MAS ETH in Architecture and Digital Fabrication (MAS ETH DFAB)

The MAS Programmes aim to give greater depth or interdisciplinary breadth to an original academic qualification or may lead to a change of profession. They correspond to at least 60 ECTS credits, require a Master’s thesis or project work and generally last between one year full-time and two years part-time.

Master of Advanced Studies

This description is only available in English.

Cluster

Environment, Infrastructure & Architecture

The curriculum of the MAS ETH DFAB equips students with the skills to excel at two of the most rapidly developing fields in architecture: 3D printing and robotic fabrication.

Programme structure

Programme description

The MAS ETH DFAB teaches advanced methods and technologies at the forefront of computational design, 3D printing and robotic fabrication and their implementation in architecture and construction. Throughout the intensive twelve–month programme, students gain the technical, intellectual and artistic skills to master the digital chain from computational design to fabrication and assembly of full–scale structures in architecture.

Objectives

The MAS ETH DFAB prepares students for a digital building culture, where the architect develops integrative concepts for design and construction, which are technologically advanced, sustainable and responsive to societal progress.

Professional perspectives

Expert knowledge in computational design, advanced fabrication methods, robotics and materials research positions graduates as cutting–edge practitioners in the field. The MAS ETH DFAB has regular interactions with representatives from industry and architecture, to prepare them for practice. Alumnae and alumni of the programme have successfully set up robotic divisions in progressive architecture and construction firms, work as computational design and digital fabrication specialists or have become leading researchers in the field.

Programme structure

The twelve-month full-time programme is structured in three terms: Digital Foundations teaches relevant basics through exercises, tutorials and short design projects. These skills are applied to large-scale building tasks during two consecutive Design and Fabrication Projects constituting the second term. The third term is the Master’s thesis, where students pursue in-depth research in collaboration with researchers from Digital Building Technologies and Gramazio Kohler Research.

Additional information

Jointly organised by Gramazio Kohler Research and the Chair for Digital Building Technologies at the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA), the MAS ETH DFAB is the educational programme of the National Centre for Competence in Research (NCCR) Digital Fabrication, one of the biggest and world leading interdisciplinary research clusters on digital fabrication and robotics in architecture.

Tuition languages

English: 100 %

Degree

Master of Advanced Studies with the title ’MAS ETH in Architecture and Digital Fabrication’ (MAS ETH DFAB)

Credit points

60 ECTS credits

Target group and requirements

Target group

The MAS ETH DFAB is targeted at university graduates from Switzerland and abroad. We will accept qualified applicants who are specifically interested in improving their skills and experience in computational design methods, 3D printing and robotics in construction and architecture.

Requirements

A Master’s degree in architecture or engineering acknowledged by ETH, or equivalent educational qualifications. (i.e. a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years of professional experience in a directly related field) is required.

Required language skills

English: C1 - Show proficiency scales

Examination languages

English

Time and place

Start

Every Autumn Semester (September)

Duration

One year full-time study from September to September

Application period

01.01.-28.02. (late applications may be accepted upon request, if places are available)

Location

ETH Zurich

Tuition fee

CHF 14,960 for the whole programme (this includes all building materials required for the programme as well as costs for tool development)

Deregistration fee

30 days after admission: CHF 6000

Application

Online-Application

?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsce.ethz.ch%2Fen%2Fapplication%2Fanmeldung.html&module=edu&id=1401" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://sce.ethz.ch/en/application/anmeldung.html

Questions about the application

ETH Zurich, School for Continuing Education, HG E 17-18.5, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zurich, Tel. 0041 (0)44 632 56 59 , info [a] sce[.]ethz[.]ch

Additional application documents

A motivation letter, CV, portfolio/work examples and 3 reference letters (no hard-copies)
Please send these documents directly to masdfab [a] ethz[.]ch

Organiser

Programme management

Professor Fabio Gramazio (Programme Co-Director), Professor Matthias Kohler (Programme Co-Director) and Hannes Mayer (Programme Coordinator)

Information

ETH Zurich, Hannes Mayer, Gramazio Kohler Research, HIB E 43, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 1, 8093 Zurich, Tel. 0041 (0)44 633 46 11 , mayer [a] arch[.]ethz[.]ch

Responsible body

ETH Zurich, D-ARCH

Website

?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.masdfab.com&module=edu&id=1401" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.masdfab.com

Subject(s)

Architecture
Computer Science
Materials Science
Spatial Planning

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