Location

Canterbury

Start date

Sept 2026, Sept 2027

Duration

3 years full-time

UCAS logo

UCAS codes

Course: K100
Institution: C93

+1

Foundation year

Optional extra year of study

Entry requirements

Check qualifications

Tuition fees

Check fees and funding options

Become an architect
an urban planner
a spatial designer
a landscape architect
a retrofit designer

Learn more about potential career pathways

Architecture (RIBA Part 1) at UCA

Where Architects learn to think like Artists. There's a type of architect that every studio wants to hire. Architects who see the world differently, tackle problems from unexpected angles, and bring creative confidence to technically complex work. They're rigorously trained, but ready to experiment. That's a Architect from UCA's BA (Hons) Architecture degree.

Studio culture, not lecture culture

Architecture here is taught through real studio practice: project work, one-to-ones, workshops, and reviews. You'll have your own dedicated space in your studio – somewhere to leave your work, return the next day, and build ideas over time. It’s an environment and process designed and led by real, practising architects. So when you land your first job, you’ll fit right in.

Technical rigour, creative edge

You'll develop precision and imagination together – through design studio projects, construction technology, and hands-on making. You'll work with 3D scanners, laser cutters, CNC machines, and VR – alongside traditional drawing and model-making. You'll graduate understanding not just how buildings look – but how they work, how they last, and how they serve the people inside them.

Industry-ready from day one

You will be taught by award-winning architects every week. As your designs develop, you'll consult with structural engineers, landscape architects, and sustainability specialists – just as you would in a professional studio. In second year, you’ll be mentored by local practices. In third year, RIBA connects you with firms further afield. And at the end-of-year show, you’ll showcase your skills to industry judges who regularly offer graduates jobs on the spot.

Architecture to change the world

This is a course that will take you beyond learning how to design buildings and structures. You'll explore how architecture affects communities, equity, and sustainability – from climate-responsive design to how public spaces serve human needs. You don’t need a technical background to join us – just an open mind, a creative flair, and a passion for what architecture can do for the world.

Webinar: Discover Architecture at UCA

Date: 30 June 2026
Want to know what studying a degree in Architecture at UCA entails? What skills and techniques you can further develop, and how this can develop into a career?
Book your place now

Accreditations, partners and industry connections

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) logo

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

RIBA is a global professional membership body and charity, driving excellence in architecture.

Architects’ Registration Board (ARB) logo

Architects’ Registration Board (ARB)

The ARB is an independent professional regulator, accountable to government. It ensures only those who are suitably competent are allowed to practice as architects.

Watch our Architecture videos


Architecture at UCA

Architecture at UCA
Architecture student, Mihaela, talks about studying at UCA

Why I love Studying Architecture
Thumbnail for Architecture Portfolio Advice video

Architecture portfolio advice
Film & Media Centre

Graduate talks about designing our Film & Media centre
Chris Simmonds, Architecture Alumni

Chris Simmons, Architecture alumni, tells us about his time at UCA

View our student work

We’re privileged to be able to share our graduates’ incredible work with the world, click on the work below to see more images and find out about the project.

What you'll study

The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.

UCA’s Integrated Foundation Year is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to start your degree in the best possible way – with confidence, solid knowledge of creative practice, study skills and more.

You’ll explore a range of creative techniques and develop your portfolio, with your chosen subject in mind. We’ll work with you throughout the year to ensure you’re on the right track and give you the tools to achieve your highest potential on your degree.

Find out more about the Integrated Foundation Year

Design Studio 01 (30 credits)
This module introduces the foundations of architectural design by exploring
the relationship between the human body, site, and place. Through hands-
on research and experimentation, you will investigate how people interact
with space and translate these insights into a 1:1 construction. You will
develop core skills in drawing, modelling, and material testing, while
learning to communicate ideas visually and verbally. By the end, you will
understand how design decisions impact users and the environment,
setting the groundwork for your future studies.

Culture, Context & Society 01 (30 credits)
This module explores the cultural, social, historical, and technological
forces that shape architecture. You will learn how design standards and
regulations influence the built environment and develop the ability to
critically evaluate architectural projects within wider societal contexts.
Through lectures, seminars, and creative practice research, you will build
skills in academic writing, visual communication, and design-research
methods. By the end, you will understand architecture as a socially
produced practice and begin to develop an ethical, inclusive approach to
design.

