Program Overview

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BA Architecture with Foundation Year

Overview

Course overview

We're ranked 5th in the world and 2nd in the UK for Architecture (QS 2025 World University Rankings by Subject).

Our course is designed for promising students in the UK from a less represented background at university without the right entry qualifications who wish to train as an architect.

Benefit from an ideal and accessible transition between School and University, or to support a change in career, you will gain expert support in developing design portfolios and first-hand insights into Architecture as a career path.

Successful completion of the Foundation guarantees you a place on the BA (Hons) Architecture degree course at Manchester School of Architecture.

Take advantage of facilities across two campuses, The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, as you study at the innovative collaboration between the two - Manchester School of Architecture (MSA).

Enjoy automatic and free membership of the MSSA, the UK's largest student society of architecture.

Entry requirements

A-level

• BBB
• See personal background eligibility criteria.
• Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.
• Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
• Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

A-level contextual offer

• This course is not eligible for a contextual offer. Contextual offers are only available for courses that have a standard entry requirements of ABB or higher.
• For further information on our contextual admissions please view our contextual admissions page.

International Baccalaureate

• 32 points overall. 5,5,5 in Higher Level subjects
• Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.

GCSE/IGCSE

• Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least 4 or C in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics.
• GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.

Other entry requirements

• Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
• Select other entry requirements
  • Scottish requirements
  • Welsh Baccalaureate
  • Foundation year
  • Pearson BTEC qualifications
  • OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • T Level
  • Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Fees and funding

Fees

• Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 p/a collected by MMU for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.

Additional expenses

• Specialist costs
  • Compulsory estimate: £2,400
  • Optional estimate: £1,400
• UK Study Trip
  • Compulsory estimate: £500
  • Optional estimate: £1000
• Other costs
  • Compulsory estimate: £600

Application and selection

How to apply

• Apply through UCAS.
• The course is open to applicants currently studying in the UK only.
• As well as having the required grades, you must have attended a UK state school/college and meet at least one of the following personal background criteria:
  • You will be under 21 years old when you begin your course and you live in an area where people are less likely to go to university - check your postcode
  • You will be under 21 years old when you begin your course and you have spent more than three months in public care or as a looked-after child.
  • You will be over 21 years old when you begin your course and have not been in full time education for at least three years.
  • You have refugee status from the Home Office.

Home-schooled applicants

• If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying.
• You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course.
• We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education.

Non-standard educational routes

• Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences.
• Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.
• The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.

How your application is considered

• In order to further assess your suitability for the BA Architecture with foundation year course, we would like you to submit a digital portfolio.
• What should I include in my digital portfolio?
  • Select your strongest work, and try to lay out your portfolio so that it is really easy to look through. Do not forget to clearly label each piece of work with its project title. Your portfolio must include:
    • Task 1: Visual portfolio
      • Using your own artwork, tell us what is interesting and distinctive about your home and neighbourhood. Through this visual portfolio, you can share with us the characteristics of the place in which you live.
      • You might represent your neighbourhood through images of buildings, streets, parks and people. We want to understand how you see the place.
      • We would like to see up to nine individual artworks and everything you include must have been created by you. You are free to use any kind of materials and style you choose. We want you to be as creative as possible to show us variety. This could include:
        • Drawings
        • Collages
        • Ceramics
        • Sketches
        • Sculpture
        • Photographs
        • Watercolours
        • Animation
        • Pastels
        • Graphics
        • Videos
        • Illustrations
        • Models
        • Paintings
    • Task 2: Written Statement
      • 1. Describe your home and neighbourhood. Tell us why you have represented the place you live in the ways you have? (300 words maximum)
      • 2. Why do you want to study at the Manchester School of Architecture? (150 words maximum)
      • 3. Name a favourite architect and tell us what you like about their work? (150 words maximum)

Course details

Course description

Architecture is a course offered by the innovative collaboration between two universities - The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University - forming the internationally renowned Manchester School of Architecture.

You will become a student at both universities and your BA(Hons) Architecture degree certificate will be endorsed by both institutions. The Foundation course provides you with an ideal transition between School and University or as part of a career change if you wish to study architecture but do not hold the formal entry requirements to enter an honours programme directly.

