Riga Technical University, Institute of Architecture and Design
Faculty of Architecture
Riga, LV
Address
Riga Technical University, Institute of Architecture and Design
Faculty of Architecture
Kipsalas iela 6
Riga, LV-1048
LV

N 56° 57' 11.99'', E 56° 57' 11.99''

https://www.rtu.lv/lv/adi
Contact
Ms Daina Piekuse Administrator

e: adi@rtu.lv
t: +371 67089212
Representative
Dr. arch. Ugis Bratuskins Professor
Deputy Director for Studies
Degree programmes
Bachelor: Latvian
Master: Latvian/English
Doctoral: Latvian/English
Faculty profile

Riga Technical University (RTU), founded as Riga Polytechnicum in 1862, was the first tertiary education establishment in the territory of the present Republic of Latvia. It was established following the model of the most progressive multi-discipline technical universities of that time. The Polytechnicum originally incorporated six departments: Engineering, Chemistry, Agriculture, Mechanics, Commerce, and Architecture.

RTU is one of the largest state higher educational institutions in Latvia, and the total number of students reaches 14 thousand people. School of Architecture (School) offers study programmes in architecture at bachelor, master and doctoral levels with additional focus on interior design, landscape architecture, preservation of cultural heritage and urban planning.

Faculty graduates are employed mostly by design companies, as well as by state and municipal institutions dealing with planning, architectural management and supervision of construction process. Many of the graduates in three years after graduation pass the competence procedure and start independant practice as certificated architects.

Riga Technical University (RTU) is the oldest (founded in 1862) and only state multi-field technical university in Latvia. RTU has 9 faculties, including 33 institutes, 4 affiliations, 3 schools and study centers. Almost 15 000 undergraduates, graduate and Ph.D., (including almost 1600 international) students study there. Total academic staff is 572 employees (including 148 professors).

Research at RTU is organized on six research platforms: Energy and Environment, City and Development, Information and Communication, Transport, Materials, Processes, and Technologies and Security and Defense. The objective of research platforms is to ensure multi-faculty and interdisciplinary research in the areas of great significance for the national economy and society.

School of Architecture (SA) is the only higher educational institution in Latvia offering versatile education (Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral levels) in the field of architecture with study modules in urban planning and development of cultural heritage. Total number of all level students is 250.

On academic and research level SA cooperates regularly with state, municipal, NGO and private institutions, as well as with diverse foreign scientific and academic institutions. FA staff members participate in several international organizational and network activities: EAAE/AEEA, Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP), NordicBaltic Academy of Architecture (NBAA), European Network for Housing Research (ENHR), International Committee for Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement (DoCoMoMo), etc.

Research directions set by FA correspond to the research platform of RTU “Cities and Development”. The platform envisages developing solutions related to large complex urban development: modern challenges for urban development, smart cities, preservation of the environment and cultural and historical heritage, housing and infrastructure, as well as the solution of employability and social problems. FA has accumulated experience in the organization of international conferences (annual International conference of RTU, section “Architecture and Urban Planning”) and publishes the Scientific Journal of RTU “Architecture and Urban Planning” (indexed Scopus).

Address: Kipsalas iela 6, Riga, LV1048, LATVIA

Located in the Island of Kipsala. Walking distance (15 minutes) to Old Town - Riga city centre.

280 students (175 Bachelor, 95 Master, 10 PhD), 2% of foreign students.

28 staff members (17 full-time and approx. 11 visiting lecturers and critics).

Student Activities

http://www.rtu.lv/en/content/view/1474/2001/lang,en/

http://www.rtu.lv/en/content/view/1472/2000/lang,en/

Facilities

11
Bookshop
Cartographic and Arch. Info. Lab
Computer Room
Exhibition Room
Lecture Room
Library
sculpture studio, painting studio

Accommodation

http://www.rtu.lv/en/content/view/2044/1252/lang,en/

Admission Requirements

http://fsd.rtu.lv/resource/show/211

Tuition fees

- BA programme - state financed 40 students (competition) and the rest for EUR 4000.- per year;
- MA programme - state financed 35 students (competition) and the rest for EUR 6000.- per year;
- Doctoral programme - state financed 1 student (competition) and the rest for EUR 14704.- per year.

