The information and program qualifications related to the Architectural Design Master of Science Program, under the Department of Architecture of the Graduate School, are summarized below.
Information About The Program
Architectural Design MSc. Programme is a Graduate Programme. The Programme is working under the Graduate Level of Architecture Department that is directly connected to the rules and legislations of ITU Senate and ITU Graduate School of Science Engineering and Technology. The Programme is coordinated by an elected member from Architectural Design MSc. and PhD. Programmes Faculty Committee. The Executive Board of Coordination is made up of 3 elected members including the coordinator in that sense. Two research assistants are also elected working as reporters of the programme.
Main Research Areas of the Program:
Theory, criticism and history in architecture
Architectural design theory and methods
Environmental, social and cultural studies in architectural design
Architectural design technology and informatics
Interdisciplinary and cross disciplinary studies in architecture
Brief history of the program
After the embracement of the 4+2-year education system in 1978 at ITU Faculty of Architecture, the program was established as a thesis-based education under the name of Engineering Architecture Postgraduate Study (MMLS) between 1982 and 2002, the program continued as the Master and Doctorate Program in Building Knowledge. In 2002, during the restructuring of ITU Graduate Programs, the program was restructured as a 24-credit and thesis program under the name of "Architectural Design Master's and Doctoral Program". During this transformation process, new courses were offered, the course contents were updated and several courses were omitted since the content was either obsolete or they were standing as passive classes in the curriculum. As one of the leading graduate programs in the field of architecture, design theory and criticism in the nation, ITU Architectural Design Master's and Doctoral Program, continues to improve itself and maintain its leading role through new courses, up-to-date program structure and international education incentives.
Vision of Architectural Design Thesis Master Program:
Located in Istanbul, a global metropolis, the vision of the program is to be the focus of theoretical developments and scientific studies in the field of architectural design and to maintain its leading role in architectural design research at the national and international level.
Mission of Architectural Design Thesis Master Program:
The mission of the program is to promote advanced research studies in architectural design through the critical and theoretical reflection within the discipline of architecture. The program enables students to propose, conduct, conclude and share crossdisciplinary research studies for architectural design problems using analytical methods and techniques in the fields of architectural design, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
Who can apply ?
· Architects
· Interior Architects
· Landscape architects
· Urban designers and regional planners
· Industrial product designers
· Civil engineers (scientific preparation)
· Other engineers graduated from ITU (scientific preparation)
Click here for the program's website.
Active Student Count
Program Profile
The Master's Program in Architectural Design aims to approach subjects in the field from a multifaceted, creative, and critical perspective, to draw attention to emerging questions in architectural practice and theory, and to open new horizons. The program seeks to establish a diverse range of research approaches, methods, and techniques in advanced architectural design research, while holistically synthesising science, technology, and art within the context of architectural design. Drawing from the intersections of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, the program fosters interdisciplinary research and places the interaction between theory and practice at the forefront of its core objectives. Furthermore, it is committed to bringing together designers from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and institutions, strengthening participant diversity and solidarity, and thereby elevating the overall quality of graduate-level architectural design education.
Registration Requirements
Application Term : Previous Application / 2025-2026 Spring Semester
Application Requirements (For T.C Nationality) ALES Numerical must be minimum 75 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 700, new system GRE minimum 155 ). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 3.00/4 (76.66/100). Graduation must be Interior Architecture, Architecture. During the application, students are required to upload their architectural design portfolio consisting of Undergraduate works and, in addition if available, a file consisting of their publications and written work.
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 15
Application Requirements (For International Students) ALES Numerical must be minimum 75 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 700, new system GRE minimum 155 ). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 3.00/4 (76.66/100). Graduation must be Interior Architecture, Architecture. During the application, students are required to upload their architectural design portfolio consisting of Undergraduate works and, in addition if available, a file consisting of their publications and written work.
Quota (For International Students): 5
Click here for quotas and conditions for all semesters. Application Page Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles
Application requirements, application dates, and quotas are updated in real-time from the Application System.
Program Learning Environments
The learning environment of the Master’s Program in Architectural Design is established through design studios, classrooms, computer laboratories, model and fabrication workshops, research laboratories, and libraries. The program’s learning environment is shaped by design research as its spine, established through compulsory and elective courses, as well as by an ecosystem of conferences, exhibitions, and publications through which students share their research. While students gain experience in the subjects and methods of advanced design research through studio-based courses, they also acquire knowledge of the theoretical and critical frameworks and methodologies of architectural design through other compulsory and elective courses. Throughout this process, students use the university’s print and electronic resources, conduct archival research within the scope of their studies, and use model and fabrication workshops and research laboratories. During their time in the program, students regularly participate in national and international conferences to present their research, publish in prominent national and international journals in the field, and exhibit their work at relevant biennials and festivals.
