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Architecture (Part 1 RIBA/ARB)

Course details
  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 28 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site - Arts University Bournemouth

Course summary

Studying Architecture at AUB is the first step towards becoming a creative architect.
On this unique and exciting course, you’ll work within the context of a studio-based arts university, where everyone shares an interest in different forms of making. BA Architecture (Part 1) is accredited by ARB and RIBA, so on the course you’ll prepare for professional practice. This professional validation means that upon graduating, students will have fulfilled the first of a three-part process required to become a registered architect in the United Kingdom. Since its inception in 2007, AUB Architecture attracts a richly diverse range of students with arts or technical backgrounds from local, national, and international locations. Our distinctive graduates are well-rounded, confident people who wish to engage in fulfilling long term careers in architecture.

What you will study
You will investigate the ways we live in the world, individually and collectively, through our spatial relationships with materials, to make places that make a difference. You’ll be exposed to a wide range of skills that will form the foundation of your career in Architecture, including: making, collaboration, designing and doing. You’ll develop an understanding of the practice and theory of architecture, grounded in making, along with critical thinking and a familiarity with the material nature of architectural ideas. You’ll explore the reflective practice of making thoughtful, tangible, inhabited places that mediate between the individual, the world we live in and the others we live with.

Through a process of ‘making and thinking’ you’ll come to understand works of architecture as places that house our lives and challenge our expectations. As well as architectural design, you’ll experiment with drawing, photography, printmaking, modelmaking, video and electronic media. You’ll learn the importance of collaboration with other disciplines by working with students from art, design, media and performance. To bring theory alive you’ll travel to see examples of excellence in architectural design in Britain and beyond. Likewise, you’ll be given insights to innovative professional practice through lectures, visits and studio projects led by practising architects, engineers, and designers.

By the end of the course you will be able to...

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of architectural concepts, techniques and processes in integrated application in architectural design propositions.

  • Demonstrate understanding of methods of initiating, structuring and realising architectural propositions.

  • Demonstrate understanding for the social context, interdisciplinary and regulatory framework within which architectural practice operates.

  • Demonstrate an understanding of how historical, contextual and theoretical issues inform architectural design.

  • Apply to your work an understanding of the relationship between architectural and urban design theory, history and practice.

  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the related specialisms of technology and environment and how these inform integrated architectural design; ability to exploit a range of methods, materials and technologies available for the expression of original architectural propositions.

  • Demonstrate research skills and the ability to think analytically and conceptually.

  • Apply individual solutions to the creative resolution of architectural propositions.

  • Demonstrate good communication skills through appropriate (oral, written, visual) formats.

  • Work well as part of a team and demonstrate good interdisciplinary working relationships in preparation for professional practice.

Modules

Assessment method

Coursework and practical work

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Architects Registration Board
  • Royal Institute of British Architects

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
K100
Institution code:
A66
Campus name:
Main Site - Arts University Bournemouth

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Open days

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

AUB considers the whole of the application when making admissions decision. While we'll make an offer based on the qualifications declared on your application, we also factor in your personal statement, your reference and – where appropriate – your portfolio or audition. Therefore, applicants who may not achieve the academic results listed here are still encouraged to apply.

We are happy to accept a wide range of qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Please see our website for a full list of our entry requirements, including tariff points where applicable. Email Admissions (admissions@aub.ac.uk) with any queries about entry requirements. https://aub.ac.uk/apply/undergraduate

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
Once your application has been reviewed admissions will email you to request a link to a digital portfolio for review by the course team. See https://aub.ac.uk/portfolios for more information

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)66.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, speaking and listening). IELTS Online is accepted.
TOEFL (iBT)80With 80 overall and a minimum score of 18 in writing, listening, and reading and 19 in speaking. Please note the home version of this test is not accepted. NEW scoring scale from January 2026 overall 4.5 with a minimum of 4 in each section. Home edition of TOEFL is not accepted.
Cambridge English AdvancedCMinimum grade C
PTE Academic64With 64 overall and a minimum of 59 in each component
Cambridge English ProficiencyCMinimum grade of C.
Trinity ISEPassAn overall score of 90 with at least 80 in each skill
Institution's Own TestOIDI ELLT overall score of 6Oxford International Digital Institute's English Language Level Test with a score of 5 or above in each section. If you wish to take this test at a discounted rate, please contact international@aub.ac.uk for a bespoke link.

See our website for more information on other accepted English qualifications including national curricula and required scores.https://aub.ac.uk/elp

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Caution should be given to our grades on entry data, with over half of our undergraduate applicants each year undertaking qualifications that are not included in this data. This includes the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, which represents a sizeable number of our applicants. We encourage applications from a wide range of educational backgrounds and for more information please view our website: www.aub.ac.uk.

Learn more on the Arts University Bournemouth website

International entry requirements

We welcome applications from all different educational profiles and experiences as talented creatives can develop in many environments. AUB considers the whole of the application when making admissions decision. While we'll make an offer based on the qualifications declared on your application, we also factor in your personal statement, your reference and – where appropriate – your portfolio or audition. Therefore, applicants who may not achieve the academic results listed below are still encouraged to apply. If your country isn’t listed on our website, please reach out to our Admissions Team (admissions@aub.ac.uk) with details about your education and we would be happy to provide detailed admissions advice specific to your case. https://aub.ac.uk/apply/undergraduate#tab-1503931-qualifications-by-country

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£10050*
EU & International£19950*

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please see our website for more information https://aub.ac.uk/fees/undergraduate.

All undergraduate courses at AUB offer an optional placement year, to be taken between your second and third years of study. If you're unsure about this optional placement, you don't need to decide now. Once you're here and studying with us, the course team will discuss the placement options with you, so when the time comes, you can make a decision that's right for you.

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