Study

Department of Architecture Art, Design and Architecture — Monash University

Department of Architecture
Study

Study architecture at Monash University’s Department of Architecture—part of a globally connected, research-intensive institution ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide (QS 2026). Here, design is not abstract; it is tested, made, and brought into the world. Our programs are grounded in a diverse, practice-informed culture where making and real-world action are fundamental to how ideas evolve.

Students engage architecture as both a critical and applied discipline—working across scales from material experimentation to urban systems, and across contexts from Melbourne to the Indo-Pacific. Through studios, live projects, and collaborations with industry and communities, learning extends beyond the classroom into tangible impact.

At Monash, architecture is understood as a civic, environmental, and cultural act. The curriculum foregrounds decarbonization, social equity, and technological innovation, preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly changing world. You will develop not only the capacity to design, but the agency to shape meaningful, resilient futures.

Our courses

Bachelor of Architectural Design

Master of Architecture

Master of Urban Planning and Design

PhD (Art, Design and Architecture)

Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Architectural Design

Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Architectural Studies

Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Architectural Studies

Bachelor of Fine Art and Bachelor of Architectural Studies

Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Architectural Studies

Master of Urban Design (Indonesia)

Student work

Chloe-Gabrielle Fuller

MADA Now Architecture

Raquel Trapler

Rachel Bown-Mayo

MADA Now Architecture

Gabriel-Ange (Iga) Bachiyunve

Waterwork

Desmond Li

Michael Augustes

Design Make

Our Design Make projects are central to the Department of Architecture and are available to all students across our courses. These projects immerse students in the full trajectory of architectural production—designing, fabricating and constructing built works that respond to real clients, real sites and real needs. Delivered over a semester or more, Design Make projects engage students in collaborative, hands-on processes that work through ideas in the real world. Projects in our Design Make stream span spaces, installations, furniture, prototypes and exhibitions, and are often developed in partnership with community groups and external organisations.

Design Make exemplifies our commitment to making and architecture learned through doing. Students gain direct experience working with and for others while navigating the social, technical and environmental dimensions of architectural practice. This develops a deep understanding of communities, ecologies, material behaviour, structural performance and construction processes, bridging digital with manual methods and conceptual thinking with technical resolution.

Waterlines

Negative / Positive

Swampworks

Oct Tree

Bar

Autumn Room

RetroFit Kit

Yatai

Heavy Metal Raft

Heavy Metal Retaining Wall

Vault

Stawell steps

Sealight Pavilion

Card Play Space

Observatory

Kinglake Community Shelter

Scholarships

The James Cox PhD Scholarship in Architecture was established in 2008 by one of our industry partners in honour of James Cox, a highly regarded architect in Melbourne, to support candidates for the duration of their candidature. It has since supported three candidates through to completion, with the fourth one currently undertaking their candidature. The scholarship has enabled a range of research projects that wouldn’t have been possible without this incredible support. Awarded to a student who demonstrates the highest standards and commitment to the professional practice of architecture, supporting further studies or professional development.
These projects include:
- Development of typologies along tramway corridors and new medium-density housing typologies.
- Urban design and planning strategies that prioritise understanding and subsequently designing conditions that drive specific outcomes in development and construction processes.
- A novel tree-centric urban design model enabling simultaneous visual and functional assessment of tree-scape designs.
Improved timber housing enabled by advanced manufacturing.
The Wood Marsh Architecture Prize is a distinguished award presented annually to a graduate of the Bachelor of Architectural Design who is commencing the Master of Architecture at Monash University. Designed to foster ambition, critical inquiry, and creative excellence, the prize supports a student to flourish in their postgraduate studies through both academic and experiential enrichment.
Valued at $25,000, the prize includes $10,000 for international travel, enabling the recipient to investigate a personally meaningful aspect of architectural practice in a global context. The remaining funds contribute directly to course costs, providing meaningful support throughout the Master’s program. The prize is awarded based on a holistic assessment of a student’s creativity, resilience, and openness to broader cultural and design discourse.
Learn more
The Hayball Prize is an annual award presented to the top graduating student(s) in the Master of Architecture program at Monash University. Valued at $2,500, it recognises the most outstanding final design project, celebrating design excellence, creativity, and innovation in architecture. The prize is awarded for the best final design project from the Master of Architecture design studios, often recognising work that addresses complex, contemporary urban issues.
Valued at $2500, The Peter Elliott Drawing Prize recognises the most accomplished drawings of architecture, from traditional through to new frontiers. This prize is about the love of drawing as a means of communicating ideas in any medium. Endowed by Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design.
Valued at $500, The Maria Fullaondo Prize is awarded to a student in recognition of design excellence, accompanied by a hardcopy of Maria’s book, Colours of Rhetoric – Places of Invention in the Visual Realm.
Valued at $1000. Awarded to a student who demonstrates the highest standards and commitment to the professional practice of architecture, supporting further studies or professional development.
Valued at $500. Awarded to a student who has made a significant contribution to, and enhanced, the culture of the department.
Valued at $500. Awarded to a student whose project exemplifies the design ethos, principles, and methodologies of the department.
Browse all scholarships on offer for Monash Art, Design and Architecture students.

