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Architecture with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University - UCAS

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2025 - 2026
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Liverpool John Moores University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

Why study Architecture with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University?

  • Access to some of the UK's best examples of urban redevelopment and iconic buildings
  • Teaching in the RIBA award-winning, purpose-built John Lennon Art and Design Building
  • Opportunities for overseas exchanges and study trips
  • Exemptions from RIBA Part 1 exams on graduation
  • Direct involvement in live artistic projects taking place in the city
  • 96% of students surveyed said this course challenged them to achieve their best work (National Student Survey 2024)
  • 94% of students surveyed said the teaching on the course was good or very good (National Student Survey 2024)
  • LJMU ranked 13th university in the UK for Architecture (The Times UK University Rankings 2025)
About your course This professionally-validated programme gives you the opportunity to work on a range of authentic architectural projects in a dynamic studio environment within the Liverpool School of Art & Design. Input from practicing architects and access to industry standard technical facilities gives you a rigorous and stimulating programme of study. Taught principally through a studio environment that is seamlessly underpinned and informed by lectures and workshops, the over-arching ambition of the programme is to create graduates with artistic flair, and who are technically skilled and grounded in the demands of the professional role of the architect. The learning and teaching environment is progressively informed by research in pedagogy in the creative field. While teaching the curriculum, the programme also develops less tangible skills in students, such as communication, presentation and self-motivation; a key ambition is to create independent thinkers, adept at resolving problems with creativity and originality. A broad educational experience is offered within which students can develop diverse rigorous and creative approaches to design issues that explore and test appropriate resolutions in relation to contemporary and anticipated contextual issues. Design projects form the backbone of the core teaching strategy. These projects are seen as primers to a divergent creative and critical thought process: they are characterised by individual interpretation and interest of the subjects that encourage imaginative solutions through discursive studio forums. As you progress through the degree, the design projects gradually become larger in scale, more complex and ambitious in their intentions and integrative in their nature. At degree level, predominantly, the city of Liverpool is used as a contextual laboratory to test concepts that have a local flavour with global implications. The aim is to develop graduate skills and knowledge such that they become autonomous thinkers who are capable of analysing, visualising and testing potential solutions to increasingly complex spatial and social issues within an increasingly holistic global scenario. Foundation Year The Foundation Year pathway (level 3) introduces students to core academic skills needed to thrive in High Education, and provides an introduction to art and design principles and practices that are required for students to study on the BA (Hons) programmes at Liverpool School of Art and Design. Once you pass the Foundation Year you will progress directly onto the first year of the Architecture honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

Modules

Please visit the Liverpool John Moores University website for detailed module information.

Assessment method

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework. All students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. Typically, you will be assessed on your design and research presentations (group/individual), written work (essays, reports etc), exams (seen/unseen), practical work (workshop abroad), and your portfolio. At the end of your studies there will be a one-to-one interview with an external examiner. The type of feedback you will receive varies according to the module. For instance, design modules are reviewed twice with formal feedback given by a panel at the second review, and portfolio reviews are conducted at the end of each semester when you will work with your personal tutor to put together a personal development plan. This will address your strengths and weaknesses and help you develop your academic work as well as your career plans.

Professional bodies

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

  • Architects Royal Institute of British

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
A002
Institution code:
L51
Campus name:
Mount Pleasant Campus
Campus code:
M

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below: • Key Skills Level 2 in English/ Maths • NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and/or Reading • Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English • Higher Diploma in Maths/ English • Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/ English • Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number • Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio

A digital portfolio is required for this course.

Other

Mature and non-standard applicants may be invited to interview.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
75%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
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

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
EU £18250 Year 1
International £18250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 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

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Sponsorship information

Please see our Bursaries and Scholarships page for more information: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/discover/fees-and-funding/bursaries-and-scholarships

Architecture with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University - UCAS