Design

Integrating the arts and sciences, the Design course will challenge you to think about global problems such as climate change and give you the skills to help create solutions to them.

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Overview

This is a new course for 2024 entry and this information is subject to change.

Students should refer to the Undergraduate Study website for the most up-to-date information both before making an application and again before they accept an offer, should their application be successful.

Design at Cambridge

The Architecture Department offers two courses: Architecture and Design. Design combines architecture, engineering and materials science in one degree, giving you the opportunity to design solutions to environmental and societal challenges. You will learn how small and large-scale designs such as physical objects, apps, artificial intelligence, electronics or architecture and planning systems can influence people, cultures, economies and the natural world.

The course is structured around a series of core studio projects which will require you to create solutions to real-world problems: from planning stage through to pitching a final product and evaluating user impact. For most projects, you will be working with stakeholders such as clients, end-users and suppliers. Outside of the studio, you will learn about related subjects including design history, philosophy, mathematics, engineering and natural sciences, which will then be applied to your design projects.

Based in the Department of Architecture, you will have access to a variety of facilities such as workshops, studios, reprographics, flexible co-working spaces and a new digital fabrication lab.

What we’re looking for

You must have an enthusiasm for both the arts and the sciences. The ability to draw and an interest in the engineering, materials, design and architecture are essential, as is a knowledge of mathematics to at least a A Level standard.

It’s not possible to study Design as an affiliated course (ie in one year less than usual). However, if you’ve already completed an undergraduate degree at another university and now wish to study Design at Cambridge as a second undergraduate degree, you can apply to study the full three-year course. (In this case, you normally wouldn’t pay the separate College fee.) Please seek advice about your application as early as possible from one of the mature Colleges.

Qualifications and accreditation

Students can graduate with a BA (Honours) degree after three years, but most will continue to the fourth year (Part IIB) to graduate with a BA and a Master of Design (MDes). The course is awaiting confirmation of accreditation from professional associations including the Architects Registration Board and the Engineering Council. Accreditation would lead to exemption from RIBA Part 1 for architecture, and a route to Chartered Engineer status (CEng) for engineering. Please note that accreditation has not yet been confirmed for 2024 entry.

Changing course

To be able to change course, you need the agreement of your College that any change is in your educational interests, and you must have the necessary background in the subject to which you wish to change – in some cases you may be required to undertake some catch-up work or take up the new course from the start/an earlier year. If you think you may wish to change course, we encourage you to contact a College admissions office for advice. You should also consider if/how changing course may affect any financial support arrangements.

Course costs

Tuition fees

Information on tuition fee rates for Architecture is available on the tuition fees page.

Additional course costs

The University fees (see our Finance pages for more information) cover the costs of software, paper, model-making materials and printing for presentations.

Portfolios are submitted electronically. Students are expected to supply normal stationery such as pens, pencils, glue, rulers, writing paper and erasers.

The additional course costs are:

Site boots (all other site safety equipment will be loaned if/when required) – estimated cost - £30
Compulsory study trip in the first year (travel and accommodation costs are funded by the Department, but students are required to cover their own subsistence costs) – estimated cost of subsistence - £100-£150
Optional study trips are offered in the second and third years; costs vary, from free to £300-500 per trip. Additional funding may be available from Colleges. These trips do not form any part of the examined course. The costs of site visits and other trips which are part of the examined course are included within the tuition fees.

Careers and research

The interdisciplinary focus of Design means that you will gain the knowledge and skills to be a leader in a range of technical and creative sectors. Depending on the route you take throughout the course, you could pursue a wide variety of careers, from working in manufacturing, to joining the design sector, to starting an entrepreneurial journey. You could also choose to continue to a PhD in a particular area of the course that interests you, such as emerging materials. If you would like to develop your professional skills during your degree, optional paid industrial or research summer programmes will be available each year in a variety of different fields.

Course outline

Most teaching will take place in the design studio. You are assessed on studio work at the end of each term through a combination of a portfolio, presentations and coursework. These will account for 60 per cent of your overall marks each year. Your design projects will be exhibited at the end of each year.

