1 Introduction
The School of Architecture at Tsinghua University in Beijing was the first in China to offer an accredited Master degree to foreign students in 2008. The purpose of the program is to develop a major new platform of architectural education in response to the rapid urbanization of China.
Since its founding, our EPMA program has steadily developed, and our students have won several international awards with their work done in our program. Most recently for the Student Design Competition for the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in Chicago CTBUH), see here. Our program was ranked as the world’s 5th best Graduate Program in Architecture in 2018, 1st in Asia.
The program is lead by, prof. Li Xiaodong; you can find an interview by Vladimir Belogolovsky on his thinking on ArchDaily via this link. https://www.archdaily.com/909513/iidentify-forms-with-energy-li-xiaodong-of-li-xiaodong-atelier.
The program offers a nationally accredited professional Master degree, Master in Architecture (M. Arch II). With a particular focus on the architecture and design in China. The School of Architecture gives graduate students, preferably professional Bachelor degree holders, the opportunity to pursue advanced learning in professional knowledge and independent design research.
2017 - STUDIO 1 FINAL REVIEW
2 How is this MArch program at Tsinghua in Beijing different from other universities?
Firstly, we have one of the most culturally diverse programs in the world in terms of students. We limit the number of students from a particular country, to end up with a wide mix of students. So far, we have received students from more than 50 countries all over the world. Each year we have students from all five continents. This little “united nations”creates a wonderful learning environment for everyone.
Secondly, it's located in Beijing, China; the cultural, creative and economic capital of themost exciting architectural environment at the moment.
Thirdly, our students learn to view architecture with a holistic perspective which respects material, space, program, technology, environment, culture and lifestyle of the users. Fixed architectural styles are avoided, as they limit potentials to be unique and creative. However, precedents of past experiences and knowledge are important for us to study to provide a solid background to solve new problems in hand.
2018 - HISTORIC COURTYARD RENOVATION PROJECT (BUILD)
3 About the School
Our School's academic mission is an integral part of China's urban development, and we combine the critical academic atmosphere with real-world issues that arise from the current process of rapid urbanization. The main architectural problems we are facing in 21st century are not about style or “exotic” theoretical debate, they are about sustainability and responsibility, it is about the entire process and life span of our built environment. We should not just consider the building process but also the de-building process, not just physical structure of our environment, but also the positive energy flow of our living space as a whole. Our curriculum emphasizes this very process of the entire life span of our builtenvironment in a sustainable way.
2019 - STUDIO 1 FINAL REVIEW
“As China is undergoing unprecedented large-scale urbanization, architecture is becoming an increasingly important realm, influencing China's social, economic and cultural development, Tsinghua's School of Architecture providing a platform for the development of all students to be a part of this development.”
- Dean Zhuang Weimin
Another special aspect in our program is that our students are engaged with at least one real hands-on project, they are involved with the whole process of designing and building of a real project with real clients, through which they learn how to develop concepts through dialogue and reflexive thinking. Also, collaboration is crucial in our training, three out of four studio projects are conducted as team work, students are requested to team up with their peers from different countries of preferably different continents. Our staff is also composed of different backgrounds, our intention is to provide a truly global environment for students to open up their vision.
4 Our Curriculum
Courses can be divided into 5 main categories: 1) design studios, 2) theory courses, 3)seminars, 4) site visits, and 5) optional public courses. The course menu covers different academic fields, including architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and design, and profession-related knowledge in China. The standard language for all courses is English.
2019 - STUDIO 3 FINAL REVIEW AT SITE - WITH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
The program adopts the credit system. A total of 27 credits, earned through courses and studios, are required for the students. Students are required to take the following studios and complete 18 credits: Architectural Design, Landscape Planning and Design, Urban Design, and Final Thesis.
The first year of the program includes four design studios of 8 weeks. Each studio is coinstructed by an internationally established professor and a local professors. We work in small groups where the student to professor rating is about 6 to 1. In addition, design critics are selected from a pool established foreign and domestic architects currently active in China. Studio topics are often real projects in some of China’s most architecture 'hot spots', including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Suzhou, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Lijiang and Qingdao, etc. In these studios, students are challenged to tackle difficult and sometimes controversial social, political, economic, ethnic and religious issues that are unique to contemporary China.
Students are required to complete 4 credits in seminars focusing on important issues in contemporary Chinese architecture, Chinese architecture history, contemporary Chinese urban development, and green building design. Each seminar is co-instructed by 2-3 professors and features guest panelists, including senior government officials, distinguished scholars, and developers.
2014 - STUDIO 3 FINAL REVIEW
Students are also required to complete courses on theory. These courses cover a wide range of fields: history, design theory, urban theory, contemporary practice, building technology, landscape and Chinese gardening, etc. These courses feature lectures by leading figures in different fields from inside and outside of China.
