Postgraduate Programs
The Department of Architecture was established in 1962 and has the distinction of being the first in the country to offer a bachelor’s degree in Architecture. The Department, thus, has been the fundamental contributor towards the founding and establishment of the profession of Architecture in Pakistan and this maintaining its leading role through offering higher programs of architectural education. These programs include Master of Architecture (M.Arch) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
Master of Architecture (M.Arch)
The Master’s degree program in Architecture was instituted in 1990. It comprises of 24 credit hours of coursework and a research dissertation. Ever since, students from all over the country as well as from outside the country, has shown keen interest to obtain admission. The M.Arch students have carried out comprehensive research projects related to various aspects of our built environment and architectural heritage. The projects help understand hitherto unexplored aspects of our built environment and propose innovative solutions. The minimum and maximum duration for M.Arch is 1.5 and 4 years respectively which is counted from the date of registration.
Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. program is offered to make a distinct and valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge. It is generally expected that architects who wish to join the program have had significant professional experience and have developed an interest in some particular aspect of the built environment which they wish to explore further. It is hoped that these programs will help develop the culture of research and inquiry beyond the realm of academic world, and will thus contribute towards the development of the profession of architecture in Pakistan. The Ph.D. program is undertaken by taught courses and research work (Thesis). The minimum and maximum duration for Ph.D. is 5 and 7 years respectively, which is counted from the date of registration.
About the Postgraduate Programs
The Department has a highly qualified faculty. In addition to the regular faculty, the Department also invites a number of prominent architects and other professionals from the field as visiting teachers, jurors and examiners. Most of the faculty is also involved in research which mainly includes postcolonial theories in architecture, contemporary architecture in Pakistan, energy efficient architecture, planning and design for disaster-prone areas, housing and urban studies and digital architecture.In addition to above, a fully equipped computer laboratory has also been set up to meet the academic and Information Technology requirements. The department is also working to establish a Centre for Architecture in Pakistan, which will focus on studying and analyzing the past, present and the future trends for the development of built environment in Pakistan.
Admission Criteria
- Primary undergraduate degree of those seeking admissions should be either Bachelor of Architecture or B.Sc City & Regional Planning or B.Sc Civil Engineering or B.Sc Architectural Engineering & Design from a PCATP/HEC accredited/recognized institute.
- For M.Arch the applicant should have scored a minimum of 60% marks under term system or 2.5 CGPA under semester system (details in section: Postgraduate Application Process).
- For Ph.D the applicant should have scored a minimum of 70% marks under term system or 3.0 CGPA under semester system (details in section: Postgraduate Application Process).
- Subject test and interview will be conducted by the department. Qualifying score in subject test is 50% for M.Arch and 70% for Ph.D.
Postgraduate (M.Arch & Ph.D.) Programs in Architecture
List of Core, Elective, and Mandatory Courses
Course Code |
Course Title |
| Arch: 602 | Research Methodology |
| Arch: 603 | Architectural Heritage of Pakistan |
| Arch: 605 | Theory of Architecture |
| Arch: 610 | Energy Efficient Architecture |
| Arch: 614 | Framework for Sustainable Design |
| Arch: 621 | Understanding Urban Settlements |
| Arch: 638 | Architectural Research Methods |
| Arch: 640 | Analysis of Architectural Precedent |
Course Code | Course Title |
| Arch: 601 | Architectural Design Studio-I |
| Arch: 604 | Contemporary Architecture in Pakistan |
| Arch: 606 | Urban Design Studio-I |
| Arch: 607 | History of Urban Form |
| Arch: 608 | Integrated Building Design |
| Arch: 609 | Building Services and Systems |
| Arch: 611 | Earthquake Architecture-I |
| Arch: 612 | Sultanate Period Architecture |
| Arch: 613 | Theory of Digital Design Culture |
| Arch: 615 | History of Lahore |
| Arch: 616 | Interior Design |
| Arch: 617 | Landscape Architecture |
| Arch: 618 | Oriental Language |
| Arch: 619 | Approaches to Study Architectural History |
| Arch: 620 | Architectural Design Studio-II |
| Arch: 622 | Advanced Architectural Presentation |
| Arch: 623 | Business Communication |
| Arch: 624 | Conservation of Architectural Heritage |
| Arch: 625 | Conservation of Urban Built Heritage |
| Arch: 626 | Legislation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage |
| Arch: 627 | Urban Design Studio–II |
| Arch: 628 | Technologies and Strategies for Passive Design Architecture |
| Arch: 629 | Advanced Structural Systems |
| Arch: 630 | Construction Management |
| Arch: 631 | Building Energy Simulation and Design |
| Arch: 632 | Earthquake Architecture-II |
| Arch: 633 | Urban Renewal and Revitalization in Practice |
| Arch: 634 | Comprehensive Urban Planning Studies |
| Arch: 635 | Histography of Islamic Art and Architecture |
| Arch: 636 | Historic Architecture of Gujarat and Rajasthan |
| Arch: 637 | Cross-cultural Visual Art Exchanges: West Asia, Central Asia & Sub-Continent |
| Arch: 639 | Culture in International Contexts |
| Arch: 641 | Parametric Urbanism |
| Arch: 642 | Biomimicry in Architecture |
| Arch: 643 | Islamic Funerary Architecture |
| Arch: 644 | Ornamentation in Islamic Architecture |
| Arch: 645 | Advanced Architectural Studio |
Course Code | Course Title |
| Arch: 699 | Thesis (Compulsory) |
| Arch: 799 | PhD Dissertation (Compulsory) |
Note: M.Arch degree requirements will be fulfilled upon completion of 30 credit hours which include 24 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours of Research Thesis. Minimum 3 courses are required to be taken from the list of core courses.
Note: Ph.D. degree requirement will be fulfilled upon completion of 24 credit hours of course work in addition to Ph.D. Dissertation. Minimum 3 courses are required to be taken from the list of core courses.