The rest of the curriculum will include lectures, seminars, workshops, and supervisions to build on the practical and professional skills which can be used in your design projects. These account for 40 per cent of your overall marks each year, and will be assessed through coursework. Please check the department website for updates on the course outline for 2024 entry.

Year 1 (Part IA)

You begin studio work with three design projects which introduce you to the core skills of design.

As well as studio work, you take five compulsory papers:

Professional Skills I
Materials and Fabrication I
History and Theory of Design I
Form and Forces I
Mathematics and Programming I

Year 2 (Part IB)

You work on a further three projects in the studio. Briefs will be more open, require interdisciplinary engagement, and solutions will be analysed in diverse contexts of people and cultures.

As well as studio work, you take four compulsory papers:

Professional Skills II
Materials and Fabrication II
History and Theory of Design II
Form and Forces II

You also choose three further papers from a range of topics. Examples of options may include:

Natural Materials and Structures
Robotics, Automation and Advanced Fabrication Techniques
Advanced Building Physics
Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence
Design and Policy
Advanced Studies in History and Theory of Architecture
Bioinspired Design and Biomimicry
Introduction to Data Science

Year 3 (Part IIA)

Studio projects take on greater complexity as the designs projects grow in scale. In these projects you begin to learn how to test, communicate and evaluate solutions integrating knowledge and skills from previous years.

As well as studio work, you take one compulsory paper:

Professional Skills III

You also choose five further papers from a range of topics including those listed in Year 2.

Year 4 (Part IIB)

You work in the studio on a full-year design project with industrial partners. You also complete a dissertation project of your choice. This major independent undertaking is an opportunity to demonstrate creativity and mastery in design and at least one of the fundamental disciplines, using theoretical, experimental and/or computational methods. Both studio and dissertation projects make use of the knowledge and skills developed in Parts I and IIA.

You also take one compulsory paper:

Professional Skills IV

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements

This page shows the standard entry requirements for this course. A PDF detailing any variations between Colleges (some may ask for an A* in a particular subject for example) will be published here in April 2023.

Typical offers require

A Level: A*AA
IB: 40-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level
Other qualifications: See Entrance requirements.

Subject requirements

All Colleges require: A Level Mathematics
Some Colleges require: AS or A Level/IB Higher Level Mathematics or Physics; A Level/IB Higher Level in an essay-based subject

See Entrance requirements and Choosing your post-16 subjects for additional guidance and conditions of entry.

Admissions assessment

All applicants for Design are required to take written and practical assessments if shortlisted for interview. You will not need to register in advance for this assessment and the Colleges will provide details directly to you. The assessments will be the same as for the Architecture Tripos.

Assessment format

Writing skills (30 minutes)
Graphic and spatial ability (30 minutes)

PDF icon Architecture Admissions Assessment Specification
Architecture Admissions Assessment Past Paper

Please note that your performance in the assessments will not be considered in isolation, but will be taken into account alongside the other elements of your application.

See Admission assessment for further details.

Submitted work

All Colleges will ask Design applicants to submit a PDF (6 A4 pages, and less than 15MB in size) of their own artwork prior to interview. The selection of images should, in part, reflect material you might bring to interview as part of your portfolio.

Portfolio

All applicants invited to interview are expected to show a portfolio of recent work at the interview but this isn't expected to be work of an architectural nature (eg plans, sections etc).

Admissions Tutors want to see something that illustrates your interests, experience and ability in the visual and material arts. This may include drawings, paintings, sculpture and/or photography may also be included. It's usually sufficient for three-dimensional work to be exhibited in photographs.

A sketchbook with ongoing drawings is extremely helpful and applicants are encouraged to take one to the interview. It may be in any media (pencil, charcoal, crayon etc) and should include a variety of subject matter. The work can be material prepared for school-leaving examinations but creative work executed outside formal courses is also welcome.

Resources

Find out more about Design at Cambridge

Course website - Explore Design in more detail on the course website.

Teaching and Assessment - Read about how Design and Architecture students are taught and assessed.

Facilities - Information about the studio, workshop, digital, and library facilities in the Department.

Student Life - What life is like as a Design or an Architecture student at Cambridge.

Careers - Destinations available to Cambridge Design and Architecture graduates.

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