Information

As part of the implementation of the Bologna Process for the establishment of a European Higher Education Area, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has set itself the goal that, as a rule, the Master's degree will be awarded at the end of the student's education. The Bachelor's and Master's degree course in architecture offered by the KIT Department of Architecture is therefore to be regarded as an overall concept with a consecutive structure.

In any case, the proof of at least four years of study is required for admission to the Chamber of Architects.

Degree and duration of studies

2 years to the degree of Master of Science (M.Sc.); a total of 120 credit points (analogous to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System - ECTS) must be acquired, deviations from the standard period of study are possible.

Study structure

The modularised Master's programme corresponds in many cases to a project study. One major project is planned per semester. In addition, elective and optional modules are offered by the four institutes of the KIT department. In addition, seminars on key qualifications have to be attended. The study program ends with the master project. Overall, there is a great deal of freedom in the selection of in-depth projects in the Master's program. The individual modules are defined in the study plan, which is announced before the beginning of the study.

Application and admission

Admission to the Master's programme is restricted.

Prerequisites for admission to the master's program in architecture at KIT are:

1. bachelor degree

a passed* Bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in the study course Architecture (or a study course with essentially the same content) at a university, university of applied sciences or university of cooperative education or at a foreign university. The course of study must have been completed within the framework of a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits,

2. minimum knowledge and minimum performance in the areas**:

- Design to the extent of 60 LP, of which one urban design project to the extent of at least 10 LP.

- Building technology to the extent of 30 LP

- Theoretical and historical foundations to the extent of 20 LP

- Design and representation to the extent of 20 LP and

- 20 LP in urban and landscape planning.

Important!

The assignment of the achievements in the Bachelor's degree programme to the areas must be made by the applicant on a form.

3. internship***

A twelve-week full-time internship in an architectural office or in a structural engineering department of an office or a large company.

4. knowledge of German

for applicants whose native language is not German, proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language in accordance with the requirements of the admission and matriculation regulations of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT),

5. passing of examinations

that in the course of studies in architecture or a related course of studies with essentially the same content there is no final failure of an examination required according to the examination regulations and that the examination entitlement still exists for other reasons.

6. subject-specific aptitude test (project portfolio/conversation)

Successful participation in a subject-specific aptitude test consisting of a project portfolio and, if applicable, an interview.

The design or project portfolio with work samples should consist of the final thesis of the undergraduate Bachelor's degree, further self-selected own work from the Bachelor's degree as well as a tabular curriculum vitae and is to be submitted as a PDF-File with a maximum of 30 pages in DIN 4 format.
The design or project portfolio will be evaluated on a scale of 0 to 80 points.

If the score is at least 61 points, the portfolio meets the requirements and the subject-specific aptitude test is passed.

If the score is below 41 points, the subject-specific aptitude test is not passed.

If the score is between 41 and 60 points, the applicant will be invited to an interview.

In the interview you should be able to apply specialist content from your studies and your professional experience to questions and objectives in architecture. This includes the areas of design, the understanding of architectural issues, the ability to work scientifically and the technical language competence. Your interview behaviour will also be assessed in terms of expressiveness, approach to discussing problems and coherence of argument.

The interview will take place on the premises of the KIT in Karlsruhe and will last approximately 20 minutes.

The exact dates and the place of the interview will be announced by KIT one week before the interview at the latest. The applicants admitted to the interview will be invited by KIT in due time. The time period for the interview will be fixed and announced before the application deadline.

The interview will be evaluated on a scale of 0 to 20 points.

If the total score in the interview is at least 10 points, the subject-specific aptitude test is passed.

Letter of motivation

For the formation of the ranking list, a letter of motivation of a maximum length of 500 words for the choice of the Master's program in Architecture at KIT has to be enclosed.

In the letter, please explain why you are applying for the master's degree program in architecture at KIT, why you consider yourself suitable for this program, and what goals and expectations you have for the study of architecture at KIT.

Ranking list

A ranking list will be drawn up among the applicants who meet the admission requirements:

Overall grade of the academic degree (15 points)

Letter of motivation (5 points)

Design/project portfolio (80 points)

Due to the high number of applicants, not all applicants who meet the admission requirements can be admitted. This means that even after successful completion of the interview, it is possible that no admission will be granted because the placement on the ranking list is in the lower range.

Footnotes:

* Admission to the Master's programme in Architecture can also be applied for if the Bachelor's degree has not yet been obtained by the application deadline, and if it can be expected, based on the applicant's previous course of study, in particular his/her previous examination results, that the applicant will complete the Bachelor's programme in good time before starting the Master's programme in Architecture.

In this case, an average grade can be taken into account in the admission and selection decision, which is determined on the basis of the previous examination results. The applicant takes part in the admission and selection procedure exclusively with the average grade determined and the previous study and examination achievements. The subsequent result of the Bachelor's degree is disregarded. The application must be accompanied by a certificate of the study and examination achievements (e.g. extract of grades) up to the end of the application period.

** If up to 30 LP of the aforementioned achievements are missing, the applicant can still be admitted with the achievements actually made if he/she successfully completes and proves these achievements within the first three semesters of the Master's degree programme in addition to the study and examination achievements required according to the relevant study and examination regulations of the Master's degree programme in Architecture.

*** If the twelve-week professional internship pursuant to Paragraph 2 No. 4 is missing, the applicant may nevertheless be admitted in individual cases on the condition that he/she successfully completes the internship by the beginning of the third semester of the Master's degree programme. The fulfilment of the condition must be proven at the latest for re-registration in the fourth semester.

• Handoutfor the Master's application procedure
• Form for the verification of professional knowledge from the first degree for the application to the Master's programme in Architecture

Internship

The KIT Department recommends that students complete a total of 24 weeks of internship in an architectural office before or during their Master's studies. The internship can be carried out until the Master's degree.

New study regulations for the winter semester 2021/22

In the winter semester 2021/22, new study regulations will come into force in the Master's programme in Architecture. It will automatically apply to all students who start the Master's programme in winter semester 2021/22.