MArch Sustainable Architecture Integrated Master's degree at Centre for Alternative Technology
MArch Sustainable Architecture at CAT is prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) at Part 2 level, meeting the professional requirements for UK architectural registration.
About this course
MArch Sustainable Architecture is an Integrated Master's degree (MArch) at CAT, based in Machynlleth. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Architecture, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
- Integrated Design Project 1
- Architectural Analysis Through Writing
- Professional Studies
- Integrated Design Project 2
- Build Project
- MArch Research Paper
- Final Design Project
- Technical Report for Final Design Project
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This integrated Master's in Sustainable Architecture emphasises design grounded in environmental responsibility and low-impact practice. A course like this typically progresses from foundational design and theory through increasingly complex briefs towards a major project. You'll usually study Design Studio I, focusing on drawing, making and critique; Architectural History and Theory, covering buildings from antiquity to contemporary cities; and Construction and Materials in Year 1. Year 2 typically moves to more complex design briefs alongside Environmental Design and Structures, exploring energy, comfort and structural principles, plus Digital Representation including CAD and BIM workflows. In Year 3, you'll normally undertake Design Studio III as a comprehensive building design (the RIBA Part 1 centrepiece), plus Professional Practice and a written dissertation. Specialisations available include sustainable design, urban design, BIM and digital practice, and portfolio development.
Who it's for
This course suits those seeking professional architectural qualification whilst maintaining flexibility through part-time study. It is designed for students committed to sustainable design principles and prepared to engage with both theoretical foundations and practical application in architectural practice.
Careers & job market
Across Architecture courses nationally, 89% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with 75% of working graduates in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) typically range from £23,500 to £28,000, rising to £24,650–£34,800 after five years. These figures reflect the broader graduate population rather than outcomes specific to this institution.
University & format
The MArch Sustainable Architecture is studied part-time at Centre for Alternative Technology, a university-sector institution in Machynlleth. The course is taught in English and is prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) at Part 2 level for the purpose of registration in the UK. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the award is nationally recognised.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page. Set under Wales's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at CAT →If you normally live in Wales
2026/27 total maintenance support from Student Finance Wales. How much of it is grant and how much is loan depends on household income; the total does not. If you normally live elsewhere, use your home funding body.
Check your entitlement with Student Finance Wales →Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: paid directly to the university by Student Finance Wales.
- Maintenance support: a mix of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales, weighted to household income.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Wales runs its own system through Student Finance Wales; check studentfinancewales.co.uk for current rates.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Architecture graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in architecture · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Architecture nationally
National figures for Architecture graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Architecture graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Architecture graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Architecture practices
- Property developers
- Local-authority planning
- Construction firms
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Architecture graduates.
Architecture Design Lead EMEANeko HealthArchitecture Director - Data CentresAECOMArchitecture Managing Consultant: Consumer & Manufacturing GrowthAstro Studios, Inc.Architecture Lead on Equipment ManagementAirbusArchitecture - Senior Solutions Architect - IT1Parkdean Resorts UK LimitedArchitecture Managing Consultant, Consumer & ManufacturingPA ConsultingWho studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Centre for Alternative Technology
Architecture, building and planning across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Machynlleth
1 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Architecture right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to CAT from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by CAT; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check CAT’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with CAT and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at CAT
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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