Through the introduction to the main themes of architecture, you will start to develop key skills and knowledge in:
- Architectural design
- Structures
- Construction
- Environmental design
- Architectural history and theory
University Park Campus, Nottingham, UK
Qualification | Entry Requirements | Start Date | UCAS code | Duration | Fees |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BArch Hons | AAA | September 2024 | K100 | 3 years full-time | £9,250 per year |
Qualification | Entry Requirements | Start Date | UCAS code | Duration | Fees |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BArch Hons | AAA | September 2024 | K100 | 3 years full-time | £9,250 per year |
This course is accredited by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
This course is accredited by the Architects Registration Board (ARB).
This course is accredited by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
This course is accredited by the Architects Registration Board (ARB).
36 (preferably including an arts-based subject at Higher Level)
6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English. Check our English language policies and equivalencies for further details.
For presessional English or one-year foundation courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations.
If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a Presessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP) course. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.
If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.
Check our country-specific information for guidance on qualifications from your country.
Grade AAA at A Level and grade 5 (B) in GCSE English, art and maths and one of GCSE physics, chemistry, biology, double science, single science.
After you’ve applied we’ll ask candidates who meet the proposed entry requirements to submit a portfolio of your artwork.
Your portfolio should contain 12 – 16 images of your work. This can be made up with 3 – 4 images from each of the following categories:
The remaining 3 – 4 images can include work that is an expansion on sections 1 – 3 above or use of another medium entirely.
When we look through your portfolio, we’ll want to see your creativity. We’re also interested in how you look at the world around you and visually record it. When thinking about what hand drawings or photographed images to include we’d encourage you to capture something that’s familiar to you such as where you live. That often tells us more about your interests than a drawing or photograph of a famous building.
Your portfolio must not include virtual 3D computer aided designs. These don’t give us a true understanding of your design skills or how you communicate by hand drawing.
Take a look at our portfolio guidance to hear advice from a member of staff and a student about putting your portfolio together and to see some examples of students portfolios.
You’ll receive an email from us confirming the portfolio requirements in more detail, the format and the submission date. You will also get a notification via your MyNottingham portal. If you haven’t received an email from us within 5 working days of the notification via your MyNottingham portal, please contact us.
Once we’ve received your portfolio we’ll let you know the status of your application via UCAS Track as soon as possible.
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.
Please note: Applicants whose backgrounds or personal circumstances have impacted their academic performance may receive a reduced offer. Please see our contextual admissions policy for more information.
Applications are assessed on an individual basis. Where an offer is made, our standard requirements are:
This list is not exhaustive. The entry requirements for alternative qualifications can be quite specific; for example you may need to take certain modules and achieve a specified grade in those modules. Please contact us to discuss the transferability of your qualification. Please see the alternative qualifications page for more information.
If you have already achieved your EPQ at grade A you will automatically be offered one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject. If you are still studying for your EPQ you will receive the standard course offer, and also an alternate offer with a condition of one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject if you achieve an A grade in your EPQ. If you qualify for a contextual offer, your EPQ will be taken into consideration and the appropriate adjustment will be made to your offer. Please note that if you qualify for an enhanced contextual offer, your EPQ will not be taken into consideration as we are unable to make any further adjustments to your offer.
International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.
We recognise the potential of talented students from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement at school or college. These offers are usually one grade lower than the advertised entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must have Home/UK fee status and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.
Grade AAA at A Level and grade 5 (B) in GCSE English, art and maths and one of GCSE physics, chemistry, biology, double science, single science.
After you’ve applied we’ll ask candidates who meet the proposed entry requirements to submit a portfolio of your artwork.
Your portfolio should contain 12 – 16 images of your work. This can be made up with 3 – 4 images from each of the following categories:
The remaining 3 – 4 images can include work that is an expansion on sections 1 – 3 above or use of another medium entirely.
