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Architecture at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. Overview Take your first step to becoming a registered architect on our BA (Hons) Architecture degree course – accredited by Architects Registration Board (ARB) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). With client-driven projects and professional placements, you'll learn from the best in architecture and how to shape cities and communities for the better. Our teaching team of professional architects and focus on sustainability ensure your practice is future-proof and industry-standard. After graduation, you’ll have the theoretical and practical foundations to pursue Master’s study and advance in your registration. You can also begin a career in the architecture, sustainability and construction industries, such as landscape architecture, interior design and historic building conservation. Course highlights

  • Fast-track your architect registration by completing this degree and getting Part 1 qualification – an ARB requirement
  • Broaden your professional experience by working with actual clients in our in-house Architecture Project Office
  • Experience a professional design studio by working in our dedicated studio spaces, developing your individual and team skills
  • Get a taste of working in the architecture industry by taking an optional one-year placement
  • Impress future employers by showcasing your work at our annual Graduate Show
  • Enrich your theoretical understanding by going on site visits to major international cities – past trips include Helsinki, Barcelona, New York and Berlin
  • Advance your abilities in key software used widely in the industries – including Building Information Modelling (BIM), advanced parametric modelling, environment evaluation software, and 3D scanning and printing tools
Careers and opportunities Many graduates on this course continue their architect training with paid, mentored professional experience in a practice, before studying at postgraduate level for a Master of Architecture degree. You can use your skills in areas such as design practice, planning and historic building conservation. Graduate jobs Jobs our graduates have taken on include:
  • Architectural designer
  • Interior designer
  • Landscape architect
  • Urban designer
  • Planner
  • Architectural technologist
  • Product designer
  • Graphic designer
  • Lighting designer
  • Set designer
Graduate destinations Companies graduates have worked for include:
  • Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt
  • Make
  • Re-Format
  • Grimshaw
  • PAD Studio
  • Hawkins Brown
  • Design Engine
  • Architecture plb
  • Hampshire County Architects
  • Squire & Partners
  • Allies & Morrison
  • Penoyre & Prasad
Past students, having completed their registration, have gone on to run their own practices. For example, Simon Astridge Architecture Workshop, DMWA and PCA.

Modules

Year 1 Core modules in this year include:

  • Design Communication and Portfolio (40 credits)
  • Design Fundamentals (40 credits)
  • Histories, Theories and Matters of Concern (20 credits)
  • Technology and Environment: Exploration (20 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year. Year 2 Core modules in this year include:
  • Communication: Creative Practice (20 credits)
  • Design: Architectural Investigation (20 credits)
  • Design: Architectural Narratives (20 credits)
  • History and Theory of Modern Architecture (20 credits)
  • Technology and Environment: Design Practice (20 credits)
Optional modules in this year include:
  • Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice (20 credits)
  • Professional Experience (20 credits)
  • Student Enterprise (20 credits)
  • Thematic Design (20 credits)
Year 3 Core modules in this year include:
  • Communication: Professional Practice (20 credits)
  • Design: Major Project (40 credits)
  • Design: Major Project Reflective Synthesis (20 credits)
  • History and Theory: Dissertation (20 credits)
  • Technology and Environment: Discovery (20 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year. Placement year (optional): On this course, you can do an optional work placement year after your 2nd or 3rd year to get valuable experience working in industry. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year. We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through coursework and presentation. You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future. The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed 100% by coursework in all years.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Architects Royal Institute of British
  • Architects Registration Board

How to apply

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio

Applicants without a relevant subject or experience will be asked to provide a portfolio to support their application.

Other

A relevant subject or experience in Art and Design is required.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
PTE Academic62An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
72%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
83%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £17200 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2024/25): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship) International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Architecture at University of Portsmouth - UCAS