Model buildings and people
Architecture students looking at model buildings
eastern inspired building model
Digital image of an exhibition concept
Student work of a stone sculpture
3D model of a structure

Architecture BA(Hons)

Learn through making on this RIBA and ARB Part 1 accredited course.

Key details
Location
Falmouth Campus
Course duration
3 years
Attendance
Full-time
UCAS code
K100

Course overview

Strike out on your career path to become an architect with this RIBA and ARB Part 1 accredited degree course, which focuses on the interplay between thinking and making to prepare you for professional practice. With access to a dedicated studio environment and well-equipped workshops, you’ll work on live briefs and gain hands-on experience while developing a sustainable, socially engaged approach. You’ll master techniques for understanding places, acquire powerful communication skills and discover how to design for communities and clients in response to environmental issues.

You will:

  • Explore sustainable solutions through radical design challenges and proposals, working without concrete or petrochemical-derived insulation materials and focusing on renewable energy sources
  • Learn in a collaborative, studio-based environment that simulates real-life workspaces
  • Have the opportunity to gain valuable experience through a professional placement
  • Work on socially engaged live-build projects for clients such as the Eden Project and the National Trust
  • Attend guest lectures by industry experts and have the opportunity to secure your own professional placement
  • Access excellent technical facilities, including a range of analogue and digital fabrication processes

The course is ARB part 1 prescribed and RIBA part 1 validated.

RIBA and ARB logos

Course details

BA(Hons) Architecture Course Video

This industry-focused architecture course is taught through integrated design projects where knowledge is discussed and shared in a professional studio environment. Projects range from small-scale, fast-paced challenges to comprehensive design projects, which will allow you to showcase your wide-ranging skills as they develop over the three years of the degree.

You'll apply drawing, 2D and 3D CAD design, model-making, design process and writing to architectural projects, as you develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. On top of sharing your ideas in active debates, you'll learn collaborative and organisational skills with group design projects.

Throughout the Architecture course, we'll prepare you for professional practice; you'll learn the principles of participatory design, allowing you to begin to navigate the complex issues you'll face working in architecture.

Upon completion of your Architecture degree you'll have the ability to define and create critically strategic projects as well as the ability to challenge existing briefs to create architecture that excels in its inclusivity and relevance to the issues that face society today and in the future.

You'll explore the craft of architecture, understand the tectonics of materials and their relationship with each other, and develop a critical understanding of architecture's response to place.

Ultimately, you'll leave us with a set of skills and knowledge that allows you to become a provocateur: entrepreneurial in your thinking and critically reflective in your work

You'll get to grips with the primary skills and language of architecture as you apply practical and conceptual skills to develop user-centred design outcomes. During your first year, you'll begin to understand how projects are formulated and the best and varied ways to start to communicate architectural intentions. You'll consider space and light in architectural composition and gain a basic understanding of different structural approaches to building. We'll equip you with an overview of context, history and theory, paying special attention to the unique history of Cornwall. By the end of the year, you'll begin to formulate an ethical and aesthetic position in relation to the architectural profession.

Modules

Place

You'll look into issues of locality, materiality and identity.

People

User-centred design and introduction to core skills of drawing/model making.

Community

You'll explore issues of collective living and working.

Structure

Exploration of how ‘things' work and are made.

You'll develop your technical and conceptual skills as you take on larger-scale design projects. On top of considering the environmental issues in sustainable development, you'll explore 'housing' in the broadest sense. We'll also encourage you to take on Erasmus exchanges and placements. During this second year of your Architecture degree, you'll develop confidence in the application of technical information and gain an understanding of the statutory requirements of professional practice. You'll learn to create designs that respond to the varied needs of users and continue developing a personal ethical basis for design decisions, with emphasis on client needs and concern for both natural and built environments.

Modules

Context

Larger scale design projects.

Environment

Issues of sustainable development.

Habitation

'Housing' in the broader sense.

Practice

Professional practice context and work experience opportunity.

An independent exploratory project will test your definition of what architecture is or can be, supported by a critical and theoretical view in your dissertation. You'll then complete the course with a comprehensive major project highlighting all your skills. By the end of the year, you'll be a strong communicator who is able to recognise your own strengths and weaknesses in order to maximise your opportunities. You'll also be able to demonstrate a rigorous and comprehensive level of architectural design ability that meets the ARB Part 1 Graduate Attributes.

