BA (Hons) in Architecture

Program Overview

Architecture

Overview

Design buildings that help communities to prosper, or that solve environmental, social and economic challenges. Take your first step to becoming a registered architect at one of the top 10 UK universities for Architecture & Built Environment, for both academic and employer reputation (QS World University Rankings by subject 2023).

From your first day on our architecture degree, you’ll be working on a live project with a client, deadline, and budget. You’ll soak up inspiration on field trips to architectural practices and iconic landmarks in the UK and abroad, learning from the people who designed them and the communities they serve. Then turn your inspiration into reality in our studios and workshops. Here, you’ll find industry-standard equipment and software, including laser cutters, CNC routers, and 3D printers and scanners.

At the end of each year, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your portfolio of work to employers, friends, and family in our end of year exhibition.

Why Oxford Brookes University?

• Learn from the best: Design is taught by practising architects who have up-to-date knowledge on the latest architectural developments.
• Top 20 in the UK: Architecture is ranked 12th in the Guardian Architecture subject league ranking 2025.
• Recognised by professionals: Our students develop excellent professional networks as early as year one through RIBA mentoring, office and site visits, project reviews and exhibitions, culminating in celebration and recognition by practice at the end of year awards.
• Digital Design Exhibition: Take part in the graduates design exhibition that takes place at the end of year show to showcase your design skills that you’ve developed and boost your portfolio.
• Small, focused classes: Each class has its own tutor and around 22 people. You’ll spend 2 days per week in design studio tutorials.
• Learn a language: Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
• Study abroad: You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.
• Accreditation(s): Confers exemption from Part 1 of the Examination in Architecture of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). This course is also accredited by the Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM).

Course details

Course structure

• You’ll start by learning about the history, theory, and technology of architecture, and apply this to your design project. In year 1, you’ll learn techniques including architectural drawing and model making, and how architecture shapes communities and society.
• During your second year, you’ll choose from modules including Digital Culture, Theory and History, and Technology. You’ll be taught alongside students from year 3. You can learn from their experiences and the expertise they’ve developed, helping you to smoothly start your own third year.
• You’ll complete a dissertation on the subject of your choice in year 3 and take on a work experience placement after graduation. It’s your opportunity to develop connections with employers, enhance your portfolio and discover what you’re good at.

Learning and teaching

• Teaching takes place in the design studio. You’ll study:
  • technology
  • practice
  • digital culture
  • and the histories and theories of architecture and design.
• Teaching methods include:
  • group and individual tutorials
  • group and individual presentations
  • workshops
  • discussions
  • lectures and seminars
  • a dissertation in your final year.
• Our lecturers are practising architects and research what they teach. So you’ll have access to the latest insights and knowledge in the field.

Assessment

• This course is 100% coursework. Assessment methods include:
  • group and individual presentations
  • portfolios
  • journals
  • reports
  • and a written dissertation in the final year.

Field Trips

• Optional field trips abroad are offered each year in addition to site and factory visits. Recent field trips have visited places such as Hungary, Bosnia, Portugal and Iceland. Field trips are a very popular option because they offer the opportunity to experience architecture first hand with your tutors.
• For more information on the cost of field trips and site visits, see the Additional Costs section.

Study modules

• Teaching for this course takes place face to face and you can expect around 12 hours of contact time per week. In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 6.00pm.
• Contact hours involve activities such as lectures, seminars, practicals, assessments, and academic advising sessions. These hours differ by year of study and typically increase significantly during placements or other types of work-based learning.

Year 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • Architectural Representation
  • Introduction to Architectural Technology (15 credits)
  • Introduction to Architectural Design 1 (15 credits)
  • Architecture and Society
  • Introduction to Architectural Design 2 (15 credits)
  • Introduction to Architectural History and Theory (15 credits)

Year 2

• Compulsory modules:
  • Architectural Design 1
  • Architectural Design 2
  • Digital Culture
  • Architectural Technology 1
  • Cities, Culture and Society (15 credits)
  • Issues in Architectural History and Theory (15 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Independent Study in Architecture (15 credits)

Year 3

• Compulsory modules:
  • Architectural Design 3 (30 credits)
  • Architectural Design 4 (30 credits)
  • Advanced Architectural Technology (15 credits)
  • Dissertation (30 credits)
  • Management, Practice and Law (15 credits)

Careers

• Achieving RIBA Part I means you’re on your way to becoming a registered architect. So you may choose to continue your progress with the 2 years of further study and 2 years of practice experience you’ll need. Graduates are working for practices in the UK and abroad, including:
  • Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
  • Norman Foster + Partners
  • Kengo Kuma and Associates
  • Hawkins\Brown Architects
  • Liljewall Arkitekter.
• But designing buildings in real life isn’t your only option. Some of our students have gone on to design virtual cities for the video games and film industries, working with studios including Factory 15. Others work for heritage companies and recreate iconic landmarks lost to time in virtual environments.
• Or you can use your skills in another respected discipline such as digital design, urban design, product design, journalism, set design, planning, academia, or disaster and emergency practice. Students regularly feature in national and international prizes.

Entry requirements

• Standard offer:
  • UCAS Tariff Points: 136
  • A Level: AAB
  • IB Points: 33
  • BTEC: DDD
• Contextual offer:
  • UCAS Tariff Points: 112
  • A Level: BBC
  • IB Points: 30
  • BTEC: DMM
• Further offer details:
  • We welcome applications from candidates with alternative qualifications, and from mature students.
• Specific entry requirements:
  • Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
• Selection process:
  • Applicants will need to provide a portfolio (eg sketches, freehand/technical drawings, life drawings, 3D models, paintings, photographs). Please read our portfolio guidance notes.
  • On application you will be given instructions on how to upload a digital version of your portfolio.
  • Selected candidates will be invited for an interview. The interviewer will look for evidence of motivation, general creativity and breadth of interest, and will expect to be shown work which demonstrates creative ability of some kind. Any such work may be presented, including art work where no formal course has been followed.
• English language requirements:
  • IELTS 6.5 (including 6.0 in reading and writing).

Tuition fees

• 2025/26:
  • Home (UK) full time: £9,535
  • Home (UK) part time: £1,190 per single module
  • International full time: £17,750
• 2026/27:
  • Home (UK) full time: £9,535
  • Home (UK) part time: £1,910 per single module
  • International full time: £18,250

Funding your studies

• Financial support and scholarships:
  • Oxford Brookes Bursary for Continuing Students
  • Undergraduate maintenance loans for part-time UK students
  • Undergraduate maintenance loans for full-time UK students
  • Undergraduate tuition fee loans for UK students
  • Oxford Brookes Bursary for New Students
• All financial support and scholarships:
  • View all funding opportunities for this course

Additional costs

• Compulsory costs:
  • You will be expected to keep a sketchbook, produce specific drawings and make models using a variety of media, mostly out of recycled and inexpensive materials, but equipment and consumables such as a portfolio case, pens, glue, knives etc will be needed.
  • Although there is provision to show work digitally and many submissions are digital only, the portfolio elements of the course do require some printing. Printing in the School of Architecture Print Room is charged at no profit and there is no charge for laser cutting beyond your own material costs.
  • Safety boots with steel toe caps
• Optional costs:
  • If you choose to participate in any additional, optional trips, you are responsible for any associated costs.
  • UK field trip
  • Personal laptop onto which you can install specialist software
  • You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand.
  • Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills)
  • Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs)
  • Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41.
  • Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. For the 2025/26 academic year, the University is introducing an alternative subsidised travel offer for all students with further information on our Travel webpages.