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Master's programme in Architectural Lighting Design and Health

There is an increasing awareness of the importance of light and proper lighting. Today’s 24 hour society also raises new needs for illumination. The two-year master’s programme Architectural Lighting Design and Health teaches the essentials of light and lighting.

Complete curriculum

Printable programme syllabus and course descriptions:
2013/2014

Programme in short

Admission requirements:
A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) of at least 180 ECTS. Specific requirements as specified by each Master’s programme.
Degree awarded:
Master of Science (120 credits). The degree gives access to third cycle qualifications (doctorate).
Duration:
120 credits/120 ECTS credits (two years). The system is compatible with ECTS credits. It is a
full-time study programme.
Location:
KTH Haninge
Programme start:
Late August
Application deadline:
January 15
Language of instruction:
English
The grading scale is:
A-Excellent, B-Very Good, C-Good, D-Satisfactory, E-Sufficient. No overall grade is given for a degree and students are not ranked.
Contact:
Agneta Ejhed
(Programme Coordinator)

Career Prospects

Lighting is an expanding field of knowledge. The introduction of LED armatures has opened up new possibilities of directing light and thereby new areas of usage. Over the past years there has been a constantly growing demand for lighting design expertise. Working opportunities for lighting designers are therefore excellent.

Graduates primarily work in lighting design or architectural studios or as self-employed consultants. Employers are construction companies, architectural studios and public or private operators.

Programme outline

The programme teaches everything about natural and artificial light in theory and practice. Participants are taught the effects of light on the human body and how to work with lighting in the building and decoration of all sorts of public and private environments.

Five basic courses are given during the first year:

Light and Humans

The impact of light on humans. This course gives knowledge on the human relationship with light from a biological and cultural perspective.

Light and Space – outdoor

The course deals with lighting in different kinds of outdoor environment such as streets and parks. Lighting is studied in relation to pedestrians, car drivers, cyclists and with consideration of such aspects as time of day and safety. Another covered topic is facade lighting.

Light and Space – indoor

Different indoor spaces and activities require different kinds of lighting. Light is studied with respect to factors like scattering, colour and dazzlement. 

Light and Science

A course in lighting theory. Participants learn to write scientifically about the subject after having studied a specific situation.

Luminaire Design

The course teaches the historical evolution of luminaires and the luminaire design process from concept phase to prototype construction.  

The second year of the master’s programme is dedicated to advanced courses in lighting design and daylight’s relevance for lighting design, a course in scientific theory and methodology and a master thesis project. 

Degree project

The two year programme will be concluded with a 30 ECTS credits Degree project (20 weeks full-time). Previous years theses have approached a wide variety of topics within the architectural lighting design field. Papers on light and health, light and time, urban lighting, perception and information, as well as practical projects with theoretical frameworks in rural lighting and interactive lighting design are just a few examples of former students work.