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BEL+T
The Built Environments Learning + Teaching (BEL+T) group is unique in Australia, and a rarity in the world. BEL+T works with academics and students to research and support excellent built environments education. We focus on the opportunities that are opened for graduates, and for our built environments, by great learning experiences. BEL+T applies creative problem-solving and design-led approaches, evidence-based research methodologies, and project-focused consultancy to improve teaching quality and student engagement. Visit the BEL+T site to find events and opportunities; and also tools, guidance and resources for academics, new sessional teachers and built environment education researchers.
Industry-based education
Watch Melbourne School of Design students learn from award-winning architects Bates Smart - a multidisciplinary design firm delivering architecture, interior design, urban design and strategic services. Bates Smart is one of the oldest firms in Melbourne.
Bachelor of Design: Design your way
Meet Nancy, MSD student and Digital Fabrication Technician. She’s got some exciting news for new Bachelor of Design students about making your own VR and AR at the NExT Lab.
The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning educates and activates the next generation of built environment thinkers and practitioners. Our multidisciplinary approach prepares students to advance into the world as leading, adaptable professionals in their fields.
Explore our programs
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Bachelor of Design
The Bachelor of Design offers unique flexibility with the option of completing majors, minors, double majors and specialisations. You can combine in-depth study in a particular area with subjects from a wide range of disciplines within the field of design.
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Graduate Coursework
Melbourne School of Design graduates are recognised as leading, adaptable professionals in their fields, knowledgeable across a range of disciplines with an excellent academic grounding and strong practical skills they can immediately apply in their jobs.
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Graduate Research
Melbourne School of Design has an international reputation for excellence in graduate research. Our researchers are experienced scholars, leading debate and engaging with industry, policy-makers and the community towards real-world outcomes.
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Meet Us
Get to know the Melbourne School of Design (MSD) and be a part of our close-knit community of students, alum and academics.
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Book a Graduate Study appointment
Have a one-on-one discussion with a Melbourne School of Design staff member about your future Graduate study options and how to start an application.
Upcoming events
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Scholarships and awards
Scholarships aren't just for high achievers. The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning offers scholarships and awards for many situations. Benefits can include cash prizes, mentoring and discounted accommodation.
Have a question?
Through our unique breadth and transdisciplinary focus, we carry out creative, fundamental and applied research projects into the past, present and future of our built and natural environments. Our research makes real and lasting impacts and critically informs the teaching of future generations of practitioners, researchers and designers.
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Research directions
Our research directions address the University's three broad research areas: understanding our place and purpose, fostering health and wellbeing, and supporting sustainability and resilience.
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Research Projects
The Faculty undertakes research that understands how we create and live in cities, landscapes and buildings. Explore our broad range of current and completed research projects.
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Research Hubs, Centres and Institutes
Collaborative groups, research hubs, centres and institutes embedded within the Faculty bring together experts who are internationally recognised leaders in their fields.
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Advanced Digital Design + Fabrication
ADD+F is a research hub that explores the relationship between design and technology and its impact on the built environment, following a multi-disciplinary approach including data-driven design, 3D printing, robotic, and mixed reality environments.
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Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage
The Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage (ACAHUCH) provides an international perspective on research and teaching in architectural history and heritage with a particular emphasis on Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
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Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network
The Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) is an initiative of the Australian Government under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and associated programmes.
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Connected Cities Lab
The Connected Cities Lab is a centre of excellence designed to address the challenges that city leadership faces, and the information it needs, in an interconnected and increasingly urbanised planet.
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Critical Research in Digital Architecture
The research group CRIDA engages in digital research and teaching projects as vehicles for critical inquiry and development of innovative design practices at various scales supported by digital media in architecture, urban design, landscape and environmental design.
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InfUr- Informal Urbanism Research Hub
The InfUr- Hub engages in multi-disciplinary research on the informal (self-organized) design and planning of cities - from informal settlements of the Global south to citizen-driven planning in the global North.
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Learning Environments Applied Research Network
LEaRN is an international network that brings together academia and industry to research, imagine and discuss physical learning environments in school, vocational, university, medical and corporate contexts.
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Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute
The Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute (MSSI) facilitates and enables research linkages, projects and conversations leading to increased understanding of sustainability and resilience trends, challenges and solutions.
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Sustainable and Healthy Environments Lab
A lab specialised in developing applied research aimed at understanding how the built environment can improve sustainability and health through the design of high performance spaces.
