This optional module, allows for various kinds of research studies in collaboration with planned or ongoing research projects. It is closely linked to the five units of the School of Architecture and is undertaken individually or in small teams of students. Supervision consists of guiding students towards clear results in a particular area of research. The research project is reviewed before a panel of experts from the supervising research unit.

Craft & Structure Unit:
The University of Liechtenstein’s “Room of Silence” project aims to investigate key questions using the research method “Research by Design” and to answer them in a practical manner through a groundbreaking realized rammed earth project. The focus lies on materiality, innovative detailing, the involvement of local stakeholders, as well as the aesthetic and functional quality of the space. The results are intended to be both scientifically grounded and of sustainable value for practical application.

Central Research Questions for the students will be: What innovative architectural and technical solutions can be developed and implemented using the material rammed earth in Liechtenstein? How can local stakeholders be integrated into the planning and construction process to combine their expertise with rammed earth in a sustainable and forward-looking way? How can airtightness and building physics requirements for connections be met without using membranes in ecological construction? What methods and techniques enable stable and durable installation of doors and windows in rammed earth constructions? How can excavated material from Liechtenstein be used for rammed earth construction, and what level of compressive strength can be achieved with it?
Project Objectives and Added Value: The project offers participating students the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge of sustainable building design and implementation through an applied research strategy. They will benefit from collaboration with industry partners such as Lehm Ton Erde, GBD, Lenum, and other companies from Liechtenstein and the surrounding region. This includes access to laboratories, material testing, and the development of innovative approaches in cooperation with industry. At the same time, the project explores the interdisciplinary interplay between theory, material research, and practical implementation. Its aim is not only to contribute to the advancement of ecological construction but also to create a platform for future projects that address the sustainable use of resources and the evolution of regional building culture.

Research or design studies defined by research units and under the guidance of mentors, usually closely related to current research projects, developed individually or in groups. The offers of the research semester vary each se-mester depending on the units and are coordinated with the academic director of the Master's degree pro-gramme.

Relevant reading will be made available at the beginning of the course. A list of recommended literature will be announced in the course and updated on an ongoing basis.

Minimum 75% compulsory attendance, continuous assessment and regular meetings with instructors.
The final grade is calculated according to the weighting of the following com-ponents: final submission (80%) and oral presentation (20%).

Individual appointments will be set with the tutor; group projects are also possible, as well as group work with individual submissions;

start, final submission and presentation can be individually
defined with the respective tutors.

Registration via the intranet of the University of Liechtenstein is not binding and is only valid in combination with the written consent of the respective unit. This applies to all Individual Electives in the Master's degree programme in Architecture.

In the Research Seminar course, students learn to apply in practice what they learned in the Research Methods course. The seminar covers issues related to identifying and formulating research questions, choosing a suitable research design to use in answering these questions, evaluating the feasibility of a planned research study, and writing research proposals. Together with faculty, students develop research proposals (so-called “exposés”) for their master’s theses

• The course involves interactive seminars with workshops and regular presentations.

After successful completion of the course, students will

Professional competence
• critical analyse state-of-the-art literature on selected research topics
• be able to write independently and scientifically about new research topics
• be able to present research ideas and designs

Methodological competence
• be able to understand and apply research methods in computer science and information systems
• be able to identify open research problems
• be able to identify feasible solution strategies for research problems

Social competence
• be able to effectively communicate their research ideas to their peers
• be able to effectively communicate their research ideas to their research supervisor(s)

Personal competence
• be able to plan and implement complex research tasks

Technological competence
• conduct proof-of-concept research experimentation and design

• Students are provided with the lecture slides and supplementary material (e.g., selected journal articles).

Seminar paper, presentation

This optional module allows for various kinds of research studies. It is closely connected to the five units of the Liechtenstein School of Architecture and is usually part of ongoing research projects. The supervision consists of directing the students towards clear results within a given field of research. The individual study is reviewed within the respective unit.

Built Heritage & Upcycling Unit:
Whenever there was a shortage of building materials in history, creativity was called for and a circular approach was often the answer. In the 16th century, the Frenchman Philibert de l'Orme invented a new construction method, known as "à petit bois", in which large roof surfaces were built from small pieces of wood. Instead of comprehensive designs, his architectural work was characterized by adapting, integrating and building on. We examine de l'Orme's circular approaches using the example of the roof truss of the Caserne Rochambeau in Mont-Dauphin (F). Could this method be one of the earliest concepts for planned circular building solutions?

Self-defined design or research studies, developed individually or in groups agreed upon with research units and under the guidance of mentors. The size of the module is determined by the respective unit.

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to

Relevant reading will be made available at the beginning of the course. A list of recommended literature will be announced in the course and updated on an ongoing basis.

