Program Overview

Bachelor of Architecture

The Bachelor of Architecture is a 5-year undergraduate degree in architecture. The objective of the programme is to educate architects with a strong set of integrated skills, balanced with a clear understanding of the environment - built, existing and imagined - and vital to professional practice.

Key Information

• NFQ Level: 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree
• CAO Points History: 520*
• Course Code: LM099
• Duration: 5 Years
• Fees: See what fees may apply to students
• Subject Area: Engineering
• Course Director: Jan Frohburg

About the Course

Architecture at UL offers a 5-year undergraduate degree in architecture. The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has awarded full accreditation to the architecture programme at UL. Studying architecture in an accredited programme is the first step towards becoming a registered professional architect.

Why Study Architecture at UL?

Architecture at UL is a place where the study of architecture is undertaken with passion and inventiveness, open and transparent society of mobile thinkers. The teaching of architecture at UL is integrated with Environmental and Structural engineering, as disciplines that set us free from the limitations of our own knowledge and help us to achieve a balance with the environment by focusing human abilities.

What You Will Study

Training as an architect is engaging in a process of 'learning by doing' with the course curriculum structured around the design studio. The design studio is a creative laboratory where learning is developed through experimentation and reflection. Woven into the design studio will be courses of study in structures (structural engineering), environmental science (environmental engineering), history (of architecture, society, technology), and philosophy, sociology, law and management (professional practice).

Course Structure

The course is designed to equip you with a broad range of skills fundamental to becoming an architect. These skills include hand drawing, sketching, model-making, photography, computer-aided drawing, audiovisual and verbal presentation, as well as core skills including conceptualising and designing, problem-solving and working with other people.

Year 1-5 Course Modules

• Year 1:
  • Semester 1: Design Studio 1a, Gravity & Reaction 1, Representation / Drawing 1, History & Theory of Architecture 1, Assembly & Techniques 1, Environmental Systems and Forces 1
  • Semester 2: Design Studio 1b, Gravity & Reaction 2, Representation / Drawing 2, History & Theory of Architecture 2, Assembly & Techniques 2, Environmental Systems and Forces 2
• Year 2:
  • Semester 3: Design Studio 2a, Gravity & Reaction 3, Representation / Drawing 3, History & Theory of Architecture 3, Assembly and Techniques 3, Environmental Systems and Forces 3
  • Semester 4: Design Studio 2b, Gravity & Reaction 4, Representation / Drawing 4, History & Theory of Architecture 4, Materials 1, Environmental Systems and Forces 4
• Year 3:
  • Semester 5: Design Studio 3a, Gravity & Reaction 5, Representation / Drawing 5, History & Theory of Architecture 5, Assembly & Techniques 4, Environmental Systems and Forces 5
  • Semester 6: Design Studio 3b, Gravity & Reaction 6, Representation / Drawing 6, History & Theory of Architecture 6, Assembly & Techniques 5, Visual Culture 1
• Year 4:
  • Semester 7: Design Studio 4a, Professional Practice - Contracts, Advanced Construction 1, Elective
  • Semester 8: Design Studio 4b, Profession & Society, Advanced Construction 2, Elective
• Year 5:
  • Semester 9: Design Studio 5a, Advanced Construction 3, Elective
  • Semester 10: Design Studio 5b - Thesis, Advanced Construction 4, Elective

Entry Requirements

• CAO Points History: 520*
• Minimum Grades: Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades.
• Subject Requirements: Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.
• Additional Considerations:
  • All applicants to the BArch Architecture course at UL must submit a digital portfolio and written statement for assessment.
  • Portfolios submitted for September 2026 entry will be graded and up to 200 marks can be awarded in addition to the CAO points.

How to Apply

• Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO.
• Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO.
• EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO.
• If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here.

Fees and Funding

• Student Course Fees: Are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.
• EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant: HEA pays Tuition Fees (€4,762), SUSI pays Student contribution (€2,500), Student pays Student Levy (€104).
• EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant: HEA pays Tuition Fees (€4,762), Student pays Student contribution (€2,500), Student pays Student Levy (€104).
• Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant: Student pays Tuition Fees (€4,762), Student pays Student contribution (€2,500), Student pays Student Levy (€104).
• Non-EU Students: Student pays Tuition Fees (€22,596), Student pays Student Levy (€104).

Your Future Career

• Employability Skills: Problem-solving, decision-making, working effectively in multinational teams, using creativity to establish innovative solutions, managing the design process and evaluating outcomes.
• Job Titles for Graduates: Architect, Architect Part II, Architect Technician, Architectural Assistant, Architectural Graduate, Architectural Research Assistant, Consultant, Junior Architect, Project Architect, Teaching Assistant, Technical Support Agent, Architecture Tutor.
• Student Profiles:
  • Aisling Duffy: Graduated from University of Limerick with a BArch in 2021, working as an architectural assistant and part-time tutor.
  • Martin Lennon: Enjoyed his time in Architecture School, had an incredibly wholesome experience, and felt encouraged to explore and test things.