Master in Architecture
Master in Architecture
MASTER IN Architecture
MASTER IN Architecture
Our Master in Architecture (MArch) combines the rigorous training required to achieve professional licensure in Spain and the European Union with an international, entrepreneurial, and sustainable approach. We help you gain professional licensure, and then redefine the profession-on your own terms.
The program consists of three elements: the Thesis Project module, led by world-renowned architect, educator, and entrepreneur Ben Van Berkel, of Amsterdam-based UNStudio; an intensive architectural design and building construction studio based on sustainable technologies and architectural strategies; and the Design Management Module, which builds on our legacy of excellence in entrepreneurial thinking and business training, as applied to the fields of architecture and design.
The Master in Architecture program, held in Madrid and Amsterdam, prepares graduates to become leaders in the architectural profession and related design fields. With our rigorous, innovative approach, small class sizes, and access to IE University´s international network of partners and alumni, you’ll graduate ready tolead the sector from day one.
This program is also recognized with the prestigious NAAB International Certification (ICert), placing IE School of Architecture and Design among a select group of leading architecture schools worldwide.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
ABOUT OUR MASTER IN ARCHITECTURE
ABOUT OUR MASTER IN ARCHITECTURE
Our Dean, David Goodman, introduces our groundbreaking Master in Architecture Habilitante program, the key to becoming an architect in Spain and the EU.
This program offers international practice and networking opportunities, with a unique entrepreneurial approach. Dean Goodman also explains that individuals from outside Spain can access the program through the Professional Access Path.
- Victor AleñarSenior Manager of Global Recruitment
ANY DOUBTS?
Please contact our program specialist for personalized advice on your specific case.
WHO SHOULD JOIN THIS PROGRAM?
WHO SHOULD JOIN THIS PROGRAM?
This program is intended for students looking to complete their professional architectural licensure requirements in Spain, and who want an international, innovative approach to the profession.
The Master in Architecture is open to:
Students who...
have graduated with the Spanish five-year non-license-granting undergraduate architectural studies (“fundamentos de arquitectura” or “estudios de arquitectura”) degree, from any accredited Spanish university.
Students who...
have graduated with a minimum five-year degree from other countries and have demonstrated a record of academic excellence. You may be eligible for our intensive Professional Acesss Path (PAP) option, which can provide access to the Master in Architecture program for those who have not completed their undergraduate studies in Spain.
3 REASONS TO JOIN THE MASTER IN ARCHITECTURE
3 REASONS TO JOIN THE MASTER IN ARCHITECTURE
- 01.
PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE
- Achieve professional licensure in Spain, with eligibility for professional recognition in all EU member states. Our program is also accredited in Singapore, with other international accreditations currently in process. You’ll also work closely with a range of international professionals, including Thesis Chair Ben van Berkel.
- 02.
SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY & STRATEGIES
- You’ll combine design studio with advanced technical coursework to learn how to integrate the latest sustainable technologies and strategies, under the instruction of internationally recognized leaders in the field.
- 03.
DESIGN MANAGEMENT
Our intensive Design Management Module will not only teach you how to run your firm and position yourself as a successful professional, but also how to structure your future business around your abilities and interests, and how to rethink what it means to work as an architect. Building on IE University’s tradition of excellence in management education, we’ll give you the management training necessary to chart your own course.
OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY, APPLY TO THE MASTER IN ARCHITECTURE AND WIN THE UNSTUDIO MERIT SCHOLARSHIP + INTERNSHIP AT UNSTUDIO
IE School of Architecture & Design has signed an agreement with UNStudio to create an innovative academic framework for a new Master in Architecture (MArch).
In recognition of the strategic importance of this agreement and in honor of UNStudio’s extensive record of innovation and excellence, IE University will grant the UNStudio Merit Scholarship to be awarded to one incoming student of the Master in Architecture, per year.
This scholarship of up to 30% of the full tuition cost for the Master in Architecture program, will be awarded to an outstanding applicant who shows special promise as a student and future professional in architecture and related fields.
And there´s a lot more to it!
After graduation, if the grantee remains in good academic standing and meets the firm’s professional standards, UNStudio will offer them an internship of at least three months (paid at their standard rate for a position of this level)!
To participate, fill out the online form and follow the instructions for the next steps.
To participate, fill out the online form and follow the instructions for next steps.
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
DIGITAL FABRICATION
Our MIT-certified FabLab will play a fundamental role in your time at IE University. You’ll have direct access to the latest digital fabrication tools, and will be able to integrate them into your work every step of the way.
