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Architecture BArch (Hons)

UCAS code: K100

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  • Level of study:
    Undergraduate
  • Typical offer:
    112 - 120 UCAS tariff points
  • Start date:
    September 2026
  • Duration:
    Three years full-time
  • Attendance:
    Full-time
  • Course delivery:
    On-campus (City Campus)
Architecture students smiling and working on her project.
Information for 2026

About this course

Validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), this creative, project-driven course is designed to help you develop your own design approach and style.

You’ll be exposed to diverse aspects of architectural design, linking sustainability and urban design with business practice. This course will equip you with skills and knowledge to tackle contemporary issues related to the built environment, exploring the design, human, professional and technical influences needed to pursue a successful career in architecture.

Reflecting modern architectural practice, our studio culture encourages