When we look through your portfolio, we’ll want to see your creativity. We’re also interested in how you look at the world around you and visually record it. When thinking about what hand drawings or photographed images to include we’d encourage you to capture something that’s familiar to you such as where you live. That often tells us more about your interests than a drawing or photograph of a famous building.
Your portfolio must not include virtual 3D computer aided designs. These don’t give us a true understanding of your design skills or how you communicate by hand drawing.
Take a look at our portfolio guidance to hear advice from a member of staff and a student about putting your portfolio together and to see some examples of students portfolios.
You’ll receive an email from us confirming the portfolio requirements in more detail, the format and the submission date. You will also get a notification via your MyNottingham portal. If you haven’t received an email from us within 5 working days of the notification via your MyNottingham portal, please contact us.
Once we’ve received your portfolio we’ll let you know the status of your application via UCAS Track as soon as possible.
36 (preferably including an arts-based subject at Higher Level)
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.
Please note: Applicants whose backgrounds or personal circumstances have impacted their academic performance may receive a reduced offer. Please see our contextual admissions policy for more information.
Applications are assessed on an individual basis. Where an offer is made, our standard requirements are:
This list is not exhaustive. The entry requirements for alternative qualifications can be quite specific; for example you may need to take certain modules and achieve a specified grade in those modules. Please contact us to discuss the transferability of your qualification. Please see the alternative qualifications page for more information.
If you have already achieved your EPQ at grade A you will automatically be offered one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject. If you are still studying for your EPQ you will receive the standard course offer, and also an alternate offer with a condition of one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject if you achieve an A grade in your EPQ. If you qualify for a contextual offer, your EPQ will be taken into consideration and the appropriate adjustment will be made to your offer. Please note that if you qualify for an enhanced contextual offer, your EPQ will not be taken into consideration as we are unable to make any further adjustments to your offer.
We recognise the potential of talented students from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement at school or college. These offers are usually one grade lower than the advertised entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must have Home/UK fee status and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
An Engineering and Physical Sciences foundation year is available for those who are not taking the required subjects.
At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.
On this course, you can apply to study abroad at one of our partner institutions or at University of Nottingham China or University of Nottingham Malaysia.
If you are successful in applying to study abroad, you will get the opportunity to broaden your horizons and enhance your CV by experiencing another culture. Teaching is typically in English, but there may be opportunities to study in another language if you are sufficiently fluent.
You can choose to study similar modules to your counterparts in the UK or expand your knowledge by taking other options.
The school you are joining may also have additional study abroad options available. Please visit the school website for more information.
Please note:
In order to study abroad you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet the selection criteria of both the university and the partner institution. The partner institution is under no obligation to accept you even if you do meet the relevant criteria.
Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university’s control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.
On this course, you can apply to study abroad at one of our partner institutions or at University of Nottingham China or University of Nottingham Malaysia.
If you are successful in applying to study abroad, you will get the opportunity to broaden your horizons and enhance your CV by experiencing another culture. Teaching is typically in English, but there may be opportunities to study in another language if you are sufficiently fluent.
You can choose to study similar modules to your counterparts in the UK or expand your knowledge by taking other options.
The school you are joining may also have additional study abroad options available. Please visit the school website for more information.
Please note:
In order to study abroad you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet the selection criteria of both the university and the partner institution. The partner institution is under no obligation to accept you even if you do meet the relevant criteria.
Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university’s control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.
*For full details including fees for part-time students and reduced fees during your time studying abroad or on placement (where applicable), see our fees page.
If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).
All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.
As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses. You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, and the department covers the cost of basic design materials (e.g. free materials to cover model making) as well as the return travel and accommodation related to compulsory field trips.
If you choose to take part in an international build trip as part of the design/build studio, you will be required to make a contribution to the cost of the trip. In previous years those who have elected to take part in our projects in South Africa for example have contributed £2,200. Some of this can be offset by individual and group fundraising.
As a first year undergraduate there are certain small pieces of equipment you will need on joining us. A list will be sent to you along with induction instructions but please allow around £150. We have largely moved to digital presentations and submissions so printing costs will be minimal.
