The PhD programme in Architecture aims to educate architectural scholars who are not only deeply knowledgeable in their specific areas of research, but also adept at navigating the complex intersections of architecture, urbanism, landscape, and technology from both theoretical and practice perspectives within diverse cultural, social, and political contexts.
Umeå School of Architecture.
ImageMattias PetterssonThe PhD programme in Architecture at Umeå University is oriented toward the training of scholars in the study of architecture and urban design through technical and natural scientific research and practice, as well as the more artistic research tradition. Its significant influence on human and non-human social interactions and experiences and the interdisciplinary nature of the subject embraces and celebrates a wide diversity of foci and methodological choices.
Doctoral education in Architecture prepares future researchers for this by ensuring a high level of competence in research based on scientific foundations, while also grounding them in artistic practice and the demands it entails. The programme focuses on cultivating the doctoral candidates’ capacity to independently further and serve as significant and proficient research collaborators in projects that affect people's environments and life situations, encompassing environmental, technical, societal, and aesthetic perspectives. Through collaboration with their peers, PhD students nurture and advance their individual projects within a supportive environment of collective research.
Umeå School of Architecture offers a forward-thinking and inclusive environment where holistic, interdisciplinary, and innovative approaches are essential for addressing global challenges and opportunities within architecture and the built environment. Research and postgraduate education within the department is organized in four primary thematic areas:
• architectural design
• architectural history and theory, and critical studies
• landscape and urbanism
• building construction and materiality, and computational design
Research groups at UMA span one or more thematic areas and are conceived as experimental hubs with a significant impact on education. Support is extended for a broad spectrum of research projects within the thematic areas, drawing upon the diverse expertise of UMA faculty. We foster active collaborations within Umeå University, with other universities in Sweden and internationally, and engage in dialogue and collaborations with the wider society, the public sector, and the industry.
The programme ensures the quality of doctoral studies through regular supervision and adherence to an individual study plan collaboratively designed by the doctoral student, the supervisors, and the examiner. Additionally, the PhD committee at UMA collectively monitors the doctoral candidates' research progress through panel discussions, enabling students to engage in scholarly conversations with peers and faculty members. Research seminars and collaborative events organized with other departments bring together international scholars to exchange theories, methodologies, and findings pertinent to architectural research, thereby enhancing scholarly discourse and strengthening the academic connections of doctoral candidates. Lastly, international experts are invited to contribute as lecturers and critics.
