Architecture with a Foundation Year

Framing architecture as a radical act of care, our BA Architecture course aims to nurture disciplinary disruptors, future leaders, innovators and thinkers, equipped for the now and ready to redefine the architectural practice of tomorrow.

Architecture is the quiet choreography of the spaces we inhabit — a practice that does far more than shape buildings. Architects acting under this aegis gather the many strands of human endeavour—art, history, physics, engineering—into a single, unfolding narrative. Everywhere we move, architecture is already there: not only as structure, but as an imaginative act, a way of giving form to how we live, remember, and aspire.

Taught in the £62 million Parkside Building at our City Centre Campus, this course is validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Successful completion of this course grants exemption from the Royal Institute of British Architects Part 1 Prescribed Examination.

In order to register as an Architect in the UK you will need to hold an ARB-accredited master’s level qualification and an accredited practice qualification (or an accredited combined qualification) that together show that you have met the necessary competency outcomes (the threshold competencies that we expect of all architects on the Register) and have a minimum of two years practice experience.

What's covered in this course?

With the diverse architecture of Birmingham as your initial inspiration, you'll focus on urban environment and study neighbourhoods, cities, and regional and global networks. Industry connections in your second and third years help you foster direct links and contacts within practice, helping you to find work experience. We also work closely with RIBA West Midlands and Birmingham City Council. From the first year onwards, you will begin to construct your own online webpage of work and projects, which can then be transformed into an online portfolio and/or CV.

You'll have the chance to be part of Co.LAB, a collaborative architecture and design initiative working on live projects with other disciplines and with industry and community partners. This engagement with one-to-one scale interventions and real-world practice helps you in your learning journey to become a more rounded and responsive designer.

The course offers you great opportunities. Students from all years are offered places to attend events and to engage directly with practitioners and industry specialists, as well as informing you of changes in current practice.

You'll also benefit from the insight of guest speakers from firms such as Foster and Partners, Make, Associated Architects, Invisible Studio, Mole Architects, Ash Sakula and various others.

In your final year, you'll showcase your work at the Graduate Show, an event attended by practitioners where previous students have been recruited by leading practices including Grimshaws, Hopkins Architects, Hawkins Brown and Glenn Howells Architects.

You will study in our state-of-the-art Parkside Building, which has been praised for its investment and facilities by RIBA.

The foundation year

The foundation year is intended to provide students with the opportunity to develop the core skills, knowledge and confidence needed to progress onto the BA Honours Architecture undergraduate architecture degree. It introduces fundamental principles of architectural thinking, including drawing and visual communication, spatial design, model-making, and digital skills. Students explore architecture’s cultural, social and environmental context, develop creative problem-solving abilities, and build essential academic skills such as research, critical reflection and portfolio development.

Due to a higher entry tariff for BA (Hons) Architecture you’ll need to receive 60% or more in your level 3 final project to progress.