Student groups

MADASS

MADASS is Monash’s largest fine art, design and architecture student society, connecting like-minded creatives through workshops, social events, and industry opportunity.

Learn more

Monash Experimental Drawing Lab

An open student led studio where students can experiment with unconventional drawing, explore ideas and develop concepts collaboratively.

@monashexperimentaldrawinglab

Studio Circle

Studio Circle is a student-led architecture forum that creates space for peer learning, feedback, and collaboration. Weekly sessions builds belonging beyond degrees. It strengthens communication, design thinking, and confidence through shared critique, conversation and quality time spent together. Forming life long friendships, enriching studio culture, and strengthens the broader architectural community.

@studio___circle

MAMA | Masters at Monash Architecture

Masters at Monash Architecture (MAMA) is a student-led collective representing Master of Architecture students within the Department of Architecture. Through industry nights, portfolio reviews, Meet the Masters, Glass After Class, and end-of-semester events, MAMA cultivates professional engagement, peer connection, and a dynamic, supportive postgraduate culture at Monash.

@madamastersroom

Monash Sustainable Building

Monash Sustainable buildings (MSB) is a multidisciplinary student run team, with the goal of developing unique and practical building solutions. MSB’s designs aim to provide alternatives to address the climate issues impacting society and to work towards a green future.

@monashsustainablebuildings

Work Integrated Learning

Our Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program allows students who study with us to connect their academic learning to real-world professional practice. A unique and diverse range of Melbourne practices and organisations are partners in our program, giving students direct exposure to the daily operations, workplace cultures, and inherent richness of professional practice. Through these placements, students develop practical competencies, professional judgement, and networking opportunities that enhance their readiness for post-graduate careers.

Partners range from large multidisciplinary firms to local councils, government agencies, and independent studios. To date, this has included Akehurst Owen and Cimino, Architecture Associates, Architectus, Assemble Futures, ARM Architecture, Aurecon, Baracco+Wright, Bates Smart, BAU, Bourke & Bouteloup Architects, Capire Consulting Group, Charter Keck Cramer, and several local councils such as the City of Bayside, City of Hobsons Bay, City of Latrobe, City of Maribyrnong, and City of Melbourne. Additional partners include Clare Cousins Architects, Cox Architecture, DesignInc, Echelon Planning, Edition Office, FK, the Future Building Initiative, Finding Infinity, Gab Olah Architect, Genton, Graphos Architects, Grimshaw, H20, Hansen Partnership, Hayball, Heliotope, Hip v. Hype, Humpy Co., I2C, the Informal Cities Lab, Infrastructure Victoria, Institute for Sensible Transport, Jasmax, Kennedy Nolan, Kerstin Thompson Architects, Law Architects, Lovell Chen, Lucy Clemenger Architects, Lyons, MA+Co., Melbourne Water, Merri-bek City Council, Mezz Group, MGS Architects, Monash Buildings and Property Division, Monash Urban Lab, Movement & Place Consulting, Nervegna Reed, NH Architecture, Nightingale, NMBW Architecture Studio, Not All Architecture, NTC Architects, Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design, Regen Melbourne, the Shires of Baw Baw, Cardinia, and Mornington Peninsula, as well as Sibling Architecture, Simulaa, Six Degrees Architects, SJB Architects, Studio Bright, Telha Clarke, Trinity Architects, Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning, the Victorian Planning Authority, Walter Walter, Warren and Mahoney, Watson Young Architects, and Woods Bagot.