Program Overview

Architecture

BA (Hons)

Programme Overview

Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings, balancing creative vision with practical needs like cost, functionality, and longevity. This course delves deeper than mere physical structures; it shapes how we live, work, and interact with our surroundings, addressing significant societal challenges such as the climate crisis, housing issues, urban inequality, and the pressing demand for sustainable and inclusive designs.

The programme provides a comprehensive understanding of built spaces and focuses on designing with people's needs in mind. Students will engage with real briefs, guided by expert practitioners and industry leaders, fostering entrepreneurial skills that empower them to transform ideas into market-ready solutions.

An optional Foundation year is available for students seeking preparation for degree-level study in the UK.

Experience Offered

• Prime Location: Located near key design institutions, exhibitions, museums, and practices.
• Interdisciplinary Study: Collaboration across creative disciplines within a vibrant studio culture.
• Flexible Learning: Opportunities to tailor modules to individual career aspirations.
• Future-Focused Design: Emphasis on fluency in digital technology and sustainable design practices.

Learning Environment

Situated in London's royal Regent's Park, surrounded by iconic landmarks and creative firms, the programme is designed to cultivate innovative architectural thinkers and leaders. The curriculum encourages experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement. Students have access to:

• Workshops, design studios, CAD labs, and photography studios.
• Professional equipment including plotters, 3D printers, laser cutters, and wood workshops.
• Free subscriptions to Autodesk and Adobe Creative Cloud.

From the outset, students will work on live projects, responding to real briefs that simulate professional practice and involve direct engagement with clients and communities. Students will gain skills in drawing, model-making, concept development, storytelling, project management, budgeting, and the application of emerging technologies like AI and digital fabrication.

Core Modules

• Material Investigation: Environmental and Technical Principles
  • Explores sustainability and technology in architectural design, developing contextually responsive and sustainable strategies.
• Design Studio 1: Architectural Foundations
  • Introduces the architectural design process through investigation and model-making, leading to a small-scale architectural proposal.
• Architectural Narratives: Design Decisions and Processes
  • Focuses on architectural theory and critical thinking, examining influential theories from the twentieth century to the present.
• Design: Spatial Investigations
  • Involves primary design projects focusing on private space while exploring the iterative nature of design processes.
• Reading Spaces
  • Engages students in historical and contemporary architecture, enhancing skills in observation, representation, and design communication.
• Learning Perspectives
  • Encourages collaborative learning and critical reflection in an academic context.

Industry & Entrepreneurship Modules

• Exploring Industry and Entrepreneurship
  • Provides insights into changing work environments, focusing on industry-related and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Year 2

Core Modules

• Design Studio 2: Adaptive Reuse
  • Develops problem-solving abilities through the adaptation of existing buildings, blending analytical and creative skills.
• Architectural Context: Positioning Design
  • Examines architecture's intersection with cultural contexts and engages students in critical debates of contemporary positions.
• Design Studio 3: Urban Habitats
  • Focuses on designing contextual architectural projects addressing social exchange and ecological impact.

Elective Modules

• Creating a Brand Identity
  • Guides students in formulating personal professional brands through storytelling and strategic planning.
• Digital Design with Adobe Creative Suite
  • Covers digital design tools and their application in creative processes.
• Emerging Technologies: from Web3 to the Metaverse
  • Introduces emerging technologies and their implications across various industries.
• Future Cities Now
  • Explores the transformation of urban environments and sustainable socio-economic development.
• Literary London
  • Investigates the literary depiction of London across various contexts, incorporating historical and sociological perspectives.
• Creativity and Imagination
  • Encourages exploration of creativity through practical projects and peer collaboration.

Year 3

Core Modules

• Design Studio 4: Research, Agency and Architectural Position
  • The first half of a major project allowing students to articulate their individual design languages and ambitions.
• Material Integration: Environmental Technology and Tectonics
  • Focuses on integrating technical, environmental, and legal dimensions into architectural projects.
• Design Studio 5: Resolution and Impact
  • Culminates in the development of a portfolio reflecting design identity and professional standards.
• Architecture: Professional Practice and Ethics
  • Investigates professionalism within architectural practices, including a focus on business and ethical considerations.
• Architectural Research: Thinking Discourses and Practices
  • Emphasizes the importance of critical research and writing in architecture, encouraging personal inquiry into architectural theories.

Elective Modules

• Material Cultures and Sustainability
  • Explores innovative materials and their relation to sustainability and digital fabrication.
• Creative and Professional Writing Masterclass
  • Develops writing practices across various professional contexts.
• Creative Futures
  • Encourages collaborative project curation aimed at demonstrating creative leadership.
• Introduction to Environmental Law
  • Introduces legal frameworks surrounding environmental regulation and resource management.
• Understanding Artificial Intelligence
  • Investigates AI's impacts across various industries and its implications for future living.
• Professional Project Management
  • Provides tools for managing projects effectively within academic and professional contexts.
• How to Create a Social Enterprise
  • Studies strategies in the social economy for addressing global challenges through innovative enterprise practices.
• The Art of Data Storytelling
  • Teaches the integration of data and narrative to craft impactful stories.
• Understanding the Politics of Migration
  • Focuses on migration dynamics and their socio-political implications.
• Podcasting Masterclass
  • Develops audio production skills through engagement in various podcast genres.
• Languages
  • Offers a selection of languages from beginner to advanced levels.
• Designing Inclusive Built Environments
  • Examines how to create equitable and fair architectural practices, addressing social and economic disparities.

Admission Requirements

Individuals interested in the BA (Hons) Architecture programme should possess one of the following qualifications:

• Three GCE A-levels at grades A-C (preferably including a design subject).
• 24 points in the International Baccalaureate.
• A US High School Diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.5, along with specific AP or SAT requirements.
• Equivalent qualifications deemed acceptable by the University.

English Language Requirements

Minimum English proficiency can be demonstrated through one of the following:

• GCSE English Language at grade C (4) or equivalent.
• IELTS Academic score of 6.0 overall with no component lower than 5.5.

Tuition Fees

• Tuition fee: ｣24,500 per year, fixed for the duration of the course.
• Non-refundable advance deposit:
  • UK students: ｣1,500
  • Non-UK students: ｣5,000

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the Architecture programme will be equipped for a diverse range of career paths, including:

• Architecture and design roles in various capacities.
• Consulting in design and brand strategy.
• Engagement in heritage and conservation, and community development.
• Pursuing roles in design research, criticism, and curation.
• Entrepreneurship within the creative and architectural sectors.

The programme's comprehensive approach ensures that students develop not only their architectural skills but also the critical thinking and creative solutions necessary to address contemporary social challenges and innovations.