In addition, there is one required credit for a “site visit” which provides students with exposure to fresh Chinese cultural and professional perspectives. The destination places are chosen from influential sites and cities of great interests of history and contemporary practice.
Optional public courses are provided by Tsinghua University, offering training in Chinese language and learning in Chinese history and culture, 4 credits in total. Students are also eligible to add (English taught) courses from other departments, such as the School of Management, the School of Environment, the Academy of Arts, etc.
First Year
1st Semester (Fall)
6 Credits in design studios
(Studio 1: Making Places | Studio 2: Building; Space and Learning)
2 Credits in seminars
(Theory and Practice of Regional Architecture & History of Chinese Architecture )
2 Credits in optional public courses
2nd Semester (Spring)
6 Credits in design studios
(Studio 3: Holistic Urban Design | Studio 4: Sustainable Society & Green Building)
2 Credits in seminars
(Contemporary Urban Planning and Design & Theory and Practice of Green Architecture)
2 Credits in optional public courses
Second Year
1 Credit in Architecture and City Visiting Study
6 Credits in Design Studios (Final Design & Written Thesis)
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE - GRADUATE LAB
5 Admission Requirements
Enrollment will be strictly limited to 20 students.
Pre-requisite: an accredited professional Bachelor degree in architecture.
2018 - VISIT TO SINGAPORE AS PART OF DESIGN STUDIO 3
6 Application Documents
(1) The completed Foreigner's Application Form for Admission to Graduate Programs of Tsinghua University with 2-inch recent photo, signed by the applicant.
(2) The original or the notarial B.Arch degree certificate or proof of education in academic institution (need to submit orignial or notarial B.Arch degree certificate after being awarded), and academic transcript. The degree certificate and academic transcript must be officially sealed.
(3) Portfolio: Those materials should demonstrate the applicant's competence in design and research. All materials must be printed on A4 paper. Please note that portfolios will not be returned to applicants.
(4) CV (Curriculum Vitae)
(5) Personal statement: A brief introduction of the applicant's personal history and an explanation of why the applicant is interested in the program.
(6) Recommendation letters: Three recommendation letters written by people with direct knowledge of the applicant's professional and academic potentials, and must show recommender's phone number and email address. All letters must be sealed in separate envelopes with the recommender's signature across the sealed back flaps.
(7) Copy of the page with personal information in the passport (personal and ordinary passport).
The application fee is RMB 600 (non-refundable).This fee cannot be credited to tuition or other accounts upon admission.
The certificates provided should be the original documents in Chinese or in English, otherwise notarial translations in Chinese or English are required. None of the above application documents will be returned.
6 Application Procedure
Application time is from Nov. 1st till Feb. 28th.
Step 1: Online Application
Complete Online Application on the website of International Student Office, Tsinghua University (http://is.tsinghua.edu.cn/EN/online-application/application.html). Print and sign the Application Form produced by the system after the application status changes to "verified". For scholarship application documents, please refer section "Tuition and Scholarship" below.
Step 2: Documents Submission
Submit the application documents listed above to the address indicated below by post mail or in person.
Step 3: Application Fee Payment
Two ways to pay application fee:
1. Pay online using credit card;
After your online application form is verified or the materials are received by Tsinghua University, the staff will make you the online payment draft, and at the same time, an email will be automatically sent out to remind you to pay the application fee via the online application system.
2. Pay in cash at the International Student Office (Room 120,Zijing Building 22)of Tsinghua University.
7 Application Schedule
Both the Online Application and a complete set of Application documents should be completed and the package should be received by February 28th. Please note that for the Government or University scholarship applicants, online application and all the application documents should be submitted before January 15th.
DEAN ZHUANG WEIMIN ADDRESSING STUDENTS
8 Tuition and Scholarship
Tuition is 60,000 RMB per year, with a total of RMB 120,000 for the 2 year program. Accidental Injury and Hospitalization Insurance: RMB 600/year.
A limited number of Resarch Assistant Scholarship Position are available. For those who wish to apply for this scholarship, the hardcopies of application documents should be received by Feb.28th. Please visit http://is.tsinghua.edu.cn/EN/ scholarship/intro.html for more information.
Due to the limited number of this scholarship, we encourage applicants to apply for other kinds of scholarships at the same time. Many countries for instant can help in applying for the Chinese Scholarship Council funding, which is very generous and includes living allowance and housing. Please see here for more information https://www.chinesescholarshipcouncil.com/.
9 Contact Information
Admission Office
International Program, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084, P. R. China
Tel: (8610) 62785693
Fax: (8610) 62770314
Email: m-arch-admission@tsinghua.edu.cn
Website: http://arch.tsinghua.edu.cn/column/Introduction
Online application pls click: http://is.tsinghua.edu.cn/EN/online-application/application.html