Modules

Independent Exploratory Project

Experimental exploration of architecture derived from its environment.

Dissertation

Written critically reflective presentation of architectural and contextual history and theory.

Final Major Project

Comprehensive design project.

The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.

Aerial view of the Centre for Life on Scilly on the Isles of Scilly
Architecture_2022

Stories from our community

Explore student projects, graduate successes, staff news and industry insights

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Architecture graduate receives Serjeant Award for Excellence in Architectural Drawing

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Falmouth Architecture BA(Hons) graduate Nathan Tipping-Stevenson has been named as a recipient of on...

Architecture graduate receives Serjeant Award for Excellence in Architectural Drawing
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Centre for Life on Scilly

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Students from the BA(Hons) Architecture course at Falmouth University have been working in collabora...

Centre for Life on Scilly
Examples of final projects
SADI Final Review 2020 projects

Expert panel for Architecture Final Review

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BA Architecture welcomed an expert panel of industry specialists to their third year final review re...

Expert panel for Architecture Final Review
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Architecture students had a virtual visit from Brickfield recently to share their insights on making...

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Architecture design by graduate Freddie Hutchinson
Architecture design by graduate Freddie Hutchinson
One of Freddie's degree show designs

Hands-on Experience for Graduate

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Architecture graduate Freddie Hutchinson is working as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant at Foster an...

Hands-on Experience for Graduate
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Nina Jones

Graduate Champions Sustainable Building

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With plans to start her own practice in Cornwall, to revolutionise architecture in local c...

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Architecture students recently welcomed Sustainability Consultant Toby Cambray to Falmouth. Toby ...

Award-winning Consultant Visits Falmouth
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First year Architecture students are gaining valuable industry experience in a live-build project wi...

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Will Bingley

Graduates' Cornish Projects Shortlisted for Coveted Architect Awards

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Nina Jones and Will Bingley, who graduated with BA(Hons) Architecture last month, have been shortlis...

Graduates' Cornish Projects Shortlisted for Coveted Architect Awards
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web story - Nina Jones architecture win
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Student Wins Architecture Design Award

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Architecture student Nina Jones has won the Open Award at the Architects for Health (AfH) Student De...

Student Wins Architecture Design Award
BB - group on campus

Beacon Benches: Architecture Students Collaborate with Community

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First year students from BA(Hons) Architecture have been working with the local community to create ...

Beacon Benches: Architecture Students Collaborate with Community
BB - group on campus

Beacon Benches: Architecture Students Collaborate with Community

10 June 2019

First year students from BA(Hons) Architecture have been working with the local community to create ...

Beacon Benches: Architecture Students Collaborate with Community
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Architecture Students Design Sustainable Bio Houses

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Architecture Students Design Sustainable Bio Houses
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Architecture Students Design Sustainable Bio Houses

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Designing a house is one thing, designing a completely new sustainable community for the future is a...

Architecture Students Design Sustainable Bio Houses
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"A Perfect Blend of Logic and Creativity" - web story
Jessica Fairlie

"A Perfect Blend of Logic and Creativity"

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Architecture has always been in Jessica Fairlie's blueprint but discovering what she loved didn't al...

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Titanic Collaboration with the Maritime Museum

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Falmouth University staff and students have assisted in the creation of two replica lifeboats for th...

Titanic Collaboration with the Maritime Museum
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How you'll learn

From our studio-based learning environment to placements, industry visits and competition briefs, your project work will connect you with local, national and international issues.

You'll take part in active debates and group design projects, and visit local building sites, stonemasons, shipyards and sculptors. You'll even engage in design and build construction as you develop a practical understanding that will support your future career.

At Falmouth, we use a 'digitally enhanced learning & teaching' approach. Your experience will always be predominantly in-person, including seminars, tutorials and studio teaching, with some, more targeted elements, being online either live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous). You can read more here.

Falmouth University Architecture student working at a desk, wearing a blue shirt
Architecture student working at desk

How you'll be assessed

100% of your assessment will be coursework.

