Architecture

Part art, part science - and completely fulfilling. Our cutting edge degree course in Architecture provides you with a comprehensive grounding in design, theory, history and building technology, whilst embracing conservation, sustainability and environmental issues. You’ll get the opportunity to compare and contrast Lancastrian architecture and urban form with national and international examples on our overseas visits. This course was recently validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA); we were particularly commended for our enviable facilities, as well as our focus on student experience, studio culture, support and employability.

The location of UCLan Architecture, locally in Preston and more widely in the North West, provides an excellent learning environment. Urban stagnation and design; the dichotomy of countryside and town; contextual and cultural themes; conservation and regeneration are amongst the plethora of architectural issues relevant to Preston.

Design is the core activity of Architecture at UCLan and we aim to provoke debate, encourage diversity and develop advances in the subject. You will gain experience of all aspects of building design and construction and will be well-equipped to meet the demands of a low carbon approach to the needs of society.

This approach, together with promotion of a culture of technical competence, employability and entrepreneurship will be integrated and demonstrated within student projects, papers and presentations. This ensures the UCLan Architecture course equips graduates with the skills to progress to architectural practice and professional accreditation or to a career in a related field.

Your academic learning will be supported by a range of opportunities within industry. You can work with local communities and professionals within Preston, to select appropriate solutions to 'live' and theoretical issues.

The teaching team at the School have expertise that covers all facets of the discipline and are involved in a level of research related to their associated interests, as well as teaching and publishing across the subject area. In some cases members of the team have run practices and have been involved in building and designing award-winning architecture both domestically and internationally.

A 3 year degree qualification typically comprises 360 credits and each 20 credit (a standard module) equates to 200 hours of study, which comprises of a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions and independent study. Independent study is an important aspect of your degree course. The exact combination of study time will be detailed within your module descriptors, and will depend on your option choices.

Architectural teaching and learning is distinguished by the central role of the design project, the design process, a multitude of design approaches and the importance of a variety of communications methods. Architectural education does employ the usual teaching processes of lectures and seminars, but it is at heart project-oriented.

The core activity of architectural design is taught through a combination of individual tutorials, group tutorials, semi-public and public presentations (known as project reviews or crits), and arrangements where students work and discuss things together formally and informally. Design activities on the course will occur in a studio where you will have a base. This is the place that you will meet tutors to discuss your design project work, progress your work and to pin-up and review your designs.

Assessment is key to the learning process and includes coursework, papers, exams, reports and essays. Architectural education also requires a diverse range of submission which builds into a portfolio of work that demonstrates knowledge and skills acquired across the duration of the course, including presentations, portfolios and 3-D artefacts.

Year 1

Compulsory Modules

• Architectural Design 1a
• Architectural Design 1b
• History & Theory of Architecture 1
• Building Technology 1

Theme

• Small Scale Building

Year 2

Compulsory Modules

• Architectural Design 2a
• Architectural Design 2b
• History & Theory of Architecture 2
• Building Technology 2

Theme

• Neighbourhood/Town edges

Year 3

Compulsory Modules

• Architectural Design 3a
• Architectural Design 3b
• History & Theory of Architecture 3
• Professional Studies 3

Theme

• Regional/International

UCLan requires all undergraduate applicants to have a minimum attainment of five GCSEs at grade C and above, or equivalent, (including Maths and English). In 2017 and beyond we will view the new Grade 4 as being equivalent to a C grade and will therefore require students to achieve GCSE Grade 4 or above. However, if the subject is relevant to our degree programme and requires a higher GCSE grade (e.g. GCSE B grade), and/or includes a Professional body that governs the entry requirements, Grade 5 or above may be required.

Our typical offer is 128 - 136 UCAS Points.  We operate a flexible admissions policy and treat everyone as an individual. This means that we will take into consideration your educational achievements and predicted grades (where applicable) together with your application as a whole, including work experience and personal statement. General Studies accepted

BTEC Extended Diploma: Distinction, Distinction, Merit - Distinction, Distinction, Distinction
Pass Access Course: 128 - 134 UCAS Points  
International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 128 - 136 UCAS points from Higher Level Subjects
IELTS: 6.0 with no score lower than 5.5
GCSE: 5 at grade C/4 including Maths & English or equivalent

Facilities

We are one of the few courses to have an in-school design resource centre containing an array of support material such as architectural design, history, construction and theory books, monographs and monthly periodicals, as well as a fully updated RIBA technical library and National Building Specification directories.

Further brand new additional space added to the School in 2013, includes a newly expanded CAD lab with group/class and individual study space provided, as well as new studio space for final year and postgraduate students. All studio space has related in-house printing and scanning facilities within proximity.

Accreditation

This degree has been prescribed by both the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Board (ARB) for purposes of entry onto the UK Register of Architects. Accreditations have been recently validated and with the latter re-validated by both bodies respectively.

The Architecture degree at UCLan is expected to lead to Part I recognition by the Architects Registration Board (ARB), allowing you to proceed on a path to become registered architects and ARB members.