allied para-professionals 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. The secondary stream will prepare you to work as an independent lighting designer or lighting specialist, or to work with electrical products manufacturing, lighting management services or an energy services company.Domestic students
International students