Design Studio 02 (30 credits)
Building on your first semester, this module challenges you to think critically
about architecture’s role in shaping society. You will work on a small-scale
design project that reimagines an unused or underused site, considering
themes like adaptive reuse, sustainability, and social responsibility.
Through drawing, modelling, and material exploration, you will learn to
balance cultural, environmental, and technical factors in your designs. This
module strengthens your ability to communicate complex ideas and
prepares you to engage with architecture as a catalyst for change.

Environment, Construction & Practice 01 (30 credits)
This module introduces the technical and environmental aspects of
architecture, focusing on materials, construction systems, and sustainable
design strategies. You will learn how choices in structure and material
impact performance, carbon footprint, and user comfort. Alongside this, you
will develop essential skills in representation and communication; including
hand drawing, physical modelling, and digital tools such as AutoCAD and
Adobe Suite. By the end, you will be able to integrate environmental and
technical considerations into your design work and present your ideas with
clarity and precision.

Design Studio 03 (30 credits)
In this studio you’ll investigate how architecture emerges from and impacts its
physical, social and ecological context. Working collaboratively, you’ll survey and map a real site, then develop a contextual brief that leads to a small architectural intervention set within a designed landscape. Through iterative drawing, physical/digital modelling and technical research you’ll test form, structure, materials and environmental performance, integrating sustainable strategies throughout. The module concludes with a sophisticated visual and verbal presentation, demonstrating how buildings shape relationships between ground, ecology, public space and community.

Environment, Construction & Practice 02 (30 credits)
In Environment, Construction and Practice 02 you’ll build the professional,
environmental and construction literacy needed to act responsibly in design and prepare for employment in architectural practice. You’ll explore how the UK architecture profession is structured; its roles, responsibilities, workflows and ethical obligations; and situate your emerging practice within that context. You’ll study human-centred performance topics such as comfort, accessibility and fire/life safety, alongside materials and assemblies with attention to embodied and whole-life carbon and responsible specification. You’ll also develop capability with digital tools (e.g., 3D modelling, 3D scanning/photogrammetry and related platforms) and refine your communication skills through presentations, models and concise technical reports. In parallel, you will strengthen teamwork, self-management and reflective practice while compiling targeted professional artefacts such as a CV, a capability statement and a mentor/engagement plan.

Design Studio 04 (30 credits)
The final design module of the second year challenges you to design a
medium-scale public building, developed from a self-generated civic brief rooted in site research and user experience. You’ll use material prototyping, digital experimentation and algorithmic methods as design drivers, especially for the building envelope, while applying quantitative environmental analysis to inform low-carbon strategies and responsive façades. Alongside conceptual ambition, you’ll pursue technical resolution, fabrication logic and sustainable construction approaches. You’ll communicate the project using architectural representation and media drawn from contemporary visual culture, producing a bold, contextually grounded proposal that articulates the role of civic architecture in public life.

Culture, Context & Society 02 (30 credits)
Culture, Context and Society 02 deepens your understanding of how
architecture interacts with social, cultural, historical, and environmental contexts, focusing on climate-responsive design and urban theory. Through
case studies and critical engagement with diverse perspectives (including
non-Western and vernacular practices), you will explore the intersection of
ecology, culture, and technology in shaping the built environment. You will
develop research and analytical skills, produce illustrated written work, and
create models and drawings that demonstrate your ability to critique
architectural ideas and propose informed, climate-conscious design
approaches.

Design Studio 05 (30 credits)
This module focuses on housing design at multiple scales, from master-
planning strategies to the detailed resolution of individual dwellings. You
will develop a comprehensive housing proposal that integrates social,
cultural, environmental, and technical considerations. Alongside your
design portfolio, you will produce a technical report addressing UK
regulations, planning policy, sustainability, and construction principles. By
the end, you will demonstrate how design intent and professional practice
come together in a coherent, well-resolved architectural project.

Critical Practitioner and Practical Critic (30 credits)
This module combines professional practice knowledge with research
skills. You will learn about the RIBA Plan of Work, procurement routes, and
roles and responsibilities within UK architectural practice, while developing
a critical research project. Through a group case study and an individual
research output, you will build professional competence and research
literacy, preparing you to articulate your position within contemporary
architectural discourse.

