Master of Design Administration (MDA)

The Master of Design Administration, or MDA, aims to equip our graduates with the expertise necessary to successfully administer and manage the design process in the procurement of buildings.

The MDA is designed to be undertaken while in employment and you can study on a blended learning or 100% distance learning basis, using a wide range of innovative and interactive teaching methods, designed to ensure all students maintain close links with the school and each other.

We have developed this programme to meet the urgently growing need for experts in design management; both within client bodies, consultancies, and within contractors and specialist sub-contractor firms. A key challenge facing the construction industry is the successful integration and management of the design process, which can run from project inception through to handover and post occupancy feedback.

Essential to meet this challenge is the use of innovative processes for the identification, communication and realisation of design intent. These processes must be supported by clear contractual frameworks that accurately reflect the participants’ independent and shared responsibilities for achieving design requirements in real-world practice.

Your MDA is arranged through a varied and engaging series of single and two-day teaching events, plus regular lunch-time webinars, online workshops given by leading experts, and a weekly blog updating you on course events and current industry developments relevant to the course.

Several of the day events are planned to be on campus (in our newly refurbished premises), and will be live streamed for our distance learning students. These events will be supplemented by discussion boards relating to specific topics, regular written feedback on your work, and individual and group on-line tutorials. Supporting course material will be available in the form of detailed course notes and pre-recorded video presentations.

Full time (FT) students attend all events, Part Time (PT) attend as shown.

For more information on course content, structure, fees and how to apply, please visit our Master of Design Administration course information.

News for the staff involved include the new book by Lupton Stellakis "Understanding Professional Services Contracts", and a piece written for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), entitled “Selecting the most appropriate building contract for a small commercial project” which can be found here.

See also news on the course director’s appointment as RIBA representative on the JCT Drafting Sub-committee.

How to apply

For more information on course content, structure, fees and how to apply, please visit our Master of Design Administration course information page.

Key events

Here are the provisional dates for the key full day events for 24/25. All on-campus events are live streamed for those enrolled on the distance learning option.

Full time (FT) students attend all events, Part Time (PT) attend as shown.

Course team

The course is directed by Professor Sarah Lupton. Key to the course are the two expert consultants (Manos Stellakis and Robert Firth), who are external to the School but have ongoing input, advising on strategic matters, delivering seminars and workshops, and providing feedback to students. We also engage a team of tutors, all alumni of the course, to help with workshops and provide feedback. We invite many industry experts to give guest talks and seminars.

Course Director

Consultants

Robert Firth BSc (Hons) BArch (Dist) MSc (Project Management), FRSA, FFB, RIBA (Partner, RDMF Consultancy, Expert Consultant, WSA)

Manos Stellakis BSc, DipArch, MSc (Econ) RIBA, (Partner, Lupton Stellakis architects; Expert Consultant, WSA)

Admissions support