k100 - Architecture BA
Architecture BA Honours
UCAS Code: K100 (full time: 3 Years)
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Our Architecture BA Honours degree is your first step towards qualification as a professional architect.
At a Glance
UCAS Code
K100
UCAS Institution Name and Code
NEWC, N21
Degree Awarded
BA Honours
Course Duration
3 Years
Entry Requirements
A Level: AAA
IB: 36 points
Opportunities
This design-based degree is accredited by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and provides exemption from the RIBA Part I examination.
You will work on design projects that involve manual and computer-aided drawing and model making and we encourage you to develop your own design style. You'll also develop the knowledge to understand the implications of your design decisions.
You will benefit from a strong design culture, with access to studios 24/7. You'll also benefit from field trips in the UK and Europe and community projects in the UK and Africa.
We are consistently highly ranked in major university league tables, and offer all qualifications required to become an architect, meaning you can complete your full training in Newcastle.
Quality and ranking
Architecture at Newcastle is highly regarded:
- 4th in the UK for research power and intensity – Research Excellence Framework 2014
- 6th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2019
- 7th in the UK – The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018
- top 100 – Architecture category – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018
- top 200 – Arts and Humanities category – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2018
Professional accreditation*
Our Architecture BA Honours degree is your first step towards qualifying as an architect. This degree is professionally accredited by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Board (ARB).
ARB accreditation will provide exemption from the RIBA Part 1. After which, you would need to complete four further years in work and study. At Newcastle, we offer all the qualifications to qualify as an architect, so you will not need to change universities or move away to complete your architectural education.
See The Route to becoming a Registered Architect below.
*All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.
What you will study
You will work with and learn from leading professionals, who will teach you how to think, not what to think.
You are introduced to the design process through a series of study visits and design projects, gradually developing your architectural thinking, skills and knowledge.
These projects increase in scale and complexity during the degree, giving you the opportunity to showcase your growing skills.
During the degree, you will:
- work on design projects that involve a lot of manual and computer-aided drawing and model-making in our well-equipped design studio
- undertake library-based research and hands-on construction
- study topics that explore the cultural, historical and technological context of architectural design
- be inspired by leading practitioners, who deliver our 'Conversations with Practice' lecture series and innovative architects, consultants and researchers
- take part in study visits in the UK and abroad
You also visit another European city in Stage 2 to explore and record architectural design in another country.
Take a look at some of the recent work created by our stage 3 students.
Facilities
Workshop
Our purpose built workshop comprises of a fully equipped analogue workshop and casting space as well as state of the art digital fabrication facilities, including:
- 3D printers
- a CNC router
- laser cutters
All students receive a safety induction in the use of the equipment and expert technical staff are on-hand to offer help and advice.
Design studios
Our design studios include CAD facilities and drawing boards. We have dedicated AUP Studio Space with limited access however you will have access to studio space 24/7 elsewhere in the School.
Other facilities
You will also benefit from:
- Archiprint facilities, 5x A0 Printers, 2 x A0 scanners, A3 scanners available in studio rooms
- student-Run Kofi bar providing a social space for you to meet with staff and fellow students
You will collaborate with artists and engineers to test design ideas at 1:1 scale, and explore alternative forms of practice with community projects.
School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
About the School
As an architecture student at Newcastle, you will join one of the largest and most dynamic Schools of its kind in Europe.
We’re one of the largest and most active centres for built environment research. Our expertise spans architecture, planning, urban design, digital architecture, urban conservation and landscape architecture, bringing breadth and depth to your study programme.
The School is partly located in the Quadrangle, the oldest part of the University campus.
Visit the School website to take a virtual tour of architecture facilities at Newcastle University.
Study in the city
Newcastle provides the ultimate case study for our students. The rise and decline of heavy industry, combined with Newcastle’s recent cultural renaissance, have left an architectural legacy that few UK cities can rival.
This constantly evolving city is on your doorstep and we take advantage of our location with a series of study visits to introduce you to the design process.
Route to becoming a Registered Architect
Completing our Architecture BA Honours degree is your first step towards qualifying as an architect.
There are three further stages to qualify as a Registered Architect and you can study them all at Newcastle University, including:
Graduate Certificate in Architectural Practice
The Certificate in Architectural Practice (CAP) is a one-year programme that involves several short courses at the University and self-study assignments during the year. You complete this while spending a year in practice working as an architectural assistant either in Britain or abroad.
Master of Architecture MArch
Completion of this course leads to the degree of Master of Architecture and gives exemption from the RIBA Part II examination. It's based on project work that focuses on culturally and technologically complex public buildings. You also develop a design thesis, often building on your practice experiences.
Professional practice and management are integrated into the programme, preparing you for the final phase of professional training.
There are also study opportunities with European universities, the National University of Singapore, and the University of Sydney in Australia.
For more information, including entrance requirements, visit our Master of Architecture MArch page.
