Hi archivacchi,

Well done on being accepted to the two schools. From my observations with students and my own peers, it really is important in many respects to have professional experience of the industry before advancing into your graduate programme. There is a level understanding that can only be attained by working in practice, outside of the sometimes esoteric conversations at a learning institution.

That aside, and assuming you have no intention to defer, it is worth reflecting on your undergraduate degree and how you performed. Did you do very well and how was your time management? Do you think you could manage the pressure of a university environment and the pressures of a professional environment simultaneously? From my own knowledge of myself, I accept that this is not a strength of mine. Like you I am also very interested in the theoretical aspects of architecture, which may be best suited to full-time programme. However, there may be students that find an office to work in while at AAM that allow them to be stimulated critically, which then supports their work at the university. So if you do go to AAM, can you choose the practice you work for? Or may it be the case that you end up working for a practice that is not necessarily sympathetic to those kinds of conversations: this sort of social structure will have an impact on how you engage with your studies because the culture of the office will be an extension of the culture of the university.

If you would struggle to pay for the programme, then the part-time option at AAM is a great route. There are other programmes beginning to adopt this model, like LSA in London, except that is somehow still just a two-year programme. I think, though, that there is a level of intensity to a design masters that benefits from full-time engagement. 

This is a level of study that allows you to narrow your focus and interests, so if you do choose AAM, be sure to consider how you get to choose a practice, and if that practice you end up working in would be a benefit to advancing your interests. You should am to speak with students at both schools, I'm sure if you contacted admissions they would set this up for you. In any case, both AAM and KU Leven have good reputations, so good luck with your choices. 

I live in Amsterdam, taught a workshop at the Academy, worked on a research that became part of the curriculum, and have worked with many people that were studying at the time or graduated from the Academy. It is a great way to learn how to work in an office environment, and to be exposed to different offices. The Academy really keeps track of your progress at work and will tell you to change offices if things don’t progress how they should, if you’re being pigeonholed or something.

It is very intense though...working in an office with all the responsibilities that come with that, and to go to school in the evenings and on Fridays. You’ll be making long days and nights and your entire life will revolve around architecture 7 days a week, be aware!

 It is a very practical, practice oriented way to study architecture, mostly focused on the Amsterdam scene.