The Foundation course will provide an accessible transition to University-level study, help you develop design portfolios and provide insight into architecture as a career path. You will benefit from the expertise of specialist practitioners and lecturers who provide you with a supportive environment to develop the fundamental skills needed to embark on a career in the field. The foundation programme will prepare you for undergraduate study in architecture at Manchester School of Architecture. We will help you develop your personal and academic skills, expose you to various communication and presentation techniques, show you how to understand and analyse project briefs and conceptualise design solutions, as well as giving you an insight into the practice of architecture.

The programme culminates in an architectural design studio project providing excellent preparation for learning at degree level.

You will be fully immersed into life at Manchester School of Architecture; working with fellow students when the opportunities arise and culminating your studies with a design studio project which relates to those undertaken by current students.

What's more, you'll be inspired by the world-famous city of Manchester - the industrial revolution birthplace turned 21st century metropolis - and its vibrant, contemporary and innovative architecture scene.

Manchester is a showcase for recent regeneration and historic context, much of which has been designed with the involvement of our current students and graduates. The city recognises the value of high-quality design, together with innovative and pragmatic approaches to resolving practical issues.

Please note that students successfully completing the Foundation Year course will be awarded a place on the Manchester School of Architecture BA (Hons) Architecture programme.

Special features

• Benefit from the facilities of two universities
• Experience local fieldtrips
• Gain accreditation

Teaching and learning

We combine traditional lecture-based teaching with workshop and design studio sessions. Project-based learning is the basis of architecture education, and the studio is where this learning takes place. From the very start you will be involved in a variety of projects.

Skills in computing and visual studies will be developed through workshops related to studio projects. The course has strong links with architectural practices across the North West and involves architectural practitioners in teaching.

Course content for year 1

Focussing on the fundamental skills needed to embark on a career in the field, the foundation programme will prepare you for undergraduate study in Architecture. We will help you develop your personal and academic skills, expose you to various communication and presentation techniques, show you how to understand and analyse project briefs and conceptualise design solutions, as well as giving you an insight into the practice of architecture. The programme culminates in an architectural design studio project providing excellent preparation for learning at degree level.

• Personal and Professional Development
  • Learn about the importance of research and writing on an architecture degree, focussing on research methods, essay writing and referencing.
  • Develop a range of soft skills needed for architecture study, including time management, building confidence and taking personal responsibility.
  • Expand your academic language skills, study skills and cultural awareness required to succeed in UK Higher Education in a supportive environment.
• Communication and Presentation Techniques
  • Explore the practical skills and techniques needed for architecture study, including hand drawing, mark making, the use of diagrams, perspective drawing, exploration of various mediums and techniques, physical modelmaking, as well as basic CAD and digital skills.
  • Develop your verbal presentation skills.
• Analytical and Conceptual Techniques
  • Gain an understanding for design processes.
  • Learn to understand and analyse societal and client/project specific problems to then conceptualise design solutions.
• Architectural Design Studio
  • Develop a project brief into a final architectural design proposal presentation and put your newly acquired skills into practice.
  • This design studio project will provide the ideal preparation for typical Studio learning.

Careers

Career opportunities

Our BA Architecture graduates are highly valued for their confidence and creativity, and benefit from our strong links with national and international architectural practices. They have gone on to successful careers in areas including:

• architecture
• advertising
• estate management
• project management
• real estate
• urban design
• web design

Top employers of our BA Architecture graduates include Aedas, AR, Atkins, BDP, BroadwayMalyan, Foster + Partrers, Hawkins\Brown, and Sheppard Robson.

Qualifying as an architect normally requires a combination of five years study at university and a minimum of two years practical experience before completing a final examination.

Many graduates study our Master of Architecture (MArch) course, which is recognised as a Part 2 qualification by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Find out more about career destinations of our Architecture graduates by reading our alumni profiles. What’s more, the University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate if you go on to study our BA Architecture.

At Manchester you will also have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability.