The School of Architecture at Tsinghua University is the first in China to offer an accredited Master degree to foreign students. The purpose of the program is to develop a major new platform of architectural education in response to the rapid urbanization of China.
The program offers a nationally-accredited professional Master degree, Master in Architecture (M. Arch II). With a particular focus on the architecture and design in China, the School of Architecture gives graduate students, preferably professional Bachelor degree holders, the opportunity to pursue advanced learning in professional knowledge and independent design research. The program adopts the credit system. A total of 27 credits, earned through courses and studios, are required for the students.
Courses can be divided into 5 main categories: 1) studios, 2) theory, 3) seminars, 4) site visits, and 5) optional public courses. The course menu also covers different academic fields, including architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and design, and profession-related knowledge in China.
The standard language for all courses is English.
Students are required to take the following studios and complete 18 credits: Architectural Design, Landscape Planning and Design, Urban Design, and Final Thesis.
Each studio is co-instructed by one internationally established professor and two coordinating Chinese professors. Design critics are selected from a pool established foreign and domestic architects currently active in China. Studio topics are often real projects in some of China’s most architecture “hot spots,” including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Suzhou, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Lijiang, Lhasa and Qingdao, etc. In these studios, students are challenged to tackle difficult and sometimes controversial social, political, economic, ethnic and religious issues that are unique to contemporary China. Students are required to complete 4 credits in seminars focusing on important issues in contemporary Chinese architecture, contemporary Chinese urban development, and heritage preservation. Each seminar is co-instructed by 2-3 professors and features guest panelists, including senior government officials, distinguished scholars, and developers.
Students are also required to complete courses on theory. These courses cover a wide range of fields: history, design theory, urban theory, contemporary practice, building technology, landscape and Chinese gardening, etc. These courses feature lectures by leading figures in different fields from inside and outside of China.
In addition, there is one required credit for a “site visit” which provides students with exposure to fresh Chinese cultural and professional perspectives. The destination places are chosen from influential sites and cities of great interests of history and contemporary practice.
Optional public courses are provided by Tsinghua University, offering training in Chinese language and learning in Chinese history and culture, 4 credits in total.
6 Credits in design studios (Space Design & Urban Design)
2 Credits in seminars (Theory and Practice of Regional Architecture & Contemporary Urban Planning and Design)
2 Credits in optional public courses
6 Credits in design studios (Green Building Design)
2 Credits in seminars (History of Chinese Architecture & Theory and Practice of Regional Architecture)
2 Credits in optional public courses
1 Credit in Architecture and City Visiting Study
6 Credits in design studios (Final Design)
Enrolment will be strictly limited to 20 students.
Pre-requisite: an accredited professional Bachelor degree in architecture.
(1) Completed Foreigner’s Application Form for Admission to Graduate Programs of Tsinghua University (original and duplicated)
(2) Proof of B. Arch diploma: Copy of the official diploma or certificate, and an official academic record. This material should be sealed in a separate envelope with an authorizing seal across the back flap (original and duplicated)
(3) Portfolio: Those materials should demonstrate the applicant’s competence in design and research. All materials must be printed on A4 paper. Please note that portfolios will not be returned to applicants.
(4) CV (Curriculum Vitae)
(5) Personal statement: A brief introduction of the applicant’s personal history and an explanation of why the applicant is interested in the program
(6) Recommendation letters: Three recommendation letters written by people with direct knowledge of the applicant’s professional and academic potentials. All letters must be sealed in separate envelopes with the recommender’s signature across the sealed back flaps (original and duplicated)
(7) Two copies of the page with personal information in the passport (personal and ordinary passport)
(8) Two copies of applicant’s recent photo (cap-free, 2 inches, stick on the application form)
(9) A non-refundable application fee of RMB 600 payable to Tsinghua University.This fee cannot be credited to tuition or other accounts upon admission.
Application Fee Payment as follows: Application Fee Payment
The certificates provided should be the original or notarized documents in Chinese or in English, otherwise notarized translations in Chinese or English are required. None of the above application documents will be returned.
Complete Online Application on the website of Foreign Student Affairs Office, Tsinghua University (http://intlstudent.cic.tsinghua.edu.cn). Print and sign two hard copies of the Application Form produced by the system after the application status changes to “verified”. Download and complete the Application Form for Tsinghua University Scholarship for future students (if you intend to apply).
Submit the application documents listed above to the address indicated below by post mail or in person.
November 1, 2009 – February 28, 2010.
Both the Online Application and a complete set of Application documents should be completed and the package be received by February 28, 2010.
Tuition for the whole program is RMB 120,000.
Accidental Injury and Hospitalization Insurance: RMB 600/year.
A limited number of scholarships are available.
Tsinghua University offers full scholarships to excellent students. For those who wish to apply for this scholarship, the hardcopies of application documents should be received by Feb. 1, 2010. Due to the limited number of this scholarship, we encourage applicants to apply for other kinds of scholarships at the same time. Please visit our scholarship website for more details.
Wenjun ZHOU (Ms.)
Admission Office, International Program, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University
Beijing 100084, P. R. China
Tel: (8610) 62785693
Fax: (8610) 62770314
Email: m-arch-admission@tsinghua.edu.cn
Website: http://arch.tsinghua.edu.cn/march