Design Studio 06 (60 credits)
The ‘final project’ module of the programme, Design Studio 06 challenges
you to conceive and resolve a substantial, self-directed architectural
project. Working at an urban scale, you will integrate social, political,
environmental, and technical considerations into a sophisticated design
proposal. The module emphasizes autonomy, critical thinking, and
professional-level communication, culminating in a comprehensive portfolio
that showcases your design, technical, and representational skills;
demonstrating readiness for professional practice and postgraduate study.

This course is designed to offer you (if eligible) the opportunity to study part of your degree aboard at a UCA partner university, while still earning credits towards your UCA degree.

For more information please visit the Study Abroad section

Integrated foundation year

  • Independent study: 72%
  • Scheduled teaching: 28%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Year one

  • Independent study: 71%
  • Scheduled teaching: 29%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Year two

  • Independent study: 74%
  • Scheduled teaching: 26%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Year three

  • Independent study: 77.5%
  • Scheduled teaching: 22.5%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Please note, these details are for 2026 entry and could be subject to change for other years of entry.

Architects Registration Board Recognition Update

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) will cease prescription of all Part 1 Qualifications (all UK undergraduate Architecture degrees) from 31 December 2027.

This is a national change affecting all university Architecture qualifications in the UK, not a UCA-specific change. This represents an exciting change in Architectural education.

If you’re scheduled to complete your course June 2028 or later you will still graduate with a BA (Hons) Architecture degree, but the ‘Part 1’ exemption will no longer exist nor be required to progress your architectural career.

Instead, all Architecture students in the UK will receive ARB recognition at the end of a later Master’s qualification.

Course specifications

Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.

Upcoming webinars

We offer a range of webinars throughout the year that you may be interested in.

You can also view recordings of all previous sessions through the UCA webinar archive.


16 Jun 2026

Putting together your Portfolio

At UCA, we offer a range of postgraduate options at both Master's and PhD level that will help you further your skills, ready for a career within the creative industries.  Book now: Putting together your Portfolio

30 Jun 2026

Discover Architecture at UCA

Want to know what studying a degree in Architecture at UCA entails? What skills and techniques you can further develop, and how this can develop into a career? Book now: Discover Architecture at UCA

15 Jul 2026

Getting Ready for University

Getting ready for university can be stressful when you’re not sure what to prepare for. We’re here to go through everything you need to know! Book now: Getting Ready for University

6 Aug 2026

What is Clearing and How Does it Work?

What is Clearing? What courses are available? What does Clearing mean for you? There are so many questions to ask around Clearing and what it means for you. We're here to help answer all your questions, explain the process of Clearing and how you could join UCA this September.   Book now: What is Clearing and How Does it Work?

9 Sep 2026

Enrolment and Your First Week at UCA

Are you ready to join our creative community? Before you join UCA, you’ll need to complete online enrolment and have everything ready for your first day. We’re here to talk through everything you need to know.  Book now: Enrolment and Your First Week at UCA

Fees & financial support

Tuition fees - 2026/27

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £9,790
  • BA course: £9,790

Government guidance indicates that tuition‑fee caps will rise annually with inflation from 2026, subject to legislation, so tuition fees are likely to increase each year of study. 

Tuition fees - 2026/27

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £9,790 (see fee discount information)
  • BA course: £9,790 (see fee discount information)

Government guidance indicates that tuition‑fee caps will rise annually with inflation from 2026, subject to legislation, so tuition fees are likely to increase each year of study. 

Tuition fees - 2026/27

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £18,000
  • BA course: £18,000

The fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only, for details of previous years please see the full fee schedules.

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Financial support

There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our financial support information.

Additional course costs

In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials.

These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make. Please see the Additional Course Costs section of the Course Information Document for more details of the costs you may incur.

Find out what's included in your tuition fees.

Architecture facilities & equipment

There are dedicated open plan studio spaces for group tutorials and personal working. Other campus facilities include: laser cutters, 3D printers, virtual reality lab, 3D workshop with machines for working in wood, metals, plastics and ceramics and fully-equipped computer studios with Macs and PCs programmed with industry-standard software for design and animation.

