Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) entitled: "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" (3 academic semesters, 90 ECTS)
Founding Year: 2015
Study Guide
You can view and download the Study Guide of the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" here: Study Guide PSP EAUD 2023-2025.
Head: Anastasios Tellios, Professor, School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, AUTh
Director: Venetia Tsakalidou, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, AUTh
Steering Commitee:
Evangelia Athanasiou, Professor, School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, AUTh
Athina Vitopoulou, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, AUTh
Nikolaos Kalogirou, Professor Emeritus, School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, AUTh
Venetia Tsakalidou, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, AUTh
Themistoklis Chatzigiannopoulos, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, AUTh
Administrative Support: School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, AUTh
The Program
The School of Architecture of the Faculty of Engineering of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, established and operated, starting from the academic year 2015-2016, a Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) entitled: "Environmental Architectural Design" (Government Gazette 3427/Second Issue/19-12-2014, Ministerial Decision 203941/Z1/15-12-2014).
The Program was re-established in the academic year 2019-2020 under the title: "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" (Government Gazette 6167/Second Issue/31-12-2018, Ministerial Decision 13660/20-12-2018), and from the academic year 2024-2025 it is organized and operated in accordance with the current provisions of Law 4957/2022 and in alignment with the Regulation of Postgraduate Studies of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Government Gazette 4084/Second Issue/23-06-2023, Ministerial Decision 78656/19-06-2023).
Objective
The Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" addresses the study, research and deep comprehension —at a postgraduate level of studies— of environmental architectural and urban design, which is essential for the national, developmental, educational, and research needs of the country.
Purpose
The purpose of the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" is to cultivate and promote scientific knowledge and research in the specific field of environmental design.
In particular, the Program aims to:
- provide education and specialized knowledge on the issue of the relationship between building and environment at every possible scale, from the smallest scale of architectural design to urban design and urban planning, with a particular emphasis on contemporary developments,
- specialize graduates in relevant skills and experiences, enabling them to contribute to high-quality professional, research, academic, and overall scientific work,
- ensure the scientific and professional career development of graduates both in the private and the public sector,
- develop critical and research skills necessary for doctoral studies,
- cultivate critical thinking and creative approaches to innovative energy design practices for environmental protection, utilizing cutting-edge technology and computational tools derived from a wide range of scientific fields,
- enhance interdisciplinary approaches to environmental parameters so that graduates can collaborate with a wide range of specialties and adapt to the constantly evolving requirements of design,
- produce graduates with environmental awareness who will be able, through the improvement of the built space, to encourage society as a whole to engage in environmental protection and participate in relevant environmental activities,
- create graduates who will redefine the way we live, leveraging advanced technology to promote sustainability and meet the needs of future generations.
Learning Outcomes and Qualifications
The learning outcomes and qualifications of those who successfully complete the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" are as follows:
- acquisition of knowledge and development of skills in environmental control and design of buildings, open spaces, residential units, and cities, focusing on the environmental dimension of architectural composition, with the aim of creating sustainable and resilient environments that enhance the well-being of both people and nature,
- learning assessment methods for the environmental performance of building envelopes and outdoor spaces using computational tools and evaluating energy efficiency and comfort conditions.
- familiarization with the concepts of ecological, climatic, geographical, social, and cultural parameters of the environment.
The postgraduate studies in the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" aim to promote knowledge, foster research and arts development, and satisfy the educational, research, social, cultural, and developmental needs of the country. They aim to train high-level scientists capable of contributing to theoretical and applied areas in the field of Environmental Architecture and Urban Design, as well as in the production and dissemination of knowledge, technology, methodologies, tools, and research findings within the respective scientific domain.
Qualification Awarded
The Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) awards a Degree of Postgraduate Studies (DPS) entitled: "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design."
Successful completion of the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) leads to level seven (7) qualifications within the National and European Qualifications Framework, as per Article 47 of Law 4763/2020 (Government Gazette A' 254).