Although not essential on arrival you will need your own laptop device in Semester 2. Advice will be given on appropriate specifications. Allow from £600 for the purchase and budget also for software where this is not available through free student licence agreements.
Please note that these figures are approximate and subject to change.
The University of Nottingham offers a wide range of bursaries and scholarships. These funds can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. For up to date information regarding tuition fees, visit our fees and finance pages.
Faculty-specific funding
In addition to the above, students applying to the Faculty of Engineering may be eligible for faculty-specific or industry scholarships.
International students
We offer a range of international undergraduate scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.
*For full details including fees for part-time students and reduced fees during your time studying abroad or on placement (where applicable), see our fees page.
If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).
All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.
As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses. You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, and the department covers the cost of basic design materials (e.g. free materials to cover model making) as well as the return travel and accommodation related to compulsory field trips.
If you choose to take part in an international build trip as part of the design/build studio, you will be required to make a contribution to the cost of the trip. In previous years those who have elected to take part in our projects in South Africa for example have contributed £2,200. Some of this can be offset by individual and group fundraising.
As a first year undergraduate there are certain small pieces of equipment you will need on joining us. A list will be sent to you along with induction instructions but please allow around £150. We have largely moved to digital presentations and submissions so printing costs will be minimal.
Although not essential on arrival you will need your own laptop device in Semester 2. Advice will be given on appropriate specifications. Allow from £600 for the purchase and budget also for software where this is not available through free student licence agreements.
Please note that these figures are approximate and subject to change.
The University of Nottingham offers a wide range of bursaries and scholarships. These funds can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. For up to date information regarding tuition fees, visit our fees and finance pages.
Faculty-specific funding
In addition to the above, students applying to the Faculty of Engineering may be eligible for faculty-specific or industry scholarships..
Home students*
* A 'home' student is one who meets certain UK residence criteria. These are the same criteria as apply to eligibility for home funding from Student Finance.
The spaces where we live, work and relax are designed by people who have followed careers in architecture.
Our courses will give you the knowledge needed to design spaces that improve our surroundings. We also look at how to create new and improve existing buildings.
The spaces where we live, work and relax are designed by people who have followed careers in architecture.
Our courses will give you the knowledge needed to design spaces that improve our surroundings. We also look at how to create new and improve existing buildings.
The course offers a blend of technical subject work taught alongside studio modules. In years two and three there’s the opportunity to choose from up to 12 different studio units which means you can select based on your area of interest. With a mixture of teaching, workshops, study trips and working with real clients on projects, our course gives you the skills that architecture practices are looking for. You’ll also be part of our vertical studio which sees year two and three students working alongside each other, providing great opportunities for peer mentoring and skills transfer.
Based on University Park, you will have access to excellent facilities to support your studies and research. These include dedicated studio spaces and workshops.
The quality of work produced by our students is illustrated by the many national and international awards they have won, including the AJ Student Prize 2021 (undergraduate category), the RIBA Bronze Medal (2017) and the RIBA Sergeant Award for Excellence in Drawing at Part 1 (2020).
If you want to become an architect, the BArch course is followed by one year’s supervised professional experience before embarking on the two-year MArch Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part II) and one further year's professional experience culminating in a Part Three exam.
This course is accredited by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and is exempt from the Part One professional exam.
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This online prospectus has been drafted in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content) are likely to occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for the course where there has been an interval between you reading this website and applying.
