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Architecture

Entry requirements


A level

A,B,B

Any subject.

Considered on an individual basis.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

5 GCSEs at grade 4 / C or above to include Art and Design, English and Mathematics.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

34

Any subject.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

Any subject.

UCAS Tariff

128

[1] 4 qualifications for tariff points allowed [2] May also include AS level and EPQ [3] Specific subject not required

You may also need to…

Attend an interview

Present a portfolio

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Architecture

Architecture remains one of the most enjoyable and rewarding professions; in designing new spaces and buildings around our everyday lives and needs, you will be challenged intellectually, artistically and creatively.

Additional key points:

* You can make a major positive contribution to society by shaping our environment and surroundings, leaving a lasting impact and legacy.

* Professionally accredited by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA1), this course adopts a hands-on approach to learning with a focus on imagination, communication and context. We run skills sessions to support drawing and model making as an integral part of studio work.

* Coventry is ranked as the 17th Best University in the UK for Architecture in the Guardian University Guide 2023. Our graduates can be found working in leading architectural practices, including Aedas RHWL, Faulkner Browns Architects, C.F. Møller Architects and Schmidt Hammer Lassen.

**Key Course Benefits**

This innovative course has been designed to respond to the challenges of the environmental, economic and social climate of the early 21st century. Coventry is a vibrant, connected city, internationally known for its Centre of Trust, Peace and Social Relations.
* Based in the School of Art and Design, the course instinctively draws expertise from the wide range of creative disciplines on offer. We believe in collaboration – merging studies in art, history and theory, studio and tectonics – providing opportunities to connect with architects, engineers and built environment professionals.

* Centred around studio practice, teaching will encompass design, technology, cultural contexts and communication, together with professional practice. We will aim to develop your understanding of the relationship between global issues, local context and the reality of architecture.You will be taught by current staff with significant professional experience, having previously worked in Austria, Argentina, Ghana, Uganda, Nepal and the UK. They have worked in conservation, healthcare, education and housing on commercial, residential, community-led participatory projects, and some are competition winning architects! (staffing subject to change)

* We currently have strong links with a growing network of West Midlands practices including IDP Group and Design Buro, many of whom provide input to course management and development as current members of our Architecture Advisory Board.

* We work with the RIBA West Midlands through the student mentoring scheme which provides potential placement opportunities for students, and are part of the new initiative ‘Learn It, Earn it’ which connects students directly with practitioners through a series of talks each year. These industry connections also provide potential opportunities for professional placements and collaborative projects. Previously, students have worked with organisations including Theatre Absolute, The Centre for Peace and Reconciliation and Coventry Canal Trust*.

*For further information please check the course page on the Coventry University website

Modules

Year One

The first year introduces you to the fundamentals of architecture including design, technology, communication and cultural context, with a look at the history and theory of architecture. We will teach you methods of hand drawing, sketching, model making and orthographic drawing as generators of creative exploration.

Modules
Construction and Environmental Fundamentals
Experimental Design and Communication
Spatial Design
Material Cultures and Histories
Digital Skills 1

Year Two
In the second year, you will have the opportunity to consider the importance of the tectonics of architecture and explore the wider holistic contextual implications of emerging contemporary urban planning. You should start to make informed choices about materials, structure and environmental design, using 3D modelling and digital drawing software as a tool for architectural exploration.

Modules
Assembly and Environmental Systems
Urban Design and Communication
Residential Design
Architectural and Cultural Critiques
Digital Skills 2

Placement Year
There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement* can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee* of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Final Year
The final year consolidates the modules taught in the previous years and provides an opportunity to undertake a comprehensive design project that incorporates the core subjects of design, technology and environment and reflects your own emerging design philosophy.

You will focus on the whole design process on a brief directly related to the city of Coventry and the urban fabric. For example, past students have worked on a Council House for the city and the Centre of Peace and Reconciliation.

Modules
Design, Planning and Ethics
Contemporary Debates and Research
Interdisciplinary Collaborative Project
Comprehensive Design
Applied Construction and Environmental Sciences

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated. Before accepting any offers, please check the website for the most up to date course content. For full module details please check the course page on the Coventry University website.
*For further information please check the course page on the Coventry University website

Assessment methods

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include:

practical or project work
coursework
essays
individual assignments
presentations
group work

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Coventry University

Department:

School of Art and Design

Read full university profile

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.

88%
Architecture

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

85%
Staff make the subject interesting
87%
Staff are good at explaining things
81%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
73%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

65%
Library resources
88%
IT resources
81%
Course specific equipment and facilities
71%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

75%
UK students
25%
International students
57%
Male students
43%
Female students
76%
2:1 or above
19%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
B
B

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.

£18,000
low
Average annual salary
97%
med
Employed or in further education
59%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

53%
Draughtspersons and related architectural technicians
23%
Architects, town planners and surveyors
4%
Business, research and administrative professionals

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.

£26k

£26k

£35k

£35k

£35k

£35k

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.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
Cardiff University | Cardiff
Architecture
BSc (Hons) 5 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 136-144
Same University
Coventry University | Coventry
Architectural Technology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112

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Course location and department:

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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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here