Architecture, BA (Hons)

Teaching

You’ll usually spend 2 days a week in our studio. This is where you will:

• have your own dedicated design space
• be set projects that require you to produce models and drawings to communicate your ideas

You’ll be supervised on studio work in individual tutorials and group critical reviews. You’ll also be encouraged to explore different approaches and develop essential design skills.

You’ll also attend lectures and classes, and go on visits to completed buildings or buildings under construction or restoration.

As well as the 2 studio days, during the first year you will typically have:

• 6 or 7 lectures each week
• 3 classes and 3 small-group supervisions every two weeks

Assessment

You’ll be assessed each year through coursework, which contributes to your portfolio. The portfolio you produce will account for 50% of your overall marks each year.

In your final year you will also be assessed on a written dissertation.

You'll be examined through assessment, which usually means that you won't be able to re-submit your work.

Year 1 (Part IA)

The first year is an introductory course establishing the groundwork and is mostly taught jointly with Design. In your studio work you will be introduced to the possibilities of architecture. You’ll learn the communication skills that are needed to develop designs for buildings and objects.

At the start you will focus on drawing by hand. Drawing boards are provided. But you’ll present designs using models and digitally.

You’ll also develop your software skills so that you can progress to using CAD for drawings in later years.

There is a compulsory study trip at the end of Lent term. There is usually also a compulsory study trip abroad during the Easter vacation.

You take 6 lecture courses:

• Professional Skills I
• Form and Forces I
• Environmental Design I
• Materials and Fabrication I
• Introduction to Architectural History/Theory (pre-1800)
• Introduction to Architectural History/Theory (post-1800)

Year 2 (Part IB)

You choose from various options for studio work, with projects ranging in scale from mapping studies and interior interventions, to small or medium-sized buildings.

Emphasis is on integrating the technical skills learnt in your first year, with the ongoing lectures and studio output in your second year.

You take 4 compulsory papers that build on your knowledge gained in the first year:

• Professional Skills II
• Materials and Fabrication II
• Structural Design
• Environmental Design II

You also choose 4 short lecture courses in history and theory. There are a range of options that vary from year-to-year. This year’s options were:

• Studies in Urban Planning and Design
• Architecture and Gender
• Housing and Communities
• Theories in Twentieth Century Architecture
• Gardens and Landscape
• Sound and Architecture

Year 3 (Part II)

You choose from a selection of studio options.

Each option varies in approach, but all will require you to produce a building design at the end of the year. The technical realisation of this needs to be allied to a coherently framed conceptual approach.

Studio work carries 50% of the overall mark for the year.

You will also take 5 lecture-based papers. They are all examined entirely through coursework. Together these papers account for 30% of your overall mark for the year.

There is one compulsory paper:

• Professional Skills III

You then choose 4 courses from a list of options. You must take:

• 2 History and Theory courses
• 2 technical courses

Courses might include:

• Current Topics in Urbanism
• Environmentalities: Landscape and Spatial Experience in the Postcolonial World
• Sustainable Housing and Climate Change
• Ways of Seeing Landscape
• Architectural Engineering
• Natural Materials and Structures
• Robotics, Automation and Advanced Fabrication Techniques
• Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence
• Design and Policy Artificial Intelligence

You will also need to complete a written dissertation of 7,000 to 9,000 words. You can choose the topic. It accounts for the remaining 20% of your marks for the year.

For further information about this course see the Department of Architecture website.

Changing course

Most Architecture students stay on the course for all 3 years to achieve RIBA Part 1.

Students can change to the Design course after Year 1 if they can show proficiency in Mathematics. Students who transfer take Mathematics and Programming I in their second year, in place of 2 of their optional courses.

In rare cases, it may be possible to change to another course once you’ve joined the University. You will usually have to get agreement from your College and the relevant departments. It’s not guaranteed that your course change will be approved.

You might also have to:

• take part in an interview
• complete an admissions test
• produce some written work
• achieve a particular grade in your current studies
• do some catch-up work
• start your new course from the beginning 

For more information visit the Department website.

You can also apply to change to:

• Management Studies at the Judge Business School

You can't apply to this course until you're at Cambridge. You would usually apply when you have completed 1 year or more of your original Cambridge course.

You should contact your College’s Admissions Office if you’re thinking of changing your course. They will be able to give you advice and explain how changing courses works.