Minimum 75% compulsory attendance, regular meetings with instructors, continuous assessment, portfolio and final review.
The final grade is calculated according to the weighting of the following components: final submission (80%) and oral presentation (20%).

Individual appointments will be set with the tutor.

Group projects are also possible, as well as group work with individual submissions.

Aufbauend auf dem ersten Modul lernen die Studierenden nun die materiellrechtlichen Bestimmungen des Besonderen Teils des liechtensteinischen Strafgesetzbuchs kennen. Sie erlangen profunde Kenntnisse hinsichtlich der zentralen wirtschaftsstrafrechtlichen Tatbestände des liechtensteinischen Strafgesetzbuchs.
Im ersten Teil des Moduls werden die Vermögens- und Urkundendelikte behandelt. Der zweite Teil widmet sich vertieft den Insolvenz- und Korruptionsdelikten. Jede Deliktsgruppe wird zunächst durch eine kurze Einführung zur Praxisrelevanz und zur Tatbestandsstruktur eröffnet. Daran anschliessend erfolgt eine detaillierte Analyse der einzelnen Tatbestandsmerkmale unter Einbeziehung aktueller Judikatur und vertretener Lehrmeinungen. Die Auseinandersetzung beschränkt sich nicht ausschliesslich auf die Straftatbestände selbst. Aufgrund ihrer Akzessorietät werden auch die jeweils zugrunde liegenden ausserstrafrechtlichen Normen des Wirtschaftsrechts – insbesondere aus dem Gesellschafts- und Insolvenzrecht – eingehend erläutert. Das erworbene Wissen wird anhand praxisnaher Fallbeispiele gefestigt und vertieft. Im dritten Teil des Moduls ist schliesslich Raum für rechtsvergleichende Perspektiven vorgesehen: Hier werden zentrale Wirtschaftsstraftaten in drei ausgewählten ausländischen Jurisdiktionen dargestellt.
Das Modul behandelt folgende Themenbereiche:
• Vermögensdelikte
• Urkundendelikte
• Insolvenzdelikte
• Korruptionsdelikte
• Typische Fallbeispiele aus der Praxis
• Rechtsvergleichende Perspektiven

Interaktive Vorlesung mit eingehender Diskussion.

Die Studierenden erwerben fundiertes Fachwissen hinsichtlich wichtiger Wirtschaftsstrafbestimmungen im Strafgesetzbuch. Sie sind in der Lage, strafrechtlich relevante Sachverhalte zu erkennen, strafrechtliche Risiken für Unternehmen und Behörden frühzeitig zu identifizieren und sie präventiv zu beraten.

BPM and Organisational Practice explores Business Process Management (BPM) through an organisational-studies lens, so it is a BPM elective. Emphasizing the duality of stability and change in organisational work, the course covers the factors, mechanisms, and interventions that affect how processes behave over time. The course covers six primary topics:

• Organisation theory
• Process- and practice-based research
• Organisational routines
• Intra-organisational dynamics and endogenous change
• Organisational learning, unlearning, and forgetting
• The role of agency and intention in the execution of organisational work

The course involves interactive lectures with exercises to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical design and analysis skills.

After successful completion of the course, students will

Professional competence
• understand the key assumptions and management implications of BPM
• understand key assumptions about process work from organisation theory
• understand the main concepts of (strong) process theory
• understand the main competence of routine dynamics theory

Methodological competence
• be able to synthesize the main tenets of two different scientific fields (BPM and routine dynamics)
• be able to analyse organisational phenomena through the lens of (strong) process theory
• be able to attend to (subtle) social dynamics evolving throughout organising processes

Social competence
• Be able to change roles when addressing managerial questions (role as BPM expert versus role as organisation theorist)
• Be able to work together with colleagues on case assignments

Personal competence
• Be able to find unconventional approaches to BPM-related question
• Be able to reflect on strengths and weaknesses from specific scientific fields

Technological competence
• Know about ways to observe and measure process dynamics

• Students are provided with the lecture slides and supplementary material (e.g., selected journal articles).
• Langley, A., & Tsoukas, H. (2017). The SAGE Handbook of Process Organization Studies. London, UK: SAGE Publications.

