Introduction:
The Department of Architectural Engineering at MSA University proudly announces the launch of its first post-graduate programs in Sustainable Architecture design.
The post-graduate programs in Sustainable Architecture Design are design-oriented programs which prepare students for design-based research at the cutting edge of sustainable design. They lay the ground for integrating sustainable solutions in the design process in order to create a built environment that is energy-efficient, functional, and sustainable.
The post-graduate programs in Sustainable Architecture Design offered by the Department of Architectural Engineering at MSA University comprise 3 programs whose duration and awards are as follows:
The first program, a 12-credit hour (1 semester) program leads to a Fundamental Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design (FDES) award.
The second program, a 24-credit hour (2 semester) program leads to an Advanced Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design (ADES) award, which could be registered independently from the outset. However, students who have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or above in the (FDES) may choose to register in this program provided they relinquish their basic diploma.
The third program, a 36-credit hour (4 semester) program leads to a Master of Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design (MSc) which is registered separately from the outset. However, students who have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or above in the (ADES) may choose to register in this program provided they relinquish their advanced diploma.
A detailed description of the 3 programs and the achieved awards in each, follows:
1st Program: Fundamental Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design (FDES):
- Students with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from one of the Egyptian Faculties of Engineering, or any equivalent degree recognized/approved by the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities, may join the Fundamental Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design.
- An admission test will be administered. If a student fails in that test, he/she will be required to repeat qualifying courses from the 400 level courses (max of 24 Cr hrs from the final year of the bachelor’s degree) to be chosen by the Scientific Committee. Once passed with an average score of at least 3.00, he/she will be eligible to enroll in the Diploma. However, the repeated courses will not be counted towards the degree.
- A student enrolled in the Fundamental Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design studies 12 credit hours in accordance with the faculty’s internal regulations.
- To obtain the Fundamental Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design, a student has to achieve a score of C+ or more (at least 2.3) in any course. A student has only one chance to repeat a course.
- If a student wants to continue with the Advanced Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design, the average score of the courses (CGPA) should not be less than 3.0.
2nd Program: Advanced Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design (ADES):
- Students with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from one of the Egyptian Faculties of Engineering or any equivalent degree recognized/approved by the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities may join the Advanced Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design. Study in this Diploma follows a two-stage system.
- In the first stage, the student studies compulsory courses with a total weight of 12 credit hours, comprising those needed for the Fundamental Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design.
- Following success in the first stage, a student with an average score (CGPA) of 3.00 and above, may join the next stage. In the second stage, a continuing student studies optional courses with a total weight of 12 credit hours.
- To obtain the Advanced Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design, a student has to achieve a score of C+ or above (at least 2.3) in any course.
- A student receives an Advanced Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design if all courses (24 credit hours) are successfully passed with an average score (CGPA) of 2.7 and above.
- If a student wants to continue with the Master of Sciences Degree in Sustainable Architecture Design, he/she must achieve a CGPA score of 3.00 or above in the studied courses of the (ADES).
3rd Program: Master of Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design (MSc):
- Students with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from one of the Egyptian Faculties of Engineering or any equivalent degree recognized/approved by the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities may join the Master of Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design.
- The department holds an acceptance exam to ensure that the applicant has a solid academic background in the relevant courses of the study area. Once accepted, study follows the 3-stage system.
- In the first stage, students study the compulsory 12 credit hours of the Fundamental Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design. In the second stage they study another 12 optional credit hours, thus completing the requirements of the Advanced Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design. In the 3rd and last stage, they perform academic research and present a master’s thesis, which is equivalent to 12 credit hours.
- After completing the courses of the Fundamental Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design and the Advanced Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design with an average score of at least 3.00, the topic of the thesis is decided and agreed upon by the Scientific Committee, then registered.
- In order for a course to be counted in the GPA, a student has to receive a score of C+ or above (at least 2.3) in any studied course.
- The thesis period is specified from the date of registration to the date of submission of the final version, with a maximum of one year (2 main semesters). The student is allowed an extension for another semester only for reasons accepted by the Scientific Department council.
- The thesis is evaluated by a committee of jurors formed by the Scientific Department. The committee determines in its assessment the achieved score of the thesis research to be added to the student average score.
- A student who does not score 2.7 or above in the thesis must re-submit the thesis.
- A student may elect to suspend registration for the study of the Master of Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design after completing the Fundamental Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design stage and choose not to continue. He/she would be entitled to obtain a certificate in the studied courses. Similarly, electing to suspend registration after completing the Advanced Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design and choosing not to continue towards a Master of Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design would entitle them to obtain a certificate with the degree of Advanced Diploma of Engineering Sciences in Sustainable Architecture Design.
Full Tuition fees are subject to an annual increase 10%
Starting from Fall 2025