NETWORK
When you join IE, you’re not just enrolling in a school. You’re joining an international network of alumni, partners, and fellow students. Wherever your work or your life may take you, our international network will be there to help.
INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION
At IE University, you’re not just a face in the crowd. We have a rigorous selection process, and we like to keep our groups small enough that we know each and every one of our students. That way, we can help challenge, guide and encourage you individually as you move along your path.
LEARNING INNOVATION
Architecture education has been around for a while. We appreciate what’s been done in the past but are always looking for new ways to address the challenges of the future. The world’s changing fast. We think architecture education needs to change, too.
NAAB INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION
NAAB INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION
IE School of Architecture and Design has been awarded the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) International Certification (ICert) — a prestigious recognition held by a select group of institutions worldwide.
This certification confirms that IE University’s Bachelor in Architectural Studies and Master in Architecture meet internationally accepted standards of architectural education, with learning outcomes comparable to those of U.S.-based NAAB-accredited programs.
*Please note: The ICert does not grant direct U.S. licensure, but it can facilitate your pathway toward a NAAB-accredited master’s degree or other recognized professional routes for architectural licensure in the United States.
How this benefits our students
- Global career opportunities: The ICert gives our graduates a distinct advantage when pursuing licensure or further studies abroad, including an expedited review process and reduced fees for U.S. licensure applications.
- International academic recognition: This milestone enhances the global reputation and value of IE University’s architecture programs, positioning them among the world’s most respected.
- Professional mobility: The certification ensures our programs align with internationally accepted learning outcomes, empowering graduates to compete and collaborate globally.
- Commitment to excellence: It reaffirms IE University’s dedication to academic rigor, innovation, and global engagement, preparing architects to lead change in sustainability, equity, and cultural resilience.
The following ICert documents are available for download:
- 2025 Visiting Team Report
- Program Self Evaluation Report prepared for the 2025 visit
- 2019 Conditions for NAAB International Certification
- 2019 Procedures for NAAB International Certification
- IE School of Architecture & Design – NAAB Program Self-Evaluation Report
- IE University ICert Visit Two VTR
Upon completing our Bachelor of Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture programs, and following the completion of the accreditation process, you will receive the International Certification awarded by NAAB.
Singapore Accreditation
IE School of Architecture and Design is the first Spanish academic institution to be accredited by Singapore, a country renowned for its innovative and vibrant approach to architecture. With this accreditation, our graduates will be able to work with the same footing as graduates from the two Singaporean schools of architecture and expand their global employment opportunities.
AMSTERDAM LAB IMMERSION WEEKS
AMSTERDAM LAB IMMERSION WEEKS
The Amsterdam trip for the Master in Architecture is an incredibly enriching experience for our students. It's very intense, but absolutely worth it.
They are fully immersed in the reality of an architecture studio, spending three weeks at UN Studio, an internationally renowned architecture firm.
During this time, they visit various projects, addressing themes that they integrate into their own designs.
They also conduct site visits to the project sites, have multiple tutorial presentations with professors from UN Studio and the school, and finally present their progress to the jury at the end of this period.
This jury includes Ben van Berkel as the Thesis Chair of the Capstone Project and David Goodman as the Dean of IE School of Architecture and Design, among others professors.
Curious about student life?
Curious about student life?
Engage with our student ambassadors to ask any questions you may have about IE's student experience. Our dedicated students and staff are here to share their insights and address any doubts you might have. Feel free to reach out whenever it suits you.
MEET OUR FACULTY
MEET OUR FACULTY
Meet our esteemed faculty and hear what they have to say about our Master in Architecture Habilitante.
Marcela Aragüez, the program director, brings her wealth of experience to shape the curriculum.
Ben van Berkel, renowned architect and founder of UNStudio, serves as the thesis chair for the capstone project, providing invaluable guidance and expertise, amongst others.
Capstone Projects
Capstone Projects
Join Franka Ducic and Martina de Prosperi Blanco, recent graduates of the Master in Architecture program at IE University, as they share their insights from their final presentation for the Capstone Project.
Discover how the Capstone Projects serve as a platform for students to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills, pushing the boundaries of architecture and design from insights from Ben van Berkel, Chair, and David Goodman, Dean.
UNSURE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PROGRAM TO HELP YOU ON YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY?
UNSURE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PROGRAM TO HELP YOU ON YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY?
Discover the Master in Architecture related programs:
DEGREE INFORMATION AND INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM
DEGREE INFORMATION AND INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM
APPLICABLE REGULATIONS OF THE PROGRAM
APPLICABLE REGULATIONS OF THE PROGRAM