Design, BA (Hons) and MDes

The Design course combines architecture, engineering, and material science in one degree. It will challenge you to think about global issues in the built environment, like climate change, and how to address them.

At Cambridge, you'll have the opportunity to design solutions to a range of environmental and social challenges.

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Overview

Number 4 in the UK for Architecture (The Complete University Guide 2025)

Design at Cambridge

You will learn how small and large-scale designs influence people, cultures, economies and the natural world. The designs you study will be wide-ranging. The course is centred on multi-disciplinary design in the built environment, but you'll also cover the design of physical objects, apps, artificial intelligence and electronics.

The course is structured around a series of core studio projects. The goal of each project is for you to create solutions to real-world issues. As part of this, you will learn about:

sustainability in design
how the science of sustainability and engineering can inform design

Outside the studio, you will study related subjects. These include:

design history
environmental design
mathematics and programming
structural engineering
materials sciences

You'll then have the opportunity to apply this knowledge to your design projects.

Teaching and facilities

Teaching

The course is taught by a combination of:

practising engineers, architects and designers in studio
academics at the forefront of research in the fields of sustainability and design, resilience

The research we do includes:

work on refugee camps
studying the effect of earthquakes on structures
creating a more inclusive environment
participatory design through our forthcoming urban room
the use of traditional and new sustainable building materials

Facilities

You will be based in the Department of Architecture and have access to a range of facilities.

These include:

workshops
studios
reprographics
digital fabrication lab
computer workstations

You'll also have access to the impressive Cambridge University Library, one of the world’s oldest university libraries.

Course costs

When you go to university, you’ll need to consider two main costs – your tuition fees and your living costs (sometimes referred to as maintenance costs).

Your living costs will include costs related to your studies that are not covered by your tuition fees. There are some general study costs that will apply for all students.

Find out more about general study costs.

Other additional course costs for Design are detailed below. If you have any queries about resources/materials, please contact the Department.

Equipment

Safety boots. Estimated cost £30.
The Department covers all the costs of materials for model making and drawing. It does not cover basic stationery and consumables such as pens, pencils and glue.

Field trips

Compulsory trip in Year 1. The Department covers the costs of travel, entrance fees and accommodation. Students are only required to bring money for subsistence (food and drink).

Your future career

The Design degree crosses different disciplines.

You will gain the knowledge and skills needed for careers in the built environment and a range of technical and creative sectors. You will also get a strong grounding in programming and mathematics, opening up fields such as AI and finance.

The route you take through the course will help to shape your future career. For example, you may choose to explore careers:

in the built environment
in manufacturing
in the design sector
as an entrepreneur

You could also choose to continue to a PhD in a particular area of the course that interests you, such as emerging materials.

Course outline

Teaching

Most teaching will take place in the design studio. 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.

Please check the department website for updates on the course outline for 2026 entry.

Assessment

You are assessed on studio work at the end of each term through a combination of lab work, a portfolio, presentations and coursework. These will account for 50% of your overall marks each year.

With the exception of mathematics and programming (which is examined by a formal written examination), the rest of the curriculum is examined by assessments of submitted work and verbal presentations. These will account for the remaining 50% of marks each year.

Year 1 (Part IA)

The first year is an introductory course establishing the groundwork and is mostly taught jointly with Architecture. You begin studio work with 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
Form and Forces I
Mathematics and Programming I
Environmental Design I

Year 2 (Part IB)

Second year studio projects cover geotechnics, water and timber engineering. Each is accompanied by lectures and lab work.

As well as studio work, you take 5 compulsory papers:

Professional Skills II
Materials and Fabrication II
Environmental Design II
Form and Forces II
Mathematics and Programming II

A land surveying course is undertaken during the year, usually at the end of Lent Term.

You also choose 3 further papers from a range of topics, one of which must be a history and theory course. The others can be technical courses.

Examples of options may include:

Sound and architecture
Architecture and Gender
History of Construction
Current Topics in Urbanism
Sustainable Housing and Climate Change
Inclusive design an interdisciplinary approach
Design by Making
Techniques in Materials Science
Modelling natural ventilation systems
Human-centred design and neurodiversity
Robotics and manufacturing

Year 3 (Part IIA)

Third year studio projects cover concrete, steel, and sustainable materials and design. Each is accompanied by lectures and lab work.

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

Professional Skills III

You also choose 5 further papers from a range of topics including those listed in Year 2 (at least 2 of which should be in History and Theory).

Year 4 (Part IIB)

You will work in the studio on a full-year design project.

You will also complete a dissertation project of your choice. This is a major independent project and an opportunity for you to show creativity and mastery in design. You will also focus on at least one of the fundamental design disciplines, using theoretical, experimental and/or computational methods.

Your studio and dissertation projects will allow you to make use of the knowledge and skills developed in Parts I and IIA.

You also take one compulsory paper:

Professional Skills IV

For further information about this course and the papers you can take see the Department of Architecture website.

Changing course

Students can change to the Architecture course after Year 1.

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.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed are for entry in 2025 or deferred entry in 2026. Entry requirements for 2026 entry or deferred entry in 2027 will be published in May 2025. Check our guidance on choosing high school subjects.

Minimum offer level

A level: A*AA
IB: 41-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level
Other qualifications: Check which other qualifications we accept.

Subject requirements

To apply to any of our Colleges for Design, you will need A levels/IB Higher Levels (or the equivalent) in:

Mathematics (A* at A level/7 at Higher Level)

If you’re studying IB, we ask for Analysis and Approaches for this course. If this isn’t an option at your school, please contact the College you wish to apply to for advice.

If applying to Churchill, you will also need to achieve: A*/7 in Physics, if taken.

Admissions assessment

There is an admission assessment at all Colleges for this course. You do not need to register in advance.

Check the College admission assessments page for more information.

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.

Offers above the minimum requirement

The minimum offer level and subject requirements outline the minimum you'll usually need to achieve to get an offer from Cambridge.

In some cases, you'll get a higher or more challenging offer. Colleges set higher offer requirements for a range of reasons. If you'd like to find out more about why we do this, check the information about offers above the minimum requirement on the entry requirements page.

Some Colleges usually make offers above the minimum offer level. Find out more on our qualifications page.

All undergraduate admissions decisions are the responsibility of the Cambridge Colleges. Please contact the relevant College admissions office if you have any queries.

Next steps

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Visit the Architecture department website - The Department of Architecture has more information about this course, facilities, people and research.

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Design at Cambridge

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Design at Cambridge

Teaching and facilities

Teaching

Facilities

Course costs

Equipment

Field trips

Your future career

Teaching

Assessment

Year 1 (Part IA)

Year 2 (Part IB)

Year 3 (Part IIA)

Year 4 (Part IIB)

Changing course

Minimum offer level

Subject requirements

Admissions assessment

Submitted work

Offers above the minimum requirement

Discover your department or faculty

Explore our Colleges

Visit us on open day

Find out how to apply

Discover Uni data

Contextual information

Key information

Cambridge Admissions Office

About this site

Information for

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge