Study programmes

The Faculty of Architecture provides the opportunity to obtain a high quality education in architecture at bachelor's, master's and doctoral level.

Academic Bachelor studies take 3,5 years.
Master's Professional Studies take 2 years.
Doctoral studies take 4 years.

To continue to the studies toward the next degree, it is necessary to successfully complete the studies at the previous level.

The Bachelor programme is taught in Latvian and therefore Latvian language proficiency at the highest level is required.

The faculty's graduates work in the fields of architecture, planning, interior and landscape architecture, restoration of cultural monuments, as well as design management. They can work in architectural firms or various state and local authorities.

Academic Bachelor Study Programme «Architecture»

Academic Bachelor Study Programme «Architecture» is the first of the two successive study programmes that together meet the requirements set by the international and national regulations on the access to the profession of an architect. Implemented at RTU, the study programmes in architecture (BA + ARH) are internationally recognized as complying with the requirements of the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications and an Architect's Diploma issued by Riga Technical University as noted in the Annex 5 and 6 of the Directive.

The Goal

Academic Bachelor Study Programme «Architecture» is aimed at providing students with a basic knowledge and the skills needed for engagement in the practical work under the guidance of a certified architect or continuing studies at a professional (European Master) level, in accordance with international and national regulations:

UNESCO/UIA Charter for Architectural Education,
Cabinet Regulation No. 264 of 23 May 2017 «Regulations on Classification of Occupations, Key Tasks of Occupations and Main Qualification Requirements».

The Tasks of the Study Programme

to teach students the ability to create architectural designs that satisfy both aesthetic and technical requirements;
to ensure overall knowledge of the history and theory of architecture and the related arts, technologies and humanities;
to ensure overall knowledge of fine arts as an influence on the quality of architectural design;
to provide basic knowledge of urban design, planning and the skills involved in the planning process;
to ensure overall understanding of the relationship between people and buildings, and between buildings and environment, and of the need to relate buildings and the spaces between them to human needs and the choice of adequate scale;
to ensure overall understanding of the profession of architect and the role of the architect in society, in particular the social factors;
to ensure basic understanding of the methods of investigation and preparation of the brief for a design project;
to provide overall understanding of the structural design, constructional and engineering problems associated with building design;
to provide basic knowledge of physical problems and technologies and of the function of buildings so as to provide them with comfortable internal conditions and protection against the climate;
to provide the necessary design skills to meet requirements of building contracting authority within the constraints imposed by cost factors and building regulations;
to ensure basic knowledge of the industries, organisations, regulations and procedures involved in implementation of design concepts into buildings and integrating plans into overall planning.

The Study Programme Graduates

are capable to work out aesthetically and technically adequate sketches of single-function residential and public buildings;
have overall knowledge of art and architecture history and theory of architecture and the related arts, technologies and humanities, as well as in heritage conservation and protection guidelines;
have artistic skills which affect the quality of architectural design;
are familiar with the basics of Territorial Planning and Urban Design;
are familiar with mutual interaction between people and buildings, environmental context, and have adequate skills in choice of the appropriate scale;
have overall knowledge of the profession and impacts in creating urban development, as well as understand the role of architect in modelling social climate in the urban space;
have the basic knowledge of general principles in structural design;
have overall knowledge of the technologies that provide the building with comfortable interior climate and protects interior from external climatic effects;
know how to design buildings and structures according to customer requirements, regulations and restrictions.

Final/State Examination Procedure, Assessment: Bachelor Thesis.

Description of the Future Employment: Assistant Architect (work supervised by a certified architect).

Opportunity to Continue Studies: Professional Study Programme in Architecture or other higher level (MA level) studies.

Volume (credit points): 141.0

Duration of Full Time Studies: 3,5 years

Programme Prerequisites: General Secondary Education or 4-year Vocational Secondary Education.

Language: Latvian

Additional Enrollment: Examination in Drawing.

Degree or/and Qualification to be obtained: Bachelor Degree of Engineering Science in Architecture.

Qualification Level to be obtained: The 6th level of European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and Latvian Qualifications Framework (LQF).

Professional Master Study Programme «Architecture»

Professional Master Study Programme «Architecture» is the second of the two successive educational programs, which together provide education and training required for independent professional practice in architecture in line with international and national standards. Implemented in RTU the study programmes in architecture (BA + MA) are internationally recognized as complying with the requirements of the Directive 2005/36/EC, amended by the Directive 2013/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications and Architect's Diploma issued by Riga Technical University is notified in the Annex 5 and 6 of the Directive.

The Goal

Professional Master Study Programme «Architecture» is aimed at providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary for practical work under the guidance of a certified architect, as well as in the framework of established procedure to apply for independent practice rights in accordance with international and national requirements:

UNESCO/UIA Charter for Architectural Education,
Directive 2005/36/EC, amended by the Directive 2013/55/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications,
Rules No 194 of the Cabinet of Ministers as of 21st May 2002 on «Minimum requirements for the educational programmes leading to the professional qualification of architect»,
Cabinet Regulation No. 264 of 23 May 2017 «Regulations on Classification of Occupations, Key Tasks of Occupations and Main Qualification Requirements».

The Tasks of the Study Programme

to provide students with the necessary theoretical knowledge about the principles of creating architectural designs that satisfy both aesthetic and technical requirements;
to ensure adequate knowledge of the history and theory of architecture and the related arts, technologies and humanities, as well as preservation and prevention of the cultural historical environment;
to provide knowledge of fine arts as an influence on the quality of architectural design;
to ensure adequate knowledge of urban design, planning and the skills involved in the planning process;
to provide an understanding of the relationship between people and buildings, and between buildings and environment, and of the need to relate buildings and the spaces between them to human needs and the choice of adequate scale;
to provide an understanding of the profession of architect and the role of the architect in society, in particular the social factors;
to provide an understanding of the methods of investigation and preparation of the brief for a design project;
to provide an understanding of the structural design, constructional and engineering problems associated with building design;
to ensure adequate knowledge of physical problems and technologies and of the function of buildings so as to provide them with comfortable internal conditions and protection against the climate in the framework of sustainable development;
to provide the necessary design skills to meet requirements of building contracting authority within the constraints imposed by cost factors and building regulations;
to ensure adequate knowledge of the industries, organizations, regulations and procedures involved in implementation of design concepts into buildings and integrating plans into overall planning.

The Study Programme Graduates

are able to create architectural designs that satisfy both aesthetic and technical requirements;
have adequate knowledge of the history and theory of architecture and the related arts, technologies and humanities;
have knowledge of fine arts as an influence on the quality of architectural design;
have adequate knowledge of urban design, planning and the skills involved in the planning process;
have understanding of the relationship between people and buildings, and between buildings and environment, and of the need to relate buildings and the spaces between them to human needs and the choice of adequate scale;
have understanding of the profession of architect and the role of the architect in society, in particular the social factors;
have understanding of the methods of investigation and preparation of the brief for a design project;
have understanding of the structural design, constructional and engineering problems associated with building design;
have adequate knowledge of physical problems and technologies and of the function of buildings so as to provide them with comfortable internal conditions and protection against the climate, in the framework of sustainable development;
have the necessary design skills to meet requirements of building contracting authority within the constraints imposed by cost factors and building regulations;
have adequate knowledge of the industries, organizations, regulations and procedures involved in implementation of design concepts into buildings and integrating plans into overall planning.

Final Examination Procedure and Assessment

Master's Thesis with the Integrated Diploma Project, defended at the public meeting of the State Examination Commission.

Description of the Future Employment: Architect, Certified Architect.

Opportunity to continue Studies: Studies at doctoral level.

Volume (credit points): 80.0

Duration of full time studies: 2 years

Programme Prerequisites: Bachelor Degree of Engineering Science in Architecture or comparable education.

Language: Latvian, English

Degree or/and Qualification to be obtained: Professional Master Degree in Architecture and Qualification of Architect.

Qualification Level to be obtained: The 7th level of European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and Latvian Qualifications Framework (LQF); the 5th level of Latvian Professional Qualifications.

Doctoral Study Programme «Architecture»

The Doctoral Programme «Architecture» provides the knowledge and skills necessary to independent development of research works in architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture and preservation of cultural monuments. Doctoral degree allows also to apply for professorship at universities.

The Goal

Doctoral studies are intended to complement knowledge, skills and abilities gained in the previous level studies to independant research work in architecture and urbanism, as well as to prepare for independent research and teaching activities.

The Tasks of the Study Programme

to develop understanding of the process of interaction and relationship environment in art and related fields;
to develop the ability to identify the problem, describe its relevance and relationship to other sciences and arts sectors;
to develop the ability of independent research work;
to perform research and complex experiments;
to develop independently study courses and conduct classes at any level programmes.

The study programme graduates

manages the principles of research work;
are able independantly to publish the research results;
are able to manage the work of researchers;
are capable to develop and supervise study programmes.

Final/state Examination Procedure, Assessment: Doctoral Thesis.

Description of the Future Employment: Senior Researcher, Assistant Professor, Professor

Volume (credit points): 192.0

Duration of Studies: 4 years (full time studies); 5 years (extramural studies)

Special Enrollment Requirements: Master Degree in Architecture or related fields

Programme Prerequisites: Master of Engineering Science in Architecture

Language: Latvian, English

Qualification Level to be obtained: The 8th level of European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and Latvian Qualifications Framework (LQF).