Course Description

The two years of the Diploma are organised in different ways and are designed to have a particular pedagogical character.  The first year is designed to allow students to develop their core professional and architectural design skills and the structure of the year revolves around set ‘design packages’.  In Year 2 students join a design research studio where they explore a particular architectural theme in some depth.  The year culminates with students demonstrating their independence and research-led attitude to design through the production of a self-set design thesis or written dissertation.

The structure and content of the course is as follows:

Diploma structure and content

Year 1		Year 2
Semester 1	Semester 2	Semester 3	Semester 4
Option Modules	Compulsory Modules	Design Research Studios
Practice based modules Record of Architectural Practice K14 RAP (20) + Personal Critical Evaluation K14 PCE (20) + Building Case Study K14 BCS (20) or... University based modules Architectural Design 1 K14 AD1 (30) + Architectural Design Seminars 1 K14 DS1 (15) + Architecture Research Methods K14 ARM (15) or... Modules taken abroad U21 Exchange (60) or... Erasmus Exchange (60)	Comprehensive Design Project K14 CDP (30) + Materials, Design & Technology K14 MDT (15) + Professional Practice and Management K14 MPL (15)	Architectural Design 2 K14 AD2 (30) + Architectural Design Seminars 2 K14 DS2 (15) + Thesis Research Project K14 TRP (15)	Design Thesis K14 DES (60) or Design Dissertation K14 DDS (60)

YEAR 1

Semester 1

During Semester 1 of Year 1, students select from three groups of modules.

a) Students who wish to extend their time in Architectural Practice have the opportunity to take 60 credits of practice-based learning modules.  These modules are designed to deepen an understanding of the nature of practice and to enhance the experience of work.

b) Students who wish to return to the university in the first semester have the opportunity to develop specialist design skills.  These students take an architectural design module (K14 AD1) and a related seminar course (K14 DS1). These two modules aim to develop specialist architectural skills one of the department's key research areas.  Currently we offer four design themes that include environmental design, urban design, architectural history and architectural theory.  All students also take a course in architectural research methods (K14 ARM) that aims to deepen the students' awareness of research methodologies across a range of design knowledge.

c) Students who wish to study abroad for the first semester can elect to undertake a U21 exchange or Erasmus exchange programme.  Students will undertake the equivalent of 60 credits and generally take a similar balance of modules (design / lectures / seminars) as they would if they were based in Nottingham.

Semester 2

The curriculum in Semester 2 is compulsory for all Diploma students and all students will undertake three modules.  These include a comprehensive design project (K14 CDP) that aims to develop core and integrative design knowledge.  Within this module there is the opportunity to elect from a choice of design projects.  Currently, there are four projects including Sustainable Tall Building Design, Zero Carbon Design, Urban Tectonics and a ‘Live’ building project.  Each project will engage students in a wide range of common and particular design issues and will seek to address topics that are both important and relevant to current and future architectural practice.

The design projects are supported by a lecture / seminar course that will develop knowledge and understanding of architectural technologies and materials (K14 MDT).  Students will also take a course in professional practice and management (K14 MPL).

YEAR 2

At the beginning of Year 2 students elect to join a Design Research Studio.  Each of the studios will aim to develop research-informed teaching and learning and will explore a particular theme in some depth.  Each studio will usually contain 5-10 students and usually one member of staff.  The studio structure is designed to enable themes to evolve and develop and to have a flexible format that will enable both staff and students to take advantage of the opportunities offered by competitions, research projects, publication opportunities, industrial links or live architectural projects.

Semester 1

During Semester 1 each student will take an architectural design (K14 AD2) module and a related seminar course (K14 DS2).  The theme and content of the design and seminar modules will depend on the particular Design Research Studio but it is envisaged that the first semester will generally consist of the exploration of tutor-led design problem that will provide the foundation for a student-led design or written thesis in Semester 2.  In preparation for Semester 2, students will also develop a thesis research proposal (K14 TRP) in Semester 1.  The content of the research will vary depending on whether students envisage undertaking a design or written thesis in Semester 2.

Semester 2

In Semester 2, students elect to undertake either a design thesis (K14 DES) or a written dissertation (K14 DDS).  The theme of the thesis will be determined by the student but will relate to the research theme addressed in Semester 1.  The aim of the final semester of the Diploma is to foster an independent and research-led approach to design problems and to enable students to determine and clarify their own architectural interests.  It is intended that the dissertation will be an academically respectable piece of work and students will be encouraged to disseminate and publish their work (conferences etc).  It is also envisaged that the dissertation option will provide an academic route towards a research degree and /or a possible future career in academia.

Please follow the link for further information on the design modules .

For any further information please contact: Dr Sergio Altomonte, Course Director