Architecture with Foundation Year

Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Architecture with Foundation Year

Why study this course with LJMU?

• Students can access study abroad opportunities and apply for overseas travel awards
• 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
• European and UK study trips included within the programme
• Exemptions from RIBA Part 1 exams on graduation
• Direct involvement in live artistic projects taking place in the city
• To see what our students are doing, please visit the Architecture Instagram
• 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 professional validated programme gives you the opportunity to work on a range of authentic architectural projects with input from practising architects in a dynamic studio environment with access industry standard technical facilities.

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 analysing, visualising and testing potential solutions to increasingly complex spatial and social issues within an increasingly holistic global scenario.

We regularly host symposia and conferences, for example the recent symposiums included: The Display, Exhibition & Propagation of Architecture and Government and Housing in a Time of Crisis which both featured world-renowned guest speakers from architecture, urban planning and academia.

Each year, two of our undergraduate students are put forward for the RIBA Presidents' Medals award, and the collection of student work is published in a widely available catalogue. The variety of work and creative freedom seen in these projects demonstrates the expertise of our alumni.

For news, events, including student-led events, course information and student work and staff research, visit the Architecture blog.

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.

This unique Foundation Year is a preparatory year of study shared by Architecture, Fashion: Design & Communication, Fine Art, Graphic Design & Illustration, and Interior Architecture degree programmes. It is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the first year of a full honours degree. The Foundation Year allows greater access to the undergraduate programmes through a series of general taught modules that gradually build in exposure to discipline-specific practices, to enable students to be ready to take their place on the first year of their chosen full-time HE course Students are taught together as a non-discipline specific group in four out of six modules with opportunities to split into discipline-specific groups in the 'Exploring Materials, Process and Practice' and 'Studio Practice Project' modules. This non-disciplinary structure is designed to promote cross-disciplinary thinking and learning experiences. Students are also part of a wider level 3 community and study two academic skills modules ('Preparing for Success: Academic Skills', and 'Investigating Liverpool') with other foundation students.

There is a focus on the attainment of core academic skills, including writing, referencing, computer and research skills.

The Foundation Year aims to:

• Introduce students to contemporary art and design practices, including Art History and drawing
• Introduce core academic and general skills across four modules and introduce discipline specific subjects in two modules
• Foster the development of ideas through introductory 'exposures' and 'encounters' with materials, technologies and processes that replicate and simulate real-world interactions for making and collaborative practice
• Support students' induction and orientation to basic resources and workshops in the John Lennon Art and Design Building, and use key workshop areas and resources associated with their programmes in a safe and appropriate manner
• Acquire and develop the academic skills needed for successful transition into level 4 and completion of the degree
• Engage students to develop a self-directed and independent approach to learning

Students will have access to specialist workshops and technical support in the John Lennon Art and Design Building to develop their practical skills but no dedicated studio space is provided. You will spent a significant amount of time working online in our virtual learning environment, CANVAS.

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).

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the University’s approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.

Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Foundation Year

• Exploring Materials, Process and Practice (30 credits)
• Art and Culture (30 credits)
• Drawing and Culture (30 credits)
• Studio Practice Project (30 credits)

Year 1

• History and Theory 1: a global review of architectural Design (20 credits)
• Fundamental Skills: Understanding buildings through drawing (20 credits)
• Design 1: Light, space and form; narrative and spatial sequencing (20 credits)
• Design 2: Exploration for a place for making (20 credits)
• Design 3: Crafting a Spatial Proposition (10 credits)
• Design 4: the Need for Design (10 credits)
• Environment and Technology 1: Introduction to structural and environmental design (20 credits)

Year 2

• History and Theory 2: Modernism; from the symbol of the present to the medium of the future (20 credits)
• Design 5: City Design; analysing and shaping the city (20 credits)
• Design 6: Building in the city; enriching urban form through architecture (20 credits)
• Integrated Design 1: Explorative Project - Design (20 credits)
• Integrated Design 2: Explorative Project - Technology (20 credits)
• Environment and Technology 2: Use and application of Building Information Modelling (20 credits)

Year 3

• Design Project Research - CDP (20 credits)
• Integrated Design 2: Weather or not - explorations around climate (20 credits)
• Integrated Design 2: Supporting Studies (20 credits)
• Integrated Design 3: Comprehensive Design Project (40 credits)
• Practice and Legislation: Ethical design practice and building legislation (20 credits)

Professional accreditation

This course is connected to the BA (Hons) Architecture degree, which is fully accredited by the RIBA (Royal Institute of Architects). Liverpool School of Art and Design, where Architecture is taught, has many links with artistic and cultural institutions both nationally and locally, including RIBA North and FACT (the Foundation of Arts and Creative Technologies), and collaborates regularly on both live projects and exhibitions.

Your Learning Experience

• Teaching Support Assessment

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

During Level 4, you will be introduced to fundamental tools and ideas that form the basis for the study of architecture. In parallel, the interpretation of themes and conceptual thinking will be established within the years overall focus of Form, Space and Light.

During Level 5, you will explore two core aspects of architectural thinking: Contextualism and Experimentation and complete a study trip to a city in Europe. You will also complete modules which will inform and aid your work in the design studio. The final year, Level 6, focuses on environment, sustainability and ecology where architecture is seen as emerging from and responding to a holistic context of contemporary cultural and environmental programmatic issues. You will secure the skills and knowledge required to practice architecture via a creative but rigorous approach to design project work.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

Independent design project work makes up 60% of this course, and so it is vital that you get the support you need to be able to fully develop your design skills. For this reason, you will be allocated a design tutor who will provide one-to-one teaching and support throughout each project. The feedback system and the production of a personal development plan with a personal tutor are also designed to help you achieve your full potential, in both your studies and your future career plans.

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.

91%say staff value students views and opinions about the course

Data for Architecture (Full time) at Liverpool John Moores University, over two years

100%of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.

Data for Architecture (Full time) at Liverpool John Moores University, over two years

90%in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.

Data for courses in Architecture at Liverpool John Moores University

For more official course information visit Discover Uni

See course data

Where you will study

Cross-disciplinary learning in art and design subjects takes place in the Liverpool School of Art and Designs John Lennon Art and Design Building, based in the Mount Pleasant Campus. Here students studying a variety of disciplines, including Architecture, Art in Science, Exhibition Studies, Fashion, Fine Art, Graphic Design, History of Art and Museum Studies and Interior Architecture, will have the opportunity to develop their work in state-of-the-art workspaces and facilities within a stimulating and critically demanding environment.

Career paths

Successful completion of your BA Architecture degree means you will be exempt from RIBA/ARB Part 1 exams.

To become a registered architect you usually need to work for an additional year in architectural practice then complete a two-year Master of Architecture (MArch) diploma. Once you have passed the RIBA Part 3 exams, you can practice in any EU or commonwealth country and many other countries outside the EU.

If after graduating you choose not to go down the route of becoming a registered architect, a range of other careers are open to you. Past graduates have pursued successful careers as project managers, property developers, building contractors, furniture designers, lighting designers, architectural visualisation artists and journalists.

Many of our graduates have successfully secured employment at world-class practices throughout the UK and further afield, while others have remained in the city of Liverpool contributing to its evolution, taking key roles in leading practices that have reshaped the city over the last decade.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.

Read more

Tuition fees and funding

Home

• Full-time per year: £9,535

International

• Full-time per year: £18,250

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

Grades/points required from qualifications: DDD-CDD (72-80)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

GCSEs and equivalents

• Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy and Science.

A levels

• DDD-CDD

BTECs

• Extended Diploma: MMP

Access awards

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

International Baccalaureate

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

OCR Cambridge Technical

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

Irish awards

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

T levels

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.

You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.

Additional requirements

• Assessment required

Shortlisted applicants will be required to submit a digital portfolio. Applicants will be sent an email requesting they upload a digital portfolio using our upload attachment facility.

International requirements

• IELTS

6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here

All short-listed applicants are requested to submit a digital portfolio - portfolio guidance Applicants are awarded an offer on the quality of their digital portfolio or work, and academic attainments. We are looking for students with an enthusiasm for design, who wish to engage in the debate on the future of the built environment.

You should have a willingness to read around the subject widely. You should be willing to gain first hand experience of buildings, towns and cities and acquire information retrieval techniques, as you will be expected to read around the subject and draw upon your findings for essays and projects.

You would be expected to meet the criteria below;

• Critically aware of their surroundings
• Capable of discussing Art & Design issues
• The ability to analyse and reflectively criticise your work and the work of others
• Visual awareness

Your university life

From accommodation and academic support to clubs and societies. Find out what LJMU has to offer.

Related courses

• MEng Architectural Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Architectural Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Architectural Engineering with Foundation Year
• BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology
• BA (Hons) Architecture
• BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering Degree Apprenticeship
• BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering | Part-time
• MEng Building Services Engineering | Part-time
• BSc (Hons) Building Surveying

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This program is a professional validated degree that offers students the opportunity to work on authentic architectural projects in a dynamic studio environment. The program aims to create graduates with artistic flair, technical skills, and a strong understanding of the professional role of an architect.

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Objectives:

• Develop artistic flair and technical skills in students.
• Ground students in the demands of the professional role of an architect.
• Foster independent thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Encourage diverse and creative approaches to design issues.
• Develop graduates' skills in analyzing, visualizing, and testing potential solutions to complex spatial and social issues.

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Outline:

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Foundation Year (Level 3):

• Core Modules:
• Exploring Materials, Process and Practice (20 credits): Introduces students to basic Art & Design practices through introductory projects, materials, technologies, and processes.
• Drawing and Culture (20 credits): Explores the concept of drawing and introduces students to various drawing methods and materials.
• Studio Practice Project (20 credits): Introduces key concepts and activities that underpin discipline-specific study through practical projects.
• Preparing for Success: Academic Skills (20 credits): Develops academic skills such as poster creation, bibliography construction, referencing techniques, and academic writing.
• Investigating Liverpool (20 credits): Develops research skills through a project on the Liverpool City region.
• Encountering Art History (20 credits): Introduces students to the discipline of Art History, including visual analysis, terminology, and key periods and artists.

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Level 4:

• Core Modules:
• History and Theory 1: a global review of architectural Design (20 credits): Introduces historically significant buildings and their relationship to context, exploring how architectural ideas have evolved from cultural conditions.
• Fundamental Skills: Understanding buildings through drawing (20 credits): Develops architectural drawing skills in various media, focusing on spatial analysis and interpretation.
• Design 1: Light, space and form; narrative and spatial sequencing (20 credits): Introduces spatial design fundamentals through an understanding of space, light, and architectural directive.
• Design 2: Exploration for a place for making (20 credits): Students research and devise a historical and theoretical essay to formulate a design brief and directive.
• Design 3: Crafting a Spatial Proposition (10 credits): Refines and concludes the design of a building, incorporating urban design ideas and exploring the interface between building and context.
• Design 4: the Need for Design (10 credits): Explores how user needs and commissioner desires shape design briefs, spaces, and projects.
• Environment and Technology 1: Introduction to structural and environmental design (20 credits): Introduces the role of technology in architectural design, focusing on innovative thinking and current technical horizons.

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Level 5:

• Core Modules:
• History and Theory 2: Modernism; from the symbol of the present to the medium of the future (20 credits): Explores Modernism, postmodernism, and metamodernism, their precedents, and worldwide antecedents.
• Integrated Design 1: Explorative Project - Design (20 credits): Develops abilities in creative detailed design, design development, and resolution, underpinned by thematic architectural inquiry.
• Integrated Design 2: Explorative Project - Technology (20 credits): Develops knowledge of explorative processes in architectural design thinking, production, technical studies, and representation.
• Environment and Technology 2: Use and application of Building Information Modelling (20 credits): Focuses on the technical realization of buildings through modeling, analysis, and design.
• Optional Modules:
• Study Semester Abroad - Architecture (60 credits): Provides students with a semester of study at an approved overseas partner institution.

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Level 6:

• Core Modules:
• Design Project Research - CDP (20 credits): Develops research skills for a thematic brief and explores contemporary architectural practice.
• Integrated Design 2: Weather or not - explorations around climate (20 credits): Explores environment, ecology, and sustainability through the programmatic interpretation and spatial resolution of a building.
• Integrated Design 3: Comprehensive Design Project (40 credits): Guides students in creating a comprehensive design for a medium-sized building, drawing from various course modules.
• Practice and Legislation: Ethical design practice and building legislation (20 credits): Introduces students to essential knowledge and discussion concerning the practice of Architecture.

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Assessment:

• Assessment methods vary depending on the module but typically include a combination of exams and coursework.
• Assessment methods include:
• Design and research presentations (group/individual)
• Written work (essays, reports, etc.)
• Exams (seen/unseen)
• Practical work (workshops abroad)
• Portfolio
• One-to-one interview with an external examiner at the end of studies.

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Teaching:

• The program adopts an active blended learning approach, combining face-to-face and online learning.
• Students have access to support from their personal tutor, either on-campus or via video call.
• Independent design project work makes up 60% of the course, with dedicated design tutors providing one-to-one teaching and support throughout each project.
• The feedback system and the production of a personal development plan with a personal tutor are designed to help students achieve their full potential.

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Careers:

• Successful completion of the BA Architecture degree means students are exempt from RIBA/ARB Part 1 exams.
• To become a registered architect, students typically need to work for an additional year in architectural practice and complete a two-year Master of Architecture (MArch) diploma.
• Graduates can practice in any EU or commonwealth country and many other countries outside the EU after passing the RIBA Part 3 exams.
• Other career paths include:
• Project managers
• Property developers
• Building contractors
• Furniture designers
• Lighting designers
• Architectural visualization artists
• Journalists

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Other:

• The program is fully accredited by the RIBA (Royal Institute of Architects) and the ARB (Architects Registration Board).
• The Liverpool School of Art and Design has many links with artistic and cultural institutions, including RIBA North and FACT (the Foundation of Arts and Creative Technologies).
• The school collaborates regularly on live projects and exhibitions.
• The program includes European and UK study trips.
• Students have access to specialist workshops and technical support in the John Lennon Art and Design Building.
• Students spend a significant amount of time working online in the virtual learning environment, CANVAS.
• The program is taught in the RIBA award-winning, purpose-built John Lennon Art and Design Building.
• The program includes direct involvement in live artistic projects taking place in the city.
• The program hosts symposia and conferences, featuring world-renowned guest speakers from architecture, urban planning, and academia.
• Two undergraduate students are put forward for the RIBA Presidents' Medals award each year.
• Student work is published in a widely available catalogue.
• Students have access to a wide range of opportunities and support through the Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service.
• The Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects, or unpaid placements anywhere in the world.

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Home full-time per year

£9,250

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International full-time per year

£18,250 All figures are subject to yearly increases. Tuition fees are subject to parliamentary approval.