Assessment methods

  • Verbal and visual presentations to core teaching staff, visiting critics and your peers.
  • Formative feedback is continuous throughout the studio-based modules whilst summative assessment takes place to provide you with structured feedback to help your work develop.
  • Final-year projects and dissertation.

Facilities

  • Dedicated workshops featuring 3D and bronze casting foundry, printmaking, paint preparation, laser cutting and rapid prototyping.
  • Digital imaging.
  • Studio accommodation.
  • Video and photography.
  • Library with 140,000 books, 17,000 DVDs/videos, and over 400 journal titles.
  • Archives including radio, slides, pictures and maps.

Student working in metal work studio
Art Facilities_01

Art & Design Facilities

Primarily located at the Falmouth Campus in a subtropical garden, our studios and workshop facilitie...

Art & Design Facilities
Library facilities
Library facilities

Library Facilities

Offering extensive collections, our two libraries provide a wealth of digital resources, magazines, ...

Library Facilities
Falmouth University Sports Centre building exterior with blue sky and a path
Sports Centre - Outside
Sports Centre

Sports Centre

Our Sports Centre, on Penryn Campus, includes a spacious gym with up to 90 of the latest, new statio...

Sports Centre

Staff

You’ll be taught by qualified architects alongside practitioners from fields like structures, services, conservation, law, planning, landscape, business, and management. With industry and academic experience, they ensure compliance with the latest regulatory frameworks and practice.

Tanya Griffiths profile picture

Tanya Griffiths

Course Leader, Architecture BA(Hons)

Tanya Griffiths is a Chartered Architect with over 25 years practice experience working in senior an...

Tanya Griffiths

Janie Hinton

Lecturer in Architecture

I am a qualified architect, a member of the ARB and RIBA, and I have worked in practice for twenty y...

Janie Hinton
Mark Innes staff profile

Mark Innes

Lecturer

Part-time lecturer at Falmouth since 2016. On-going occasional teaching at Dessau International Grad...

Mark Innes
Laurence North staff photo

Laurence North

Senior Lecturer

I joined Falmouth University in 1991, I have taught across a number of courses including Art and Des...

Laurence North
Tiago Costa staff profile

Dr Tiago Pinto da Costa

Senior Lecturer

Dr Tiago Pinto da Costa is an international architect born in Porto - Portugal, registered within th...

Dr Tiago Pinto da Costa
headshot

Sarah Riviere

Senior Lecturer, Architecture BA(Hons)

An architect, teacher and architectural researcher specialising in the design of residential and soc...

Sarah Riviere

Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.

Careers

Our award-winning graduates are being recognised by RIBA and designing on projects that look to a more sustainable future for our world. Our Architecture graduates have worked at:

  • Adjaye Associates, London
  • Foster + Partners, London
  • BHSF, Zurich
  • Kast Architects, Cornwall
  • Lilly Lewarne Architects, Cornwall

How to apply

Ready to join us? You can apply for September 2024 through UCAS. You'll need to reference the course and University code (F33).

Apply via UCAS

Course route UCAS code
Architecture BA(Hons) three year degree K100

We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.  

Course route Entry requirements
BA(Hons) three year degree

104 - 120 UCAS Tariff points

GCSE Mathematics Grade 4 (C)

UCAS Tariff points will primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, T Levels, a BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma. Applicants should have GCSE Mathematics Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.

Check how many points your qualifications are worth

For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent. 

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.  

If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you may need to take a recognised language test. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.

For starting your studies in 2024

UK applications: 31 January 2024 (for equal consideration)

Applications after the 31 January will be considered on a first-come, first-served as long as there are places available. Apply for this course now.

International fee payers

International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.

Fees, costs & funding

Tuition fees for September 2024 entry

Annual tuition fee Student
£9,250 per year Full-time UK
£17,950 per year Full-time EU/international

Tuition fees for September 2025 will be confirmed in summer 2024.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible. 

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

Typical course costs

  • £450 - Recurring annual costs
  • Approx £1500 - One-off costs for the course duration (laptop, external drive and essential equipment)
  • £400-£450 - Yearly study visits (optional)

If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.

Ask a student

What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students?

From course details and academic support, to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.

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