Architecture
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff
Grades are important; however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to their chosen subject area and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course we normally arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your qualifications.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
Architecture teaches expertise in the design of buildings and places, creating the setting for human life. The primary skill is design – the ability to imagine three-dimensional spaces and objects and apply knowledge of materials, structure and energy turning concept into reality working with engineers, contractors and many other professionals. The programme considers the environment and architectural technology, while also retaining an appreciation of the history and theory of architecture.
The course is the first stage (Part One) of the three stage process of professional qualification as an architect. The course is prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and the course is approved by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
Modules
Year One – Level 4 (Cert HE, Dip HE & BSc)
• Architecture Studio 1A (Design Skills) (20 credits; core)
• Architecture Studio 1B (Space and Form) (20 credits; core)
• Architecture Studio 1C (Structure and Materials) (20 credits; core)
• History and Theory 1 (20 credits; core)
• Technology and Environment 1 (20 credits; core)
• The Modern World (20 credits; core).
Year Two – Level 5 (Dip HE & BSc)
• Architecture Studio 2A (20 credits; core)
• Architecture Studio 2B (20 credits; core)
• Architecture Studio 2C (20 credits; core)
• History and Theory 2 (20 credits; core)
• Profession and Business 1 (20 credits; core)
• Technology and Environment 2 (20 credits; core).
Year Three – Level 6 (BSc)
• Architecture Dissertation (40 credits; core)
• Architecture Studio 3A (20 credits; core)
• Architecture Studio 3B (20 credits; core)
• Architecture Studio 3C (20 credits; core)
• Profession and Business 2 (20 credits; core).
Assessment methods
Design project work is assessed on the basis of a portfolio of work consisting of a series of assignments completed during the year.
The portfolio will include drawings, photographs of models and illustrated written reports. Feedback on student progress is given throughout the year – usually in the form of verbal comments by a team of tutors on the basis of student presentations and review attended by fellow students. Formative assessment is made at the end of each project – usually in the form of a provisional mark, which allows students to respond to feedback before the final submission of the portfolio when the final (or ‘summative’) assessment is made.
Assessments of work in the contextual modules will take the form of practical exercises during the year, reports and essays and time-constrained assessment by means of tests and formal examinations.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
SA1 Waterfront Campus, Swansea
Architecture, Construction and the Environment
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Architecture
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Architecture
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Architecture had a difficult time a few years back during the great recession, but those days are over and the degree is in demand as house building and infrastructure have increased in importance. Most working architects secure jobs in the architecture industry, more usually starting as assistants rather than full-blown architects or chartered technicians. Some, however, move into management, design or marketing roles, where they find their planning, design and project management skills are very welcome. Nearly half the architecture-related jobs last year were in London or the South-East, and this group are rather more likely than average to find their jobs through personal contacts, so polish your networking skills, or see if you can get work experience if you want to succeed as an architect.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Architecture
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£27k
£31k
£39k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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