Course summary

Architects design buildings, spaces, the places in which we live and work; our homes, schools, sports buildings, theatres, hospitals, the environment in which we spend our lives. We work with both new build design and existing buildings with a focus on environmental sustainability. Our course will equip you with the knowledge to design spaces that improve our surroundings, making a positive contribution to our environment. Our course offers an integrated learning approach with technical, environmental sciences and humanities based subject work taught alongside studio modules. Year 1 design studio modules provide a common foundation with a focus on the fundamental skills of design and presentation. In years 2 and 3 you will have the opportunity to choose from up to 12 design studio units so that you can select to work in an area of your own interest. You will also be part of our vertical studios where year 2 and 3 students work alongside each other providing opportunities for peer mentoring and skills transfer in an engaging collaborative environment. With a mixture of teaching, workshops, study trips and collaborating with real clients and experts on projects, our course gives you the skills that architectural practice and design-based industries seek. Based in University Park, you will have access to excellent facilities to support your studies and research. These include dedicated studio spaces, our workshops and a dedicated technical team. The quality of work produced by our students is illustrated by the many national and international awards they have won, including the AJ Student Prize 2021 (undergraduate category), the RIBA Bronze Medal (2017) and the RIBA Serjeant Award for Excellence in Drawing at Part 1 (2020). If you want to become an architect, the BArch course is followed by one year of supervised professional experience before embarking on the two-year MArch Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part II) and one further year's professional experience culminating in a Part Three exam. This course is accredited by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).