MasterBee
English Proficiency
Regulations and Guidelines
Academic Calendar
Course Plans
Course Schedules
Course Adjustment and Exemption Procedures
Program Educational Objectives
The purpose of the program is to:
- Raise the awareness of current issues in the field of architectural theory and practice with a critical perspective,
- Comprehend, reveal and interpret phenomenon of architecture and discourse based on recent developments in the profession,
- Create a professional formation with multi-dimensional thinking and conduct in-depth research by combining technology, art, science and human factors,
- Comprehend the interactive relationship between thought, theory and praxis in architecture,
- Generate new knowledge on architectural design problems through qualitative and quantitative research methods,
- Understand the interdisciplinary nature of design and conduct original scientific research in the field of architectural theory and criticism,
- Comprehend the research logic and method of design; and develop the skills for perceiving, comprehending and transforming design problems into knowledge with a holistic approach.
Measurement and Evaluation
Evaluating Student Success
The student success is evaluated considering Articles 56, 57, 58, and 59 of the Istanbul Technical University Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles.
ARTICLE 56 - Before the enrollment for the courses begins, the faculty member who offers the course informs the Program Executive Committee about the types, number and contribution percentage to the final grade of the studies within the semester, as well as requirements for a right to take the semester final exam. These requirements shall be finalized by approval of the Program Executive Committee and approval of the chair of the department, who declares them to the student and informs the Graduate School.
ARTICLE 57 - A student may appeal the final grade of a course within one week following the announcement of the grades. Appeals must be submitted to the Graduate School in writing. The relevant faculty member shall re-evaluate the student's success status and submit the result to the Graduate School within one week. Appeals not submitted within the prescribed time frame shall not be considered by the Graduate School.
ARTICLE 58 - Courses in graduate programs shall be evaluated according to the following grading system.
| Grade Description |
Grade |
Scale |
| Excellent |
AA |
4.00 |
| Very good plus |
BA+ |
3.75 |
| Very good |
BA |
3.50 |
| Good plus |
BB+ |
3.25 |
| Good |
BB |
3.00 |
| Conditional Pass |
CB+ |
2.75 |
| Conditional Pass |
CB |
2.50 |
| Conditional Pass |
CC+ |
2.25 |
| Conditional Pass |
CC |
2.00 |
| Fail |
FF |
0.00 |
| Fail(No Exam) |
VF |
0.00 |
ARTICLE 59 - Students who wish to improve their cumulative grade point average may retake courses during the course-taking period. The most recent grade will be counted for the repeated courses.
Internship
There is no internship in this program.
Graduation Requirements
Programme is working under the legislations of ITU Senate and ITU Graduate Studies Regulations.
Additional URL :
https://www.sis.itu.edu.tr/TR/mevzuat/lisansustu-yonetmelik.php
The Awarded Degree and Title
Degree : Master of Science Title : -
Program Employment Opportunities
Graduated students may be working in a great diversity of academic and professional fields related to the objectives of this programme.
Number of Graduates
Graduate Statistics (Last Five Years)
| Year | Number of Graduates |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2023 | 34 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 16 |
Program Outcomes
P.O.1 The ability to use theoretical and practical knowledge of architectural design based upon the competency in the undergraduate level; developing and intensifying in the expert-level; interpreting and forming new types of knowledge by combining the knowledge from various other disciplines
P.O.2 Using the knowledge and the skills for problem solving and/or application in inter-disciplinary studies and grasping the inter-disciplinary interaction
P.O.3 Solving the complex problems of architectural design by making use of the research methods and developing new strategic approaches while taking responsibility; assessing the specialistic knowledge and skill gained through the study with a critical view and directing one’s own learning process; The ability to carry out a specialistic study independently
P.O.4 Fulfilling the leader role in the environments where solutions are sought for the problems ,in architectural design
P.O.5 Paying regard to social, scientific, cultural and ethical values during the collecting, interpreting, practicing and announcing processes of architectural design data and the ability to teach these values; developing strategy, policy and application plans and the ability to evaluate the end results of these plans within the frame of quality processes; The competence to use the information, problem solving or practice skills through interdisciplinary studies.
P.O.6 Systematically transferring the current developments in architectural design area and one’s own work within the international environments orally, visually and in written forms by using a foreign language and establishing written and oral communication with that language and the computer software together with the information and communication technologies efficiently and according to the needs of the area; Competence to see and develop social relationships and the norms directing these relationships with a critical look and the ability to take action to change these when necessary; Communicating in verbal and written forms in terms of a foreign language from Europe's Language Level of B2.
Turkish Qualifications Database
The qualification has not yet been incorporated into the TYÇ.
Program Coordinator
Head of the Department
Click for detailed student count.
Links