Written exam (60min)

• Introduction to Private Wealth Management, Estate and Succession planning
• Structuring and Governance of Wealth and Wealth Management Structures
• International Wealth Tax Management of UHNWI with Wealth Structures
• The Liechtenstein Wealth Management Centre and other Wealth Management Hubs: BM, BS, CH, SG
• International asset protection, family office and next generation issues
• Onboarding of Private Clients (UHNWI) with Wealth Structures: Input Statements by banks & trustees
• Case studies on International Wealth Management: Input Statements by banks & trustees
• CFA level III: Topics in Private Wealth Management

Interactive lecture

After successful completion of this module, students

• are familiar with the basic economic and legal principles in international private wealth management and can apply them;
• are familiar with the characteristics of the various legal entities and financial instruments as well as the national and international links to taxation of asset investments and structures;
• understand the goals connected with international and intertemporal tax management for cross-border asset investments and structures for natural persons as well as the particular instruments employed for achieving goals within the framework of tax management;
• understand the framework of structuring wealth management;
• understand the implications of onboarding private clients;
• are familiar with tax planning matters considering various wealth structures.

see course(s) within the module

Im Grundlagenstudio – Vom Objekt zum Raum werden Grundlagen des architektonischen Entwerfens vermittelt. Anhand von Analyse- und Entwurfsaufgaben werden architektonische und konstruktive Fragestellungen mit steigendem Komplexitätsgrad bearbeitet. Neben grundlegenden Kenntnissen von Elementen, Räumen und Programmen werden die Zusammenhänge von Material, Struktur und Form sowie der Bezug zum Menschen, seiner Wahrnehmung und seiner Bedürfnisse mit einem Fokus auf die Suffizienz thematisiert.

Angeleitete Projektarbeit im Entwurfsstudio.
Eine Seminarwoche zum Projektschwerpunkt ist integrativer Bestandteil des Entwurfsstudios.

Eine Liste mit Literaturempfehlungen wird in der Lehrveranstaltung bekannt gegeben und laufend aktualisiert.

Minimum 75% Anwesenheitspflicht, kontinuierliche Abgaben, Zwischen- und Abschlusspräsentation.
Die Abschlussnote errechnet sich nach der Notengewichtung folgender Komponenten: Entwurfsprojekt (80%) und Schlusspräsentation (20%).

The Master's Thesis is carried out by the student as part of an Advanced Studio and is supervised by the unit. The thesis contains a developed hypothesis that is verified (or falsified) as part of the design project. In addition to the actual design project, the Master's thesis includes the design and production of the thesis book. This consists of
three parts: the documentation of the design project, a theoretical report and a technical report. The formal aspects of the thesis and the thesis book are described in the Master's thesis regulations.

Mentored project work in the design studio.

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to

Relevant reading will be made available at the beginning of the course. A list of recommended literature will be announced in the course and updated on an ongoing basis.

Successful completion of 3 Advanced Studios in the Master´s degree programme.

Minimum 75% compulsory attendance, continuous assessment, midterm and final reviews.
The final grade is calculated according to the weighting of the following components: design project (60%), final presentation (10%) and thesis book (30%: 10% theoretical report, 10% technical report and 10% project documentation).

The Free Master's Thesis builds on the student's preliminary study and is supervised individually by the unit. The thesis contains a developed hypothesis that is verified (or falsified) within the framework of a freely chosen design project. In addition to the actual design project, the free Master's thesis includes the design and production of the thesis book. This consists of three parts: the documentation of the design project, a theoretical report and a technical report. The formal aspects of the thesis and the thesis book are described in the Master's Thesis regulations.

Free project work, mentored by the unit.

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to

Individual list of literature defined in Preliminary Study.

Successful completion of 3 Advanced Studios in the Master's degree programme. In addition, the Preliminary Study must have been completed with a minimum grade of 5.0.

Minimum 75% compulsory attendance, continuous assessment, midterm and final reviews.
The final grade is calculated according to the weighting of the following components: design project (60%), presentation (10%) and thesis book (30%: 10% theoretical report, 10% technical report and 10% project documentation).

This optional module allows for various kinds of research studies. It is closely connected to the five units of the Liechtenstein School of Architecture and is usually part of ongoing research projects. The supervision consists of directing the students towards clear results within a given field of research. The individual study is reviewed within the respective unit.

Built Heritage & Upcycling Unit:
Modern architecture came to Liechtenstein in 1924: on a bicycle in the form of the young German architect Ernst Sommerlad. Sommerlad reinterpreted international modernism for the Alpine region and created dozens of residential buildings in the Principality as well as in Appenzell, St. Gallen, Graubünden and Vorarlberg. On the occasion of a scientific symposium at the University of Liechtenstein in fall 2025, we are taking a close scientific look at Sommerlad' s broad and exciting oeuvre in cooperation with the state and the OST (Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences). Be part of it!

Self-defined design or research studies, developed individually or in groups agreed upon with research units and under the guidance of mentors. The size of the module is determined by the respective unit.

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to

Relevant reading will be made available at the beginning of the course. A list of recommended literature will be announced in the course and updated on an ongoing basis.

Minimum 75% compulsory attendance, regular meetings with instructors, continuous assessment, portfolio and final review.
The final grade is calculated according to the weighting of the following components: final submission (80%) and oral presentation (20%).

Individual appointments will be set with the tutor.

Group projects are also possible, as well as group work with individual submissions.