Architectural Technology with a Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

Architectural Technology with a Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

Overview

Want a career as an Architectural technologist? Our BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology with Foundation Year degree is where the science of construction meets the art of design. The course focuses not only on the creation of the built environment, but also the structuring of space in and around it.

About the Foundation Year

The Foundation Year course option enables you to study for our BSc (Hons) degree over an extended full-time duration of four years by including a Foundation Certificate (year one of four). The Foundation Certificate provides a broad study programme that underpins the follow-on degree. In order to progress to the next year of your degree, it is necessary to achieve a pass in all of the modules of the Foundation Certificate.

What's covered in this course?

Our course will develop your ability to appreciate and analyse existing design as well as create new ones, while keeping buildability, technology, procurement, contractual relations and the people involved in the process in mind. You will also explore the social, regulatory, technical, sustainable and aesthetic context of the UK and global development industry.

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

• 80 UCAS Tariff points.
• GCSE and other level 2 requirements: This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications.
• A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements:
  • A Level: 80 UCAS Tariff points / CDD (or equivalent)
  • AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels
  • A maximum of four subjects will be considered
  • Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate): 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • T Level: Pass overall (C or above on the core) All subjects considered
  • Access to HE Diploma: Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3
  • OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers): Minimum of 80 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects
  • Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher: 80 UCAS Tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD)
  • Welsh Baccalaureate: 80 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

International qualifications

• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall.
• EU / International students: Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band.

Fees & How to Apply

UK students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BSc (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2024
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: £9,535 in 2025/26

International students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BSc (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: £17,690 in 2025/26

Course in Depth

Foundation Year

• Built Environment Context and Practice (20 credits)
• Building Technology (20 credits)
• Foundation Computing (20 credits)
• Quantitative Methods (20 credits)
• Fundamentals of Digital Technology (20 credits)
• Independent Practice (20 credits)

First Year

• Built Environment Technology 1 (20 credits)
• Integrated Digital Design: Residential (20 credits)
• Environmental and Materials Science (20 credits)
• Law (20 credits)
• Architectural Design Studio 1 (20 credits)
• Architectural Design Studio 2 (20 credits)

Second Year

• Built Environment Technology 2 (20 credits)
• Integrated Digital Design: Commercial (20 credits)
• Design Practice (20 credits)
• Emerging Digital Technologies (20 credits)
• Technological Design Studio 1 (20 credits)
• Technological Design Studio 2 (20 credits)

Final Year

• Research in Practice (20 credits)
• Professional Practice (20 credits)
• Urban Design Practice in Context (20 credits)
• Individual Honours Project (40 credits)
• Digital Design Practice with Existing Buildings (20 credits)

Employability

• Engaging with industry and gaining work experience during your studies is essential if you are going to be taken seriously in the job market.
• The University is eager to recognise students who have made the effort to gain industry experience and stand out from the typical graduate, and thus it offers a range options for you to get extra awards and recognition for your work in industry.
• The University also has its Graduate+ programme, an extracurricular awards framework that is designed to augment the subject-based skills that you’ve developed throughout the programme with broader employability attributes, which will enhance your employability options upon graduating.

Facilities & Staff

• The facility our students value most is not actually on campus, but is the location of the campus in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside opposite the new High Speed 2 station construction, and minutes from dozens of fascinating live projects within the city centre.
• Birmingham as it changes constantly on our doorstep really is our ‘living lab’.
• The facilities on offer to our students reflect the work environment you will enter as you start your career.
• Our staff:
  • Paul Laycock, Deputy Head of the College of Built Environment
  • More about Paul