Categories of Candidates
In the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design", holders of first-cycle degrees from domestic and foreign Higher Education Institutions are accepted, and in particular:
- Holders of first-cycle degrees from domestic Higher Education Institutions (Universities and Technical Educational Institutions - TEIs), especially graduates of the School of Architecture, other Departments within Faculties of Engineering, and graduates of relevant academic Departments. Applications from graduates of other Departments are accepted provided that candidates have relevant professional or research experience.
- Holders of first-cycle degrees from recognized foreign Institutions of the same field.
Final-year students are also eligible to apply, provided they obtain their diploma or degree before the start of the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) courses. The same eligibility criteria apply to graduating students as for graduates described above.
Number of Entrants
The number of entrants per study cycle in the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" is defined by an upper limit of thirty-five (35) postgraduate students.
Criteria and Selection Process for Admission
The Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design", by a decision of the Assembly of the School of Architecture of the Faculty of Engineering of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, upon recommendation from the Steering Committee (SC) of the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP), announces positions through an open procedure. In particular, the announcement includes the admission requirements, the number of entrants, the categories of candidates, the admission process, the selection criteria, etc., as well as the application deadlines and required documents.
The assessment of candidates occurs in two phases:
- The first phase is preliminary. The assessment criteria and corresponding weighting are the overall grade of the undergraduate diploma or degree, the relevance of undergraduate studies to the objective of the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP), additional academic qualifications, the research and writing activity, the relevant professional experience, the English language level, additional foreign language, the recommendation letters, the portfolio or summary of work, and the statement of intent.
- The second phase includes an interview of candidates who have been selected in the first phase of assessment.
Duration
The minimum duration of study for the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" leading to the award of the Degree of Postgraduate Studies (DPS) is three (3) semesters, which encompasses the time required to complete and assess the postgraduate design thesis.
Study Program
The Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" is aligned with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). In particular, a full academic year of studies corresponds to 60 ECTS, and a full semester corresponds to 30 ECTS. One ECTS unit corresponds to 30 hours of workload.
In the first semester, postgraduate students attend two (2) compulsory theoretical courses and two (2) compulsory design studios (30 ECTS).
In the second semester, postgraduate students attend two (2) compulsory theoretical courses and two (2) compulsory design studios (30 ECTS).
In the third semester, postgraduate students either attend one (1) compulsory supportive course on research methods and scientific essays writing, or participate in one (1) compulsory intensive workshop/seminar on environmental design, or engage in one (1) compulsory educational trip domestically or internationally with a report submission (5 ECTS), and they undertake a mandatory postgraduate design thesis, which includes a theoretical-research part and a design-synthetic part (25 ECTS).
The four (4) theoretical courses are organized into two (2) axes-thematic areas:
- General concepts related to the environment. Diagnosis of the environmental dimension at all scales of architecture and its integration into design.
- Technology of environmental design.
The four (4) design studios cover both scales of design:
- Architectural-building scale.
- Urban design-urban planning scale.
The postgraduate design thesis includes:
- Theoretical-research part with scientific comprehension and research.
- Design diploma thesis.
The official language of instruction of the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" is Greek. The language for writing the Postgraduate Design Thesis is also Greek. However, by a decision of the Assembly of the School of Architecture of the Faculty of Engineering of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, upon recommendation from the Steering Committee (SC) of the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP), it is possible to write the Postgraduate Design Thesis in another language.
Exceptions may occur for specific instances such as invited speakers' origin, certain courses, intensive workshops/seminars, etc., which could be conducted in English.
All courses within the study program are conducted in person. However, in certain circumstances (inability of invited speakers to travel from another city, illness, etc.), courses, intensive workshops/seminars, etc., may be conducted remotely, following the recommendation of the course instructor.
Contact
The Secretariat of the Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in "Environmental Architectural and Urban Design" operates within the framework of the Secretariat of the School of Architecture and is responsible for various administrative matters of the Program. It is located on the 8th floor of the Chairs Building of the Faculty of Engineering of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Secretariat Hours: 11:00–17:00
Tel: +30 2310 995825
Email: envi@arch.auth.gr
Website: https://websites.auth.gr/envi/
Address:
Postgraduate Studies Program (PSP) in Environmental Architectural and Urban Design
Chairs Building, 8th Floor
School of Architecture
Faculty of Engineering
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Campus
541 24, Thessaloniki