UK · Master's
Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA School)
AA Diploma (5-year integrated Master of Architecture)
Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA School)
Course Overview
The Architectural Association School of Architecture, founded in 1847 in Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, is the world's oldest independent architecture school. The AA Diploma is its flagship 5-year integrated degree, awarding both RIBA/ARB Part 1 (Years 1-3) and Part 2 (Years 4-5) qualifications — the same accreditation milestones as UCL Bartlett's BSc + MArch combination, in a single continuous programme. The school's pedagogical model is built around the Unit system: 20+ vertical Design Units led by world-leading practising architects, where students apply each year to the Unit they want to work in.
AA alumni include Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Richard Rogers, David Chipperfield, Will Alsop, Peter Cook, Bernard Tschumi, and Cecil Balmond. For Sri Lankan applicants, the AA is the most prestigious architecture school in the UK alongside Bartlett — and notably, the AA does NOT operate within the UCAS system. Applications are made directly to the school, with portfolio + interview as the dominant deciding factors (academic grades matter less than at UCL). Graduates qualify for the 2-year UK Graduate Route and direct SLIA Chartered Architect membership after Part 3.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan GCE A/L: 3 passes (any stream) at C or above — academic record is one factor among many; portfolio is the dominant signal.
- check_circle Cambridge / Edexcel A Levels: BBB minimum.
- check_circle IB Diploma: 30 points minimum.
- check_circle Strong creative portfolio (drawing, painting, model-making, photography, design experiments) — typically 20-30 pages submitted as a PDF.
- check_circle Personal statement and panel interview (held remotely for Sri Lankan applicants).
- check_circle Applications close 31 January for September entry; applications are NOT submitted through UCAS.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 6.0).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 88 Overall.
- check_circle PTE Academic: 62 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your school qualification was taught and assessed entirely in English (most Sri Lankan applicants from Edexcel / Cambridge International streams qualify).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (£) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | £33,750 | Rs. 13,500,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, London) | £16,000 | Rs. 6,400,000 |
| Student Visa & IHS Fee (5 years) | £3,500 | Rs. 1,400,000 |
| Studio Materials, Models, Site Trips | £2,500 | Rs. 1,000,000 |
| Total Programme Investment (5 years) | £260,500 | Rs. 104,200,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the 2-year UK Graduate Route on completion. AA graduates command perhaps the strongest direct hiring pipeline of any architecture school in the world — placing into Zaha Hadid Architects, OMA (Rem Koolhaas), Foster + Partners, RSHP (Richard Rogers), Heatherwick Studio, BIG, Herzog & de Meuron, and Adjaye Associates. Sri Lankan returnees gain direct SLIA Chartered Architect status after the 1-year Part 3 and 2 years of UK experience. Part 2 starting salaries in London: £30,000–40,000 (LKR 12M–16M/yr); senior associates at major firms exceed £80,000.
Related Programs
Master of Architecture (MArch)
UCL Bartlett School of Architecture
Master of Architecture
MIT School of Architecture and Planning
Master of Architecture
Singapore University of Technology and Design
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