Mandatory
Year 1
Architectural Design Studio 1A
Mandatory
Year 1
People, Buildings, Landscape
Mandatory
Year 1
Integrated Design in Architecture
Mandatory
Year 1
Tectonics 1 (Structures and Construction)
Mandatory
Year 1
Architectural Humanities 1: History of Architecture
Mandatory
Year 1
Architectural Design Studio 1B
Mandatory
Year 1
Environmental Science for Architects 1
Mandatory
Year 2
Architecture Design Studio 2A
Mandatory
Year 2
Tectonics 2A (Structures and Construction)
Mandatory
Year 2
Integrated Design in Architecture 2A
Mandatory
Year 2
Environmental Science for Architects 2
Mandatory
Year 2
Architecture Design Studio 2B
Mandatory
Year 2
Tectonics 2B (Structures and Construction)
Mandatory
Year 2
Architectural Humanities 2 (Theory and Criticism)
Mandatory
Year 3
Architectural Humanities 3 (Contemporary Debates)
Mandatory
Year 3
Practice and Management
Mandatory
Year 3
Integrated Design in Architecture 3
Mandatory
Year 3
Architecture Design Studio 3A
Mandatory
Year 3
Architecture Design Studio 3B
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer, but is not intended to be construed or relied on as a definitive list of what might be available in any given year. This content was last updated on Wednesday 4 October 2023.
Through the introduction to the main themes of architecture, you will start to develop key skills and knowledge in:
The themes introduced in year one will become more complex, testing and integrated with the design-based modules. The design studio module in particular offers a wide range of individual choice of how you work and what themes you wish to pursue. In semester two there is an option to study abroad.
You will develop a thorough understanding of all the key themes and their holistic integration into design projects. Your role within the architectural profession will also be developed as part of the introduction of a further theme in practice and management.
This studio-based module introduces you to basic design, drafting, model making and drawing skills.
There are two dedicated days of studio tutorials per week.
The semester finishes with the design of a small building that will test your understanding and application of the knowledge gained on this module.
The overall aim of this module is to give you an understanding of the impact that the built environment has on those who inhabit its space.
Through a two-hour lecture each week you’ll broaden your awareness of built environment design issues, illustrate how design decisions impact more broadly on environmental, economic, social and experiential issues and study behavioural psychology and its influence on built environment design.
This module introduces you to the principle of a holistic and integrated approach to building design.
Firstly, you’ll learn about the notion of thinking architecture, the fundamental principles of design and drawing skills and typologies as key areas of study.
Then you’ll focus on methodology and approaches relevant to the studio comprehensive design project with a more intensified examination of topics such as light, narrative and sustainability.
For this module you’ll have one, one-hour lecture per week.
This module introduces you to the technology, materials and techniques used in constructing buildings. It aims to help you understand how these elements form an integral part of the design process. Through two-hour weekly lectures you’ll conduct practical structural modelling exercises. This will help you develop a basic understanding of the qualitative behaviour of structures and the interaction between structural form and the loads that they have to carry.
This module offers you an introduction to the history of architecture from ancient times to the present day. A two-hour weekly lecture aims to familiarise you with major architectural typologies and the social and technological changes that brought them into being.
This studio-based module develops your basic design, drafting, model making and drawing skills. Through the two dedicated days of studio tutorials per week, you will be introduced to historical precedents and computer-aided drawing programmes. These exercises will feed into a small comprehensive design project of a public building.
Introducing you to the environmental agenda as it applies to the architectural profession, you’ll explore the key bioclimatic strategies used to maintain appropriate conditions for the occupants of buildings, thus tying together occupant comfort, building schedule and climate. You’ll have a two-hour lecture per week using both physical modelling and computer simulation techniques to gain a better understanding of the strategies involved and their relationship with building design.
This studio-based module aims to develop your basic skills and approaches to architectural design through a series of design projects. You'll spend two dedicated days in the studio per week with emphasis on the 'craftmanship of architecture', improving the spatial, aesthetic, sensual as well as practical, structural and dimensional qualities of your design.
Dealing with small to medium-scale buildings, you’ll build on knowledge acquired in Tectonics 1, focusing on structural systems, building elements, material, components, connections, construction methods and detailing. During a two-hour lecture each week, you’ll learn how constituent parts come together to construct building entities through investigation and analysis of structural principles, detail, material composition and performance of primary building elements.