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Thrive Research Hub
A hub for industry-relevant research on design and innovation for sustainable, thriving built environments. Carrying out applied trans-disciplinary research that investigates thriving in cities and develops real world solutions for the built environment.
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Transport, Health and Urban Design Research Lab
The aim of the Transport, Health and Urban Design Research Lab (THUD) is to explore the effects of urban form and transport on the health of the residents of cities.
Transforming Housing: Affordable Housing for All
This project seeks to build partnerships to transform Melbourne’s housing industry, in order to meet social justice, economic resilience and environmental sustainability challenges facing Melbourne and Australia.
Information for current students in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning and Melbourne School of Design.
Melbourne School of Design has vast networks, with an alumni community of more than 14,000 people and connections throughout the world. We engage with alumni, donors, industry, government and the wider community, as a voice in public conversations and transforming practice.
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Research collaboration
Melbourne School of Design collaborates with commercial, government and not-for-profit organisations to develop mutually beneficial partnerships and solve complex challenges in the built environment.
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Alumni and friends
Your relationship with the Faculty doesn't end when you graduate. Stay connected with a global community of more than 14,000 alumni. Reunions, networking events, alumni lectures and social events are a great way to stay in touch with other alumni and keep up to date with news, events and initiatives.
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Support us
There are many ways you can engage with our students, impact their learning and develop their careers. Support the Faculty and MSD through donations to scholarships, studios and research.
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Arrange an internship
Reach out to students in your field of work by arranging an internship. Our students are enthusiastic, motivated and looking for opportunities to gain professional experience in the industry.
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Mentor our students
Being mentored and guided by one of our alum can be a life-changing experience for our students – and the Faculty of ABP is excited to offer two mentoring programs that connect both groups.
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Work with us
We offer our staff the opportunity to be part of a dynamic world-class organisation, which provides exceptional benefits and support at every stage of their life and career.
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Visiting Scholars Program
Each year we welcome academics from other institutions who wish to further their research with staff at the University of Melbourne. We have been fortunate to welcome several distinguished scholars to the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, and our Visiting Scholars program aims to continue this collaboration with academics, both from Australia and overseas.
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Miles Lewis Fellowship
Distinguished international scholars in the field of architectural history will visit the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning and deliver a public lecture as part of a new Fellowship created in recognition of renowned architectural historian Professor Miles Lewis AM.
Atrium Magazine
Atrium is the official newsletter of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne. Atrium profiles and celebrates ABP’s diverse research and teaching activities, programs, events, staff, students and alumni and examines vital issues related to design and the built environment.
The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, incorporating the Melbourne School of Design (MSD), is a creative and people-oriented built environment faculty in Australia’s leading research-intensive university.
We’re passionate about activating the next generation of built environment professionals, providing a world-recognised education which inspires and enables our graduates to create and influence our world.
We teach across the built environment fields, making us unique among Australian universities, and part of a select group worldwide. This mix of expertise enables us to prepare our graduates to design solutions for an unpredictable future.
Our staff and students are busy visualising exciting and relevant ways of programming our cities. Melbourne, ranked as the world’s most liveable city, is a fantastic city in which to become and be an expert in the built environment fields.
Researchers and industry practitioners teach our programs and are leaders in public conversations about our cities and regions, shaping policy development and transforming Australian practice.
The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning hosts the Bachelor of Design, a comprehensive range of built environment graduate programs, the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute (MSSI) and Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN).
The University of Melbourne established an Architectural Atelier in 1919 and one of the first Bachelor degrees in Architecture in 1927. Our lively culture of exploration manifests in our classrooms, studios and research enquiry, complemented by lectures, forums and exhibitions. Our cultural diversity is one of our strengths: students and staff have come to Melbourne from over 50 countries. We have a strong alumni body who hold leadership roles across Australia and the world.
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Our people
Meet the expert academic and professional staff who work at Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
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Our building
Explore the living learning Melbourne School of Design building, learn about the construction process and book spaces.
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Our history
A brief history of architectural teaching at University of Melbourne, the growth of the Faculty, and the construction of the Melbourne School of Design building.
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Disciplines
We strive to develop imaginative, thoughtful, critical yet industrious students, complete with the appropriate skills to improve the quality of our built environment, addressing complex questions through a synthesis across disciplines.
Structure and leadership
Our Dean, Professor Julie Willis, is supported by a leadership team, governance and advisory boards and program coordinators.
Work with us
We offer our staff the opportunity to be part of a dynamic world-class organisation, which provides exceptional benefits and support at every stage of their life and career.




