Umea University
School of Architecture
Umea, SE
Address
Umea University
School of Architecture
Umeå Arts Campus
90333 Umeå
SE

N 63° 49' 16.33'', E 63° 49' 16.33''

https://www.umu.se/en/
Contact
 James Brown 

e: james.brown@umu.se
Representative
Prof Cornelia Redeker 
Directory Co-ordinator, Head of department
Degree programmes
Master of Architecture
Master of Fine Arts
Faculty profile

Umeå School of Architecture (UMA) is a department of The Faculty for Science and Technology at Umeå University established in 2009. Since 2010 the school is located in its own building at Umeå Arts Campus with Umeå School of Design, Umeå Academy of Fine Arts and the museum for contemporary art Bildmuseet as closest neighbours.

For Umeå School of Architecture, holistic, interdisciplinary and experimental approaches are perceived decisive to address the contemporary global challenges and possibilities of Architecture such as climate change, rising inequalities, environmental devastation, uneven geographical living conditions and migration. The lack of institutional history brings an open, curious and sensitive atmosphere that tends to amplify such approaches. Likewise, the situating of Umeå School of Architecture in the local- and regional context of Umeå and Northern Sweden is, together with the school's International profile a dynamic vantage point to address global or structural issues while working firmly to engage with and learn from affected communities.

Umeå School of Architecture has around 30 employees with an academic and professional background in almost as many different contexts and approximately 250 students from all over the world. UMA provides education in the form of a
five-year Architecture Programme, a two-year Master’s Programme in Architecture and Urban Design as well as periodical Single-subject Courses.

Formally established in 1965, Umeå University is a comprehensive university covering research and education in medicine, science and technology, social sciences, arts and humanities, and educational sciences. Our cohesive campus environment enables a dynamic and open culture with a strong sense of community.

As a knowledge-driven organisation, Umeå University is striving to provide students and staff with unique opportunities for learning and development – whilst simultaneously serving society with new knowledge and creative citizens.

Over the past decades, the University and the city of Umeå have developed hand in hand. The influx of people from near and far has transformed Umeå into northern Sweden’s largest urban community.

Umeå University's geographical position in northern Sweden, Sápmi, and the Arctic Region of Europe provides us with unique opportunities to contribute new knowledge of global importance.

Accommodation

Exchange students and students outside EU/EEA that are paying a tuition fee, are offered housing by the International Housing Office. Learn more at: https://www.umu.se/en/education/accommodation/student-housing/

Housing Guarantee for exchange students and tuition-paying students from outside the EU/EEA. The International Housing Office (IHO) offers guaranteed student housing to exchange students and full-degree students that are citizens of countries outside the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. http://www.umu.se/english/umea/accommodation/exchange-student

Admission Requirements

Admittance to the Bachelor’s Programme will demand eligibility in Swedish or other Scandinavian language. Please go to www.umu.se/en/contact/prospective-students

The Master’s Programme will accept students from any country. The entry qualifications will be BA degree in Architecture or equivalent, and general eligibility in English. Application to all the Master Programmes will be based on portfolio work.

Tuition fees

Exchange Students - Students attending as part of an exchange agreement are not required to pay fees. If you have citizenship in a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland, you are not required to pay application or tuition fees. Students with citizenship in a country outside the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland will be required to pay a one-time SEK 900 (Swedish kronor) application fee.

Master of Architecture, Architectural Programme, 10 terms, Master, 300,
Master of Fine Arts, Master's Programme in Architecture and Urban Design, 4 terms, Master, 180,

Umeå School of Architecture offers a 300 credit architectural programme, enrolling 60 students yearly. The 5-year architectural programme leads to a Master of Architecture. It is also possible to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture after three years of study and a Master of Fine Arts in Architecture upon the completion of the two final years of study. The master degree qualifies students for work equivalent to students who hold a Master of Science and is fully acknowledged in all European Countries.

The education is largely based on project assignments and aims to integrate theoretical and scientific knowledge with artistic process and research.

Throughout the Bachelor’s programe, basic courses in Architectural history, Architectural theory, Technology, Urban planning and Architectural synthesis will be given. Focus lies on providing students with a wide understanding of the subject architecture, the necessary practical tools and implements for analysis, conceptual sketch and composition skills, and a wide range of technical knowledge.

The Master’s Programme in Architecture and Urban Design is divided into studios with different thematic orientations. You will work with the exploration of new fields of knowledge related to architecture and urban planning in a learning environment conceived as a laboratory. The aim is to develop your own critical thinking and your ability to apply new perspectives, designing alternative architectural proposals, strategies and practices that can contribute to change in today’s societal- and urban development.

Important elements of the programme are social- and environmental sustainability, resource awareness, work on different scales, experimenting with technical solutions and prototyping through full-scale construction and architectural interventions and installations in the physical environment.

The Master’s programme is based on an experimental pedagogy where theoretical knowledge is integrated with process-oriented and artistic investigations, where the development of the subject takes place in an exploratory and artistic approach to the practice and profession. Important elements of the programme are social- and environmental sustainability, resource awareness, work on different scales, experimenting with technical solutions and prototyping through full-scale construction and architectural interventions and installations in the physical environment.