The AA is committed to ensuring that the most talented students from around the world are afforded the opportunity to study at the school. Approximately 20% of current AA students receive financial support in the form of scholarships, bursaries, travel grants, hardship funds and student assistantships in the Archive, Bookshop, Digital Prototyping Lab, Library, Material Arcade, Print Centre, Workshop and more. Opportunities for student assistantships are advertised here.
Application Rounds One and Two have now passed but applications will remain open until programmes are full.
Apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Contact postgraduateadmissions@aaschool.ac.uk for further guidance on applying in Application Round Three.
Applicants who apply in Application Round One of their programme will usually have their interview take place from late January to end of February.
Applicants who apply Application Round Two of their programme will usually have their interview take place in late April to early June.
The AA aims to inform each applicant about the outcome of their interview within two weeks, but this may take longer during the busiest periods of the admissions cycle.
For MPhil/PhD research degrees, candidates must already hold an appropriate post-professional Master’s degree in their proposed area of MPhil/PhD research. Candidates for a PhD in architectural design must also hold a five-year professional degree in architecture and will be expected to submit a design portfolio.
The English language requirements for entry into the PhD Programme must meet the conditions of the Open University and the Home Office / UKVI. Applicants will need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved SELT provider. See further information below.
UK, Ireland and EU applicants applying to the PhD Programme who hold pre-settled or settled status in the UK are currently eligible to apply for SLC funding for the PhD programme. For further information please visit the Doctoral Loan website.
The AA Bursary is awarded for the duration of one academic year. AA Bursaries can range from half a term to a two-term bursary, depending on the candidate’s need and the strength of their overall application.
Once a deposit has been received, the remainder of a given student’s tuition fees are payable in advance on either an annual or a termly basis.
The tuition fees for each programme are the same for all students, regardless of their nationality. Tuition fees are inclusive of AA Membership (£95 per year) and Student Forum Fees.
Applicants who have been offered a place before August 2026 will be given the opportunity to pay the full fees for the academic year to secure a discount for early payment of tuition fees. Full annual tuition fees should be paid by 31 August 2026 for a 3.5% discount. Fees and discounts are subject to annual review.
The following provides key information and guidance on the documents required for your application.
The AA is a higher education institution registered as a UKVI Student Sponsor with a track record of compliance.
Applicants who require a visa to study in the UK will be supported in their visa application by the AA. A unique Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number will be issued once an applicant has received an Unconditional Offer, formally accepted their place, paid their deposit and submitted the required documentation that confirms their eligibility for the Student Visa.
Details of the Student Visa and its eligibility criteria can be found on the gov.uk website, a more detailed guide will be sent out in June.
For questions relating to the admissions process, please contact postgraduateadmissions@aaschool.ac.uk.
For further information on bursaries, please contact bursaries@aaschool.ac.uk.