18 Best Architecture Master's Degree Programs in Italy for 2024

The 2-year practice-oriented and transdisciplinary study course is an educational framework for designers that aims to contribute to more sustainable, resilient, solidary, and just futures — both locally and trans-locally.

The English-taught MA provides education and training for internationally oriented architects, in accordance with the Directive of the European Parliament 2005/36/CE. It gives students excellent preparation for the changing demands of society, both in the technical-scientific area and the humanities. It teaches how to cope with present-day problems related to urban and natural landscapes. It focuses on the conservation and transformation of different architectural and urban contexts, with special attention paid to environmental, economic, and social sustainability. MA Architecture prepares students to tackle pressing architectural, urban, and environmental issues in the national and international scenes. It proposes updated visions of architecture and integrates them with ideas from global culture. It employs the most innovative techniques and methodologies to train generations of digital natives. This also means providing cross-disciplinary competences in – urban projects and theories on the city, with their related issues of sustainable growth and sustainable decrease – Italian cultural heritage and its conservation through regenerative projects that can be applied to other countries and contexts – interior and exhibition design – a global asset for today’s architects.

Iuav - University of Venice has long been recognised as one of the best Urban Planning Schools in Europe and across the world. It is the only university in Italy to provide thorough education and training in urban planning, architecture, design, visual arts, theatre and fashion.

The goal of the Master of Advanced Studies in Tall Building Design, which is a Postgraduate Specialisation Programme offered by the University Iuav of Venice, is to boost the professional career of post-graduate architects and engineers. By teaching processes, more than culture, the Programme Participants will acquire the mindset and skills needed to work in a large architectural/engineering practice, and to deal with the various aspects of the design of complex buildings such as tall buildings.

Nowadays the design of spaces plays an important role in creating multi-disciplinary platforms where people experience new cultural and social scenarios. It is all about behaviors, habits, interests, and the lifestyle of people in society. Material and immaterial aspects must be continuously analyzed throughout the process of project development, including innovative emerging technologies and new perspectives of communication. 

Urban Vision and architectural Design are in Cities, territories, and rural and urban systems that make up the built fabric that connects people and places. This milieu is constantly shifting due to geopolitical and cultural trends; perceiving it and changing it is a complicated undertaking. Change comes about thanks to strategies that transform the landscape, methodologies that regenerate urban areas, and design concepts that delineate public and private spaces.

The Master's Degree in Architecture combines the theoretical in-depth analysis of some preparatory subjects for the professional activity with a strong technical design application cut.

The Master's programme offered is open to students coming from inside and outside of the European Union, who wish to obtain a Master's Degree in Architecture awarded by the School of Architecture in Florence, Italy. The courses are held in two languages: Italian and English. The aim of the Master's Degree course in Architecture is the training of an “Architect” according to the requirements of knowledge and skills as defined by the European Union Directive EC 1985/384 and subsequent 2005/36/EC.

The master’s degree in Architecture covers the topics related to interventions on the existing architectural and environmental heritage. The specific objective of the master’s degree is the achievement of a peculiar sensibility and ability related to the modalities of intervention on pre-existing architectural and environmental heritage, and to the quality design of new architecture, considering the relationships with the pre-existent and the historical city.

The Master's program in Architecture-Urban Regeneration aims to provide a professional solution to the need for a new profile of fully-fledged architect, in cultural and professional terms and not merely formal, within the European context; a fast-shaping context in which the issues of urban regeneration play a role of particular relevance, also highlighted by issues identified in the European and international urban agenda, as well as, more recently, in the national urban agenda being defined.

The Landscape Architecture course pursues the objective of completing training in the field of Landscape Architecture. This integrates multidisciplinary knowledge and skills, useful at different scales of design, and also to acquire the ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams.

The European master of 1st level, validated by E.A.B.H.E.S., lasting one year-long course is intended to provide a solid education to realize a green area, wisely disposing its elements and organizing each phase. At the end of the annual path, they are released 60 ECTS credits (European credits).

Engineering for Building Retrofitting addresses the topic of the protection, rehabilitation, and enhancement of the existing buildings in terms of structural safety, energy efficiency, quality, and comfort, considering social and economic issues.

The SOS Program is designed to leverage the collective energy and individual experiences of the SOS students and team. In order to meet the needs of a wide range of students and professionals, the educational format has been re-organized according to a modular structure and at the same hand, it is in fact possible to enroll in the full-time master, lasting one year. The program is based upon a curriculum that combines Practice-Based Education with Research - Based Practice and Site - Based Experience.

The Department of Architecture “dArTe” offers a five-year program (LM - 4) leading to the degree of Master of Architecture. This course is a limited entry with about 150 students each year (for entry to the five-year program students have to complete successfully an exam). The Department also offers independent research leading to the degree of Master of the 1st and 2nd level.

The 2nd Cycle Degree Course (Master Degree) in Architecture-Restoration deepens teaching elements of the 1st Cycle Degree course in Architectural Science, giving to the graduates a high level of technical knowledge and thorough historical-critical basis, essential to deal with crucial professional themes related to historical heritage on different levels: from a single building to old town centers urban environment, to cultural landscape.

The master programs are for post graduate students only. This master is ideal for young graduates or professionals holding a degree in interior or a compatible design with interiors. The objective of the Master course is to produce professionals in the specialized field of Interior Design.