Diploma in Architectural Practice and Management
This is the final qualification for entry into the profession as an ARB-Registered Architect and for membership of the RIBA. It covers professional and business aspects of work, and is taken part time while you work as an architectural assistant.
For more information, including entrance requirements, visit our Diploma in Architectural Practice and Management page.
Sun, Architecture BA HonoursThe teaching quality is fantastic, we are given loads of information in the lectures and additional sources of information to refer to which allows us to further our interest on the subject quite easily.
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Compare this course
See how this course compares with others for topics such as student satisfaction, fees and costs and prospects after graduation using the Unistats Key Information Set.
Modules for 2017 entry
Please note
The module and/or programme information below is for 2017 entry. Our teaching is informed by research and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, student feedback, or insufficient numbers of students interested (in an optional module). To find out more read our terms and conditions.
Module/programme information for 2018 entry will be published here as soon as it is available (end of May 2018).
Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts for an academic year and you need to complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage. Further information, including the credit value of the module, is available in each of the module descriptions below.
Stage 1
Compulsory modules
There is a strong design studio culture in this Stage: you discuss design with architects, fine artists, engineers, conservationists and ecologists, complemented by study visits.
- ARC1001 Architectural Design 1.1
- ARC1013 Architectural Technology 1.1: Explorations in Making Architecture
- ARC1014 Architectural Technology 1.2: Principals in Constructing Architecture
- ARC1015 Introduction to Architecture
- ARC1016 Architectural Representation
Stage 2
Compulsory modules
The year usually begins with a European study visit, giving you the chance to learn from the significant architectural and urban examples of another country.
- ARC2001 Architectural Design 2.1
- ARC2009 Architectural Technology 2.1: Contruction in Detail
- ARC2010 Architectural Technology 2.2: Construction and Energy Efficiency
- ARC2020 Dissertation Studies and Research Methods*
- ARC2024 About Architecture: Cities, Cultures and Spaces
*ARC2020 is assessed on a pass/fail basis
Work Placement (optional)
You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optional work placement between Stages 2 and 3. You can apply to spend your placement year with any organisation and will receive University support to do so. It will extend your degree by a year and is subject to availability. Find out more on about Work Placements.
Stage 3
Compulsory modules
The complexity of design projects reflects your growing design maturity and you are expected to be able to undertake the design of a medium-sized public building with confidence.
All candidates are considered on an individual basis.
If your qualifications are not listed here, please see our additional entry requirements web pages to find out which other qualifications are considered.
The entrance requirements below apply to 2019 entry.
Careers
Architecture Careers
The BA in Architecture is the first step towards qualification as a professional architect. The vast majority of our graduates choose to follow their degree with a year’s employment as an architectural assistant in an architect’s practice.
To proceed on to full qualification a further two years of university study is required (for example, the Master of Architecture), which must then be followed by a further two years of professional work experience and final exams.
With a vocational subject such as architecture, the main employment pathway is into the profession as an architect. Newcastle graduates have an envious position in the job market and are well received by architectural practices.
In addition, architectural education at Newcastle places a strong emphasis on developing your ability to visualise concepts and to translate your ideas in different forms to a variety of audiences. These skills have proved very attractive to employers in the creative industries and many of our former students have gone on to careers in:
- television
- film
- advertising
- other design-based professions
Employers are looking for transferable skills including:
- numeracy
- interpersonal skills
- teamworking
- initiative
- decision-making
- computer literacy
We see these skills as an integral part of the architectural education we offer, placing graduates of both degrees in a strong position to obtain employment in numerous fields such as:
- teaching
- law
- property development
- construction management
- planning
- urban design
- landscape architecture
Find out more about the career options for Architecture from Prospects: The UK's Official Careers Website.
What our graduates go on to do: employment and further study choices
See what our recent graduates went on to do and view graduate destinations statistics. These statistics are based on what graduates were doing on a specific date, approximately six months after graduation. Take a look at the most recent data available for our graduates.
The destination data is available in varying levels, beginning with the University and moving through Faculty and School down to individual course reports. This final level may give you some useful ideas about possible options after your course or a course you are considering.
Careers and employability at Newcastle
Newcastle University consistently has one of the best records for graduate employment in the UK.
95% of our 2016 UK-domiciled graduates progressed to employment or further study within six months of graduating.
Of our graduates who entered employment more than three quarters (78%) achieved a professional or managerial position.
We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through an initiative called ncl+. This enables you to develop personal, employability and enterprise skills and to give you the edge in the employment market after you graduate.
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers.
Applying to Newcastle University through UCAS
To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
UCAS codes for Newcastle University
- institution name - NEWC
- institution code - N21
UCAS buzzword
Ask your teacher or adviser from your school or college for the UCAS buzzword. You need the buzzword when you register on the Apply system. This makes it clear which school or college you are applying from.
All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU and international establishments are registered with UCAS.
If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.
Making your application
On the UCAS website you can also find out more about:
- application deadlines and other important dates
- offers and tracking your application
Application decisions and enquiries
Find out more about our admissions process and who to contact if you need help with your application.