Architecture students working on a model in The Studio

Architecture BArch

University Park Campus, Nottingham, UK

Course overview

Architects design buildings, spaces, the places in which we live and work; our homes, schools, sports buildings, theatres, hospitals, the environment in which we spend our lives. We work with both new build design and existing buildings with a focus on environmental sustainability.

Our course will equip you with the knowledge to design spaces that improve our surroundings, making a positive contribution to our environment.

Indicative modules

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

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About modules

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 Thursday 22 August 2024. Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Teaching methods

  • Group study
  • Independent study
  • Lectures
  • Practical classes
  • Supervision
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Assessment methods

  • Coursework
  • Group coursework
  • Practical assessment
  • Practical write-ups
  • Presentation
  • Research project
  • Short timed tests and exams

Hours needed:

You will have 6 hours twice a week in Studio over the whole course.

Taught Modules - Typical lectures hours are:

  • Year 1: 7 hours of lectures a week
  • Year 2: 6-7 hours a week
  • Year 3: 5 hours a week. 

Lectures finish early in Semester 2 in year 3 to allow for focus on Design Studio coursework.

There are also additional lectures with invited speakers, academics and practitioners.

Individual and group tutorials, group seminars and workshops are scheduled supporting taught modules throughout the year.

You will spend time away from the university on field study trips and site visits.

You will work independently between scheduled studio hours to progress design skills.

You will complete independently coursework for all taught modules.

You will also spend some time with our support teams, including:

  • Personal tutor throughout your time with us
  • Dedicated student welfare team
  • Academic support from tutors

These teams monitor your academic progress and check on your wellbeing, help you reflect on feedback and act as a first point of contact for any guidance on academic or personal matters you may have.

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).

Course data

Open Day June 2022