Architecture Urbanism & Climate Action

Urban environments and their buildings are placing unprecedented stress on earth system processes, while simultaneously being critical sites for climate action. The MSc in Architecture, Urbanism and Climate Action (MAUCA) programme equips graduates and returning professionals with specialist skills to respond to the challenge of planning, designing, and realising a resilient and sustainable built environment. The School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy (APEP) brings together four key disciplines to provide a unique graduate learning experience.



Core modules are specifically designed to enhance knowledge of climate science and policy, GIS, systems thinking, and environmental ethics, as well as to develop skills for low carbon, sustainable and inclusive building and urban design. Optional modules have been selected from a wide range of schools across UCD, including Architecture, Planning, Environmental Policy, Geography, Biosystems Engineering, Economics and Law. Students undertake a Linked Research Project in the summer trimester that offers 3 options: developing individual research studies through a thesis; a placement on a prestigious EU or nationally funded collaborative research project within UCD on a relevant topic; or a placement with a company leading the agenda on low-carbon, sustainable building and urban design. Many students have continued to work for their placement research projects or companies after graduating.



Course Highlight

The UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy has an established international track record as a leading research centre in sustainable building and city research with large national and international funded projects. It is in the Top 150 QS World University Rankings by subject area, and has long led the way in architectural and urban design study and practice in Ireland.



Additionally, UCD is ranked in the top 50 in the world in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability, and is number 1 in Ireland and 24th in Europe.

Stage 1 Core Modules

ARCT41210 Architecture in a Climate Emergency Autumn 5

ARCT41260 Climate Carbon Cities Change Autumn 5

ARCT41310 Geodesign for Urban Futures Autumn 5

ARCT41240 Urban Resilience and Ethics Spring 5

ENVP40040 Sustainability Lab Spring 10



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:

All Students MUST select 30 credits of Option Modules, and between Core and Option modules register for a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester. Access to individual Option Modules may be dependent on prior learning and should be agreed with the the relevant Module Coordinator and the Programme Director. Students wishing to take BSEN40720 MUST select the Autumn Trimester offering of this module.



ARCT40680 Postgraduate Studio Autumn 15

ARCT41270 Retrofit Existing Buildings Autumn 5

BSEN40700 Energy System & Sustainable Environments Autumn 10

BSEN40720 Carbon & Sustainability Autumn 5

ENVP40100 Environmental & Behavioural Economics Autumn 10

ENVP40170 Evidence-based Decisions & Communication Autumn 10

GEOG40820 GIS Principles and Applications Autumn 10

GEOG40860 Practical Environmental Assessment Autumn 10

GEOG40960 Coastal Risks Autumn 5

PLAN40640 Planning Institutions & Govern Autumn 10

ARCT40660 Street Life: Urban Design, an Introduction Autumn and Spring (separate) 5

ARCT40690 Urban Design Studio Spring 15

ARCT40870 Agency: Design / Build Spring 5

BSEN30030 Air Pollution Spring 5

ECON42570 Behavioural E'mics:Policy App Spring 5

GEOG40870 Advanced GIS Applications Spring 10

GEOG40890 Remote Sensing Spring 10

LAW41090 Climate Change Law and Policy Spring 10

PLAN40570 Conservation and Placemaking Spring 10

PLAN40620 Planning, Design & Development Spring 10

PLAN40680 Planning for Nature Spring 10



Stage 1 Options - B)1 of:

Summer REQUIRED OPTION Module:

ALL Students MUST initially select the module ARCT41230 Linked Research Project. During the Autumn Trimester, those students interested in pursuing ARCT41290 MAUCA Internship will be expected to prepare their CV and seek Professional Work Experience opportunities from prospective employers under the guidance of the Internship Module Coordinator and Programme Director. In the event that a student is successful in securing a suitable Professional Work Experience placement, subject to gaining approval of the Internship Module Coordinator, the student will be re-registered to ARCT41290 MAUCA Internship by the College Office.



ARCT41230 Linked Research Project Summer 30

ARCT41290 MAUCA Internship Summer 30

An honours undergraduate degree (NFQ level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalent in subjects related to the built environment including architecture, urban design, engineering, environmental sciences, or humanity degrees involving social or natural sciences.



Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.



Applicants are required to submit a Personal Statement setting out why they have chosen this course (max 400 words).



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/

Apply online



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: Yes

1 year full-time. Delivery: On Campus.

T339 MSc in Architecture, Urbanism & Climate Action - Master of Science Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

This MSc gives students a unique set of skills to allow them stay ahead of the curve and apply for exciting and fulfilling job opportunities in rapidly expanding sectors in which there is a growing demand. Potential careers include in low carbon and sustainable architecture, landscape architecture and urban design; strategic design and change management; policy and governance; and environmental, building or energy engineering.



The MSc can also be a springboard into exciting careers in research and academia. It allows students to pursue further research opportunities into topics covered by the modules, and to contribute to a better understanding of how the building and urban design professions can best respond to the climate and biodiversity emergencies in an uncertain future. High achieving graduates of the course have gone on to doctoral studies in UCD, either via in-house opportunities on EU funded projects or through national funding schemes from the Irish Research Council.