USA · Master's
Harvard Graduate School of Design
Master in Design Studies (MDes)
Harvard Graduate School of Design
Course Overview
Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) is consistently ranked the world's #1 design school in QS World Rankings by Subject for Architecture / Built Environment. The Master in Design Studies (MDes) is GSD's post-professional research Master's, offering six concentration domains: Ecologies (climate and environmental design), Mediums (representation and computation), Narratives (design history and theory), Publics (urbanism and public-interest design), Risk and Resilience, and Real Estate Development. Students take seminars across GSD's three departments — Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Design — plus electives across the Harvard schools (Kennedy School, HBS, Law).
Sri Lankan applicants — typically architects with 3-7 years' practice (CCS Architecture / Damien Wright / Geoffrey Bawa Trust / Channa Daswatte / Pradeep Kodikara studios), urban planners at UDA / Megapolis Authority / CIDA, or sustainability researchers — choose Harvard GSD MDes for the unmatched brand, the cross-Harvard course access, and the post-MDes pipeline into international competition-winning practice (BIG, OMA, Foster, SOM), academic posts, and international development organisations (World Bank Urban Resilience, UN-Habitat). The MDes is also a frequent Fulbright and Said Foundation target.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree in Architecture (5-year B.Arch.) or related design / built-environment field — minimum GPA 3.5+ (First Class).
- check_circle Minimum 2-3 years of professional practice strongly preferred (most successful applicants have 4-7 years).
- check_circle Portfolio (digital, max 30 pages, 6MB) — should mix professional work and personal research.
- check_circle Statement of Purpose (1,000-1,500 words) framed tightly around chosen concentration domain.
- check_circle Three letters of recommendation (academic and / or professional).
- check_circle GRE is OPTIONAL for MDes from 2024.
English Proficiency
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 104 Overall (min 26 in each section).
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.5 Overall (min 7.5 in each band).
- check_circle Duolingo: 130 Overall.
- check_circle Waived only if undergraduate degree was conducted in English at a primarily English-speaking country university.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (USD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | USD 62,000 | Rs. 19,840,000 |
| Health Insurance & Fees | USD 5,500 | Rs. 1,760,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Cambridge MA) | USD 30,000 | Rs. 9,600,000 |
| Materials & Software | USD 2,500 | Rs. 800,000 |
| F-1 Visa & SEVIS | USD 700 | Rs. 224,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | USD 100,700 | Rs. 32,224,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for 3-year STEM-extended OPT (Optional Practical Training) — Architecture and Urban Planning are STEM-designated. Top placements: BIG, OMA, Foster + Partners, SOM, Snohetta, Sasaki (US/global firms); World Bank Urban Resilience, UN-Habitat, Asian Development Bank (international development); plus academic posts at Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Penn, UCLA. US starting architect / planner salary: USD 65,000-90,000.
Related Programs
Master of Architecture
MIT School of Architecture and Planning
AA Diploma (5-year integrated Master of Architecture)
Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA School)
Master of Architecture (MArch)
UCL Bartlett School of Architecture
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Our counsellors have helped hundreds of Sri Lankan students secure placements in the US. We handle everything from applications to visa processing.