Following on from the key principles introduced in the year one module, Integrated Design in Architecture, you’ll further develop your communication and research skills which will underpin your work in both the theorisation and practise of architecture. Through one-hour weekly lectures you’ll explore the research methodologies and skills needed to identify and synthesise relevant and accurate information as well visual communication skills focusing on CAD programs, where skills will be developed through workshops and self-directed exercises.
Building upon the themes covered in the year one module Environmental Science for Architects 1, this module looks more specifically at the flows of energy that occur with and within buildings and how these relate to and integrate with some of the numerous systems employed that may help with their control. You’ll spend four hours per week in lectures studying for this module.
Following on from the previous module, Architectural Design Studio 2A, you’ll continue to spend two dedicated days in the studio per week aiming to develop a more comprehensive understanding of architectural design.
This module introduces construction methodologies related to medium- and large- scale buildings and outlines the first principles of modern methods of construction, including systems and components, prefabrication, and performance envelopes.
This course provides a historical, cultural and philosophical context to the major contemporary debates in architecture today. You’ll gain understanding of architecture's potential as a practically useful and culturally meaningful activity. Key issues from the history of philosophy will be examined alongside a range of building case-studies. This will enable you to develop a series of alternative interpretive frameworks through which buildings may be analysed, criticised, debated and understood. For this module you’ll have a two-hour lecture each week.
This course explores contemporary architecture in relation to major social, economic, political, ecological, and technological transformations after the Second World War. A wide range of topics including consumerism, globalization, mass media, cultural identities and changing economic structures are discussed in terms of their role in shaping architectural theory, practice, and built environment. Two hours of lectures each week employ building case studies, film excerpts, and assigned readings to analyse key concepts.
Introducing you to the context of professional practice, this module prepares you for your year in placement by discussing the year out, how to go about getting the right job and the skills involved in achieving this. Through two hours of lectures each week you’ll look at the important regulatory requirements and processes and the principles and priorities of running a traditional contract on site together with standard documents used in this process.
Building on previous IDA and tectonics modules, you’ll develop the context for integrated building design to an advanced level and to support its application through holistic design practices. Through a series of two hour lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of technical topics will be covered that prescribe a range of multi-disciplinary inputs that an architect is likely to confront when devising a real project. Such thematic topics include daylight-sunlight, materials, façade, structure, building fabric, hydrology, embodied carbon and acoustics.
This studio-based module focuses on practical, architectural design skills through, three thematically connected, but distinctive projects.
You will spend two dedicated days in the studio per week developing the craftsmanship of architecture, its communication and its position in the wider physical, social, cultural, economic, technical and environmental context of the profession.
Following on from the previous module, Architecture Design Studio 3A, you’ll continue to spend two dedicated days in the studio per week aiming to develop skills & approaches in architectural design to a more advanced & complete level, completing in detail a comprehensive building project exploring a thematic topic of your own choice within the wider context of the profession.
Teaching methods
Assessment methods
An architecture degree is the first stage needed to become a registered architect but it's also a degree that employers look for in construction, property, design and creative roles.
You can continue with architecture, with the opportunity to undertake a year's supervised professional experience, the two year MArch Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part II), and a further year in industry to achieve professional architect status in the UK.
Our graduates have gone on to work for a range of top UK and international companies including Alford Hall Monaghan Morris, Cullinan Studio, Foster + Partners, Grimshaw, Hopkins Architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners, Walters & Cohen Architects, Wilkinson Eyre Architects, and Wright & Wright Architects.
Average starting salary and career progression
90.7% of undergraduates from the Department of Architecture and Built Environment secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual starting salary for these graduates was £24,061.
*HESA Graduate Outcomes (2017- 2021 cohorts). The Graduate Outcomes % is calculated using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.
Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.
Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.
Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.
The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in 2013-2023, High Fliers Research).
University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.
Faculty of Engineering
4 years full-time
Qualification
MEng Hons
Entry requirements
AAA
UCAS code
K230
Our webpages contain detailed information about all processes in your student journey. Check them out alongside our student enquiry centre to find the information you need. If you’re still struggling, head to our help page where you can find details of how to contact us in-person and online.