Application Deadline

http://fsd.rtu.lv/resource/show/211

Bachelor, Academic BA in Architecture, 3,5 years (7 semesters), BA, Latvian, 210,
Master, Professional MA in Architecture, 2 years (4 semesters), MA, Latvian/English, 120,
Doctoral, PhD in Architecture, 4 years (8 semesters), PhD in Humanities, Latvian/English, 216,

Architectural studies at Riga Technical University are held at the Faculty of Architecture in three accredited by the State study programmes in three successive qualification levels. The lower two levels (BA and MA) are the basic to meet the professional standards and are orientated towards development of creative and open personalities in order to provide artistic and technical knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for their professional start, access to profession and successful career. The higher (Doctoral) level is focused on development of knowledge, skills and abilities necessary in research work as well as in professorship at the higher educational institutions. Each level of education in Architecture corresponds to definite requirements of labour market.

Program (Degree)/Competence:
– Academic Bachelor (BA)/Assistant Architect
– Professional Master (MA)/Architect, Certificated Architect
– Academic Doctoral (Dr. arch.)/Advanced Researcher, Associate Professor, Professor

The Programme aims at preparing well-educated and creative specialists for professional work whether under supervision of certificated architect or as employees in state or municipal architectural and planning institutions. The Programme gives the overall knowledge and the basic skills for supervised practical work.

Programme meets the educational requirements set out in the Latvian Standard Classification of Occupations “Assistant Architect”.

The Programme is based on a balanced development of the creative designing skills through efficient integration of the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lectures and practical skills obtained during the performance of design tasks. Skills in special subjects (Architectural Design, Fine Arts subjects, etc.) are taught and perfected in face-to-face sessions.

Training is carried out through lectures and practical exercises. The content of the lectures includes general theory that should be mastered by all students. Practical classes focus on particular themes when each student prepares an individual theoretical assignment (a paper, a study, etc.) or a study design within a broader general subject.

After successful completion of Programme and presentation of a BA Thesis, the graduate is awarded the degree of Bachelor of Engineering Sciences in Architecture. It entitles the graduate to start supervised professional work and (or) to continue studies in higher level educational programmes.

The Professional Master Study Programme corresponds to the Bologna MA level. It aims at preparing well-educated and creative specialists for professional career within independent practice or as employee in state or municipal institutions as well as at acquiring research skills and provides the students with advanced knowledge required for research work. The content of the Programme together with the content of the BA programme fully meet the educational requirements included both in international and national laws and regulations, namely:

– UNESCO/UIA Charter for Architectural Education;
– EU Directive 2005/36/EC on Recognition of Professional Qualifications;
– National Law on Regulated Professions and Recognition of Professional Qualifications;
– National Cabinet Regulation on Minimum Requirements to Educational Programmes for Obtaining Professional Qualification of the Architect.

The Programme is based on a balanced development of the creativity through efficient integration of the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lectures and practical skills obtained during the performance of design tasks. Practical Placement is included amounting to 39 ECTS.

After successful completion of Programme and presentation of the Diploma Project, the graduate is awarded the qualification of Architect (Diploma). It entitles to start professional activity, to qualify for access to profession under the established procedure, and (or) to enter higher level studies.

 

The aim of the Academic Doctoral Study programme is to master theoretical knowledge and develop research skills and management abilities providing the students with advanced knowledge required for research work in architecture or other related fields. The students can begin studies after successful completion of the MA Study Programme in Architecture or equivalent education. After defence of the Doctoral Thesis the graduate is awarded the scientific degree “Doctor of Architecture” (Dr. arch.) that entitles to develop research or academic carreer.

The main emphasis is put on development of students’ ability to critically evaluate the tendencies in architecture and related fields in their varied expressions and evaluate them by providing a reasoned assessment. Individual research and analytical tasks are introduced in the lectures, choosing their themes in line with the topic of the Doctoral Thesis.

The studies are based on efficient integration of the knowledge acquired during the lectures and practical research skills obtained during the performance of study works focused on the issue of Doctoral Thesis. Special attention is paid to the selection of the subjects that are relevant to the urbanisation problems of the man-made environment and integration of historic and new urban areas.

Faculty is significant research centre, focusing on architecture and environmental development problems and systematically conducts research pertaining to the history of architecture and protection of cultural monuments, theory of architecture, urban development and spatial planning. The principal focus areas are: Regional and Global Tendencies in the Contemporary Latvian Architecture; Development of Systems and Structures for Managing Urban Planning of Environment-friendly Solutions; Structural Optimization and Spatial Development of Urban Environment; History of Latvian Architecture and Urban Development.