Architecture Studios, UCA Canterbury

Architecture studios, UCA Canterbury
Architecture Studios, UCA Canterbury

Architecture studios, UCA Canterbury
3D Workshop, UCA Canterbury

Wood Workshop

Room: EO.01

This workshop contains:

  • Pillar Drills
  • Panel and table saw
  • Wazer water jet cutter
  • CNC milling machine
  • Bandsaws
  • Hand tools
  • Benches
FabLab, UCA Canterbury

Fabrication Lab, UCA Canterbury
VR headset being used in the TraKLAB

Architecture TrakLab, UCA Canterbury

Architecture career opportunities

Our course enjoys excellent relationships with a number of high-profile organisations, which are listed below:

  • Architects Registration Board
  • Architectural Association of Ireland
  • Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists
  • Chartered Institute of Building
  • Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
  • International Interior Design Association
  • Residential Interior Design
  • Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
  • Royal Institute of British Architects
  • Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
  • Royal Society of Ulster Architects
  • Royal Town Planning Institute

Many of our graduates typically progress to one-year paid placements at architects’ offices, before continuing their studies at Master's level. Our alumni have secured rewarding careers internationally and nationally for more than 60 years.

Recent employment opportunities have included working at the offices of Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, Will Alsop and Sauerbruch Hutton.

Architecture Studios, UCA Canterbury

What careers can you do with an architecture degree?

An architecture degree opens the door to a world of creative, technical and socially impactful careers.

Qualification as an architect requires two years' further study, followed by a final year of paid placement, a short professional practice course and examination for Part 3.

We offer Part 2, a Master of Architecture course, to students who achieve a 2.1 or above at degree level. We also offer an MA in Architecture, which is added to your Part 2 qualification as well as the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice in Architecture – Part 3* (This course has received accreditation from ARB and is in the process of being accredited with RIBA).


Please note: the data shown in the Pathways Graduate tool is based on a range of datasets, including the Graduate Outcomes Survey and occupational data from the Office for National Statistics. Salary data only includes graduates who report earnings in British pounds, but excludes statistical outliers. It also includes graduates who are self-employed or freelancing, which is common within the creative industries and can mean income varies over time.

Architecture entry requirements

A GCSE pass at grade 9-4/A*-C (or international equivalent) in Mathematics is required.

For international applicants the equivalent of 128 UCAS tariff points/A level ABB is required for BA Architecture and the equivalent of 64 UCAS tariff points is required for BA Architecture with Integrated Foundation Year. Please contact our International Admissions Team for more information.

For the BA (Hons) course we will need to see your portfolio, see the portfolio requirements section for more details.

Select your country to find the equivalent requirements

Portfolio requirements

For the BA (Hons) course we’ll need to see an portfolio, no portfolio is required for the course with an Integrated Foundation Year.

  • UK applicants: We will invite you to attend an Applicant Day so you can have your portfolio review in person.
  • International applicants: We will ask you to submit an online portfolio. 

In your portfolio we’re looking for examples of your current work that showcases your creative, curious, and ambitious mind. You don’t need to create new pieces – just show us your skills and passion from your existing work. An example would be a design or art project, presented alongside a sketchbook to describe your thoughts and processes as you created your final outcome. 

Please check our Architecture BA (Hons) portfolio requirements and read our advice on creating a strong architecture portfolio.

UCAS applicants should also check our UCAS personal statement guide for a architecture applicants.

Full portfolio requirements and advice

Ellie Crawford, BA (Hons) Architecture, UCA Canterbury

What our Architecture students say

“My college tutors told me I didn’t have the subjects or the grades for architecture. Three years later, I was headhunted by a firm directly from my final exam hall. Now I’ve been accepted by the University of Cambridge to do my Masters.”

Read Ellie's story Chat to UCA students

Our Architecture staff

Sam McElhinney

Sam McElhinney

Programme Director Architecture, Associate Professor
Rob Nice

Robert Nice

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer Architecture and Design

Kristina Kotov Profile Picture

Kristina Kotov

Senior Lecturer Architecture
Dr Kim Trogal

Dr Kim Trogal

Reader in Social and Political Design
Paul Found, Lecturer BSc Industrial Design

Dr Paul D. Found

Senior Lecturer Industrial Design and Design Media

Apply to BA (Hons) Architecture

Please use the following fields to help select the right application link for you:

UCAS codes

  • UCA institution code: C93
  • Three year degree: K100
  • Plus integrated foundation year: K10A

Your next steps...


Apply now Upcoming Open Days Ask a question

BA (Hons) Architecture key statistics

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