Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for more than one course?
If you apply for more than one course, it is possible you may be given more than one offer. We do advise you to discuss your course choice with your teacher/career advisor and/or our admissions tutors so that you apply for the course that best suits your ability and career aspirations
Are there any opportunities to study overseas during my course?
What are the entry qualifications?
Applicants to degree programmes will normally be expected to have studied four subjects at AS level and three subjects to A level. These applicants will therefore enter the University with three A levels and one AS level. Grades vary from course to course so please check the website for details before you apply.
The University recognises that disparities in resources might make it more difficult for some schools/colleges to deliver this breadth of curriculum. As such, applicants who are not offered the opportunity to study more than three subjects at AS/A level at their particular educational establishment will not be put at a disadvantage in our admissions procedures and will still be considered for admission.
All conditional offers will still ordinarily be made on the basis of three full A levels (not including general studies) and students will only be required to have achieved a pass in the fourth subject.
Other qualifications considered are: BTC, International and European Baccalaureate Diploma, Scottish Advanced Highers and Irish Leaving Certificate. For further information, please contact the course admissions tutor.
Do I need to submit a portfolio for Architecture courses
If you are applying for the BArch or MEng course and do not hold a suitable Art or Design qualification (e.g. A-level) you may be asked to submit a portfolio for consideration. If this is the case, we would require you to submit no more than six examples of art or design-based work that you have conducted either as part of your studies or privately. Pleases note that this work does not have to be architectural in its nature but should rather demonstrate your artistic or graphic ability and/or design awareness.
What about a career in Architecture and Built Environment
Architects are key professionals who really can have an effective role to play in society – buildings and the users of buildings are responsible for the majority of carbon emissions – and it is said that the environments that we inhabit influence our behaviour. Good design is essential to improving the performance of buildings and to improving the social living environment. Construction around the World is an important industry, not only in new-build but in urban regeneration, adaptive re-use, energy transformation of existing building stock, etc. The continually updating technical and environmental requirements of construction today means that we constantly need to update our skills and knowledge. The majority of our graduates will find work in stimulating working environments with multidisciplinary working, challenging tasks to solve, emerging and innovative technical and environmental solutions, etc. More questions and answers about careers in Architecture can be found on the RIBA Website.
The CIBSE Website also provides some pages with some information about careers in Building Services.
What about a career in something else?
Most of our graduate follow a career in architecture, however, we do present a far wider vision that enable the transferable skills developed during our courses to be deployed in many other careers. Indeed, the broad grounding that students get in design-thinking, analysis, awareness of environmental issues, personal time management, multimedia communication of ideas, etc. are relevant to a plethora of other careers. We are pleased that many of our graduates do continue with architecture, and return for the diploma course – but we don’t discourage students from seeking new directions, such as web design, graphics, project management, journalism, energy management, town planning, construction, housing administration, law, etc. We also have an option for such students to convert to our non-accredited Architectural Studies degree programme if this better suits their interests. Many of our BEng and MEng students also return to do a further Masters course or PhD.
How can I find out more about the Department?
The University’s undergraduate open days are a great way to find out more about the Department and the University. As a UCAS candidate with an offer of a place, you would be invited to the Department on a UCAS visit day for a tour, a presentation and the opportunity to meet some of our existing students.
How shall I find accommodation?
The University has an Accommodation Office that provides help. Incoming first years usually live in residential halls on the University Park campus, or in the self catering accommodation sites at Broadgate or Jubilee Campus. Many students in 2nd/3rd year live in privately rented houses in Lenton or Beeston.
If I have a personal problem, will I be helped?
Students in Halls of Residence have a warden and a tutor, and in the Department you have a personal tutor assigned to you who would be first port of call for academic, personal or health problems. Academic problems are sometimes best dealt with by the convenor of a particular module and problems with studio (design) may be dealt with by your unit tutor.
Do I need my own computer e.g. a laptop?
The Department does have public computing areas and it’s possible to get through the course by using only these – and they have most of the software you need. But there is no doubt that you will make more progress if you can also work in the comfort of your personal space at times convenient to you. It can also be helpful to have a small colour inkjet printer so you don’t rely solely on the University’s printing services and portable memory storage will enable you to conveniently store and transfer documents. A digital camera is now an essential tool throughout the course to record your work, field trips and site visits.
Where do I channel feedback?