Architecture BA

Program Overview

The University of Sheffield's Architecture BA program equips students with fundamental skills in design, critical thinking, and collaboration, preparing them for careers in the field. The program emphasizes hands-on studio work, social and environmental implications of architecture, and practical experience, fostering a collaborative culture among students. Graduates are highly sought after by prestigious architectural firms, showcasing the program's commitment to excellence in architectural education.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Overview: The Architecture BA program at the University of Sheffield is a three-year, full-time degree recognized by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
It provides a broad knowledge base across the sciences and humanities, focusing on how architecture improves the lives of those who inhabit and use it.
• Objectives: The program aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become successful architects.
This includes developing fundamental architectural skills, practical experience, design personality, critical thinking, and collaborative skills.
• Description: The program emphasizes hands-on learning through studio-based design work, lectures, and professional experience.
Students will engage in design projects that challenge them to think creatively and critically, applying both taught and practical knowledge. The program also emphasizes the social, spatial, and environmental implications of architecture, particularly addressing the challenges of the Climate Emergency and zero carbon design.

Outline:

• Content: The program covers a wide range of topics, including architectural design, communication, environment and technology, and humanities.
• Structure: The program is structured across three years, with core modules in each year.
• Course Schedule: The program is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, studio-based design work, field trips, and workshops.
• Modules:
• First Year:
• Architectural Design 1 & 2: Studio-based practical architectural design work focusing on perception, cultural and technological significance, and problem-solving.
• Communication 1 & 2: Introduces communication skills used in architecture, including presentation, listening, graphical techniques, model-making, and information technology.
• Environment and Technology 1 & 2: Covers building technology, environmental design, construction methods, climate literacy, regenerative design, and solar architecture.
• Humanities 1 & 2: Explores the relationship between architecture, the built environment, and society, examining inhabitations, domestic settings, and the social context of architecture.
• Second Year:
• Architectural Design 3 & 4: Studio-based design work focusing on sustainability, urban context, and the design of outside spaces.
• Communication 4: Introduces analytical and formal architectural drawing, drawing literacy skills, and architectural representation.
• Computer Aided Architectural Design: Introduces CAD concepts, modeling, drafting, analysis, and visualization.
• Environment and Technology 3 & 4: Covers building structures, foundations, materials, embodied energy, barrier-free design, and building envelope design.
• Humanities 3 & 4: Examines the production of architecture and its relationship to society, urban culture, and knowledge development.
• Third Year:
• Architectural Design 5 & 6: Studio-based design work focusing on complex schemes, urban design, precedents, and philosophical approaches.
• Special Study: In-depth study of a chosen subject area, such as architectural theory, history, science and technology, structures, management, CAD, landscape architecture, or town planning.
• Environment and Technology 5 & 6: Covers human comfort, lighting, thermal perception, passive heating, cooling, ventilation, building services, and integrated design.
• Humanities 5: Focuses on urban history and theory, integrating architecture with a wider urban context.
• Management Practice Law: Explores practice in relation to legal, economic, and contractual scenarios, focusing on political, social, and financial factors affecting architectural practice.

Assessment:

• Methods: Assessment is through both group and individual coursework, including design portfolios, written reports, and presentations.
• Criteria: Feedback is provided through individual and group tutorials and studio-based design reviews.

Teaching:

• Methods: Teaching is primarily through studio-based design work, supported by lectures, seminars, field trips, and workshops.
• Faculty: The teaching team includes practicing architects and professional academics from a range of architectural backgrounds.
• Unique Approaches: The program emphasizes a collaborative culture, with students encouraged to share ideas and review each other's work.

Careers:

• Potential Paths: Graduates often pursue careers in architectural practice, built environment consulting, government and local authority advising, creative and strategic policy making, architectural criticism and journalism, arts and heritage management, and design and illustration.
• Opportunities: The program provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a variety of roles within the built environment.
• University Rankings: The University of Sheffield is consistently ranked highly for architecture, with the School of Architecture ranked 3rd in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2023 and top 5 in the UK by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 and The Guardian University Guide 2023.
• Student Profiles: The program attracts students from diverse backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and peer learning.

Please use 2024-25 information as a guide. £9,250Home students 2024 annual tuition fee £29,110Overseas students 2024 annual tuition fee