More than 20 partner universities from Europe and overseas
All courses (120 ECTS) are offered in English.
For interested participants, however, it is also possible to choose courses taught in English from several further courses out of the faculty’s pool (maximum of 30 ECTS).
For prospective students with foreign degrees: 15 October of the previous year
For prospective students with German degrees: 1 March of the same year
Students gain broad knowledge of design and construction through a combination of lecture series and modules that discuss design and construction in the areas of urban design, design of buildings in existing contexts and built environments, and design of new buildings. These topics are directly related to internationally-oriented projects and a series of elective modules, giving students the chance to focus on their individual interests, which may then become the main focus of their Master’s theses. Moreover, 30 ECTS can be chosen from a faculty pool.
By intensively studying several contexts from a global, diversity-oriented, and multicultural point of view, students develop an ability to independently translate any abstract design into a concrete implementation of material and construction. They will be able to combine professional, practical, technical, economic, ecological, and social aspects while, at the same time, taking varied cultural, historical, and climatic situations into consideration.
In the fourth semester, students work on their Master’s theses.
The modules complement each other and are linked to one another, for instance, through combined projects, excursions, lectures, conferences, and e-learning. The integrated, international structure of the degree course offers students the chance to have a unique study experience in the future-oriented metropolis of Frankfurt.
Course objectives
The study programme concentrates on the combination of design and construction. “Advanced Architecture“ means designing and constructing on all scales, from urban contexts to single details. Advanced, future-oriented concepts are developed and addressed in study projects. Close collaboration with our cooperation partners from the construction sector and the FFin (the Frankfurt University research institute) is an option.
In particular, graduates will be able to work at the interface between abstract designs and their concrete implementations. This means a focus on the planning phase, referred to in the German Official Scale of Fees for Services by Architects and Engineers as “execution planning“, with strong feedback on the design process and in close connection with current developments of scientific research in design and construction.
Relevant occupational fields of graduates are in architectural, engineering, and construction companies, the construction industry, property development and housing associations, real estate companies, and the public sector as well as the research and technological development of design and construction.
The full-time English Master’s degree programme “Advanced Architecture. From Urban Design to Building Construction” lasts for four semesters and operates in close conjunction with the German Master in Architecture, a degree programme, with a selection of courses taught in English.
During their two years of study, students will acquire 120 ECTS credits and will be awarded the academic degree of Master of Science (MSc).
The degree course is aimed at graduates with a first academic degree in architecture from European and non-European countries who want to focus on architecture in an international context. The Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences cooperates with the Frankfurt Research Institute (Frankfurter Forschungsinstitut FFin) and a specific architectural trainee programme called TRAX to offer special on-site opportunities to students. Students can get involved in ongoing research projects in order to learn and develop scientific work through application-oriented research in the field of design and construction, or they can learn the actual implementation of concepts in practice.
The study programme complies with the UIA standards (Union of International Architects). It provides a prerequisite for entry into the German Chamber of Architects.
First semester
Starting with the summer semester, five modules will be offered: Lecture Series Design (5 ECTS), Urban Contexts — Design and Construction (10 ECTS), International Design and Build Project (5 ECTS), Impromptu Designs (5 ECTS), and one elective course (5 ECTS).
The elective course can be chosen from a pool of several courses offered in English, including the following courses: Climate Design; Rehabilitate, Reuse, Add-On; Urban Design and Public Space; Urban Renewal and Redevelopment; Digital Basics; and Construction, Material, and Experimental Design. The elective courses may also be chosen from several further courses out of the faculty’s pool.
Second semester
Five modules are offered: Lecture Series Construction (5 ECTS), New Buildings — Design and Construction (10 ECTS), International Design Project (5 ECTS), and two elective courses (each with 5 ECTS).
Third semester
Four modules are offered: Existing Contexts — Design and Construction (10 ECTS), specialisation project (10 ECTS), and two more elective courses (each with 5 ECTS).
Fourth semester
Master's thesis and colloquium (30 ECTS)
The enrolment fees are currently approx. 390 EUR per semester. They also include nationwide local and regional public transport as well as free entry to all municipal museums in Frankfurt.
Admission to the English-language Master’s degree programme in “Advanced Architecture“ is granted to applicants with a diploma or Bachelor's degree in architecture with 180 ECTS, completed with a grade that corresponds at least to the grade of 2.3, as calculated according to the German grading system. Applicants will have to submit a CV, a portfolio describing their studies and their first work experiences, and a letter of motivation. They also have to provide proof of at least a four-month internship in an area relevant to architecture after their first degree.
Portfolio Specifications
To ensure a smooth review process, please adhere to the following formatting and structural guidelines:
Format & Technical Requirements
Note: Please specify within the project description whether this work was completed during your academic studies, an internship, or professional office experience.
Page Count
Standard Requirement: eight pages total
Following the preferred eight-page format, please organise your work as follows:
Practical Experience (two pages, field-relevant architectural work)
No exceptions will be permitted.
For prospective students with foreign degrees: 15 October of the previous year
For prospective students with German degrees: 1 March of the same year
Accommodation is provided by state-run as well as private sector halls of residence. The university website provides useful addresses.
The International Office offers International Career Service as an additional support for international students.
Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences offers practice-oriented study programmes of a high academic standard, opening the way to a broad range of attractive professions. Frankfurt University’s international orientation paves the way to the global job market. It not only offers a wide range of language courses and language learning levels but also maintains partnerships with about 100 universities worldwide. Students graduate with Bachelor's or Master's degrees that are in conformity with international standards.
Within the faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geomatics, personal contact between professors and students, small study groups, and individual support offer the best conditions for high-quality and successful studies.
With around 780,000 inhabitants, Frankfurt am Main calls itself a "small metropolis". As one of the main financial, trade and logistics centres in Europe, the city is the hub of a flourishing region in the heart of Germany, the Rhine-Main area. It has a strong multinational and multicultural character and attracts businesspeople, students and tourists alike. It is a city of striking contrasts – historical and modern, commerce and culture, dynamism and tranquillity. Pubs, restaurants, museums, parks, an opera house and many theatres provide a rich social and cultural life. Frankfurt has an excellent public transport system, extending to the whole urban region and even to the beautiful landscape of the nearby Taunus Hills. A large number of fascinating natural and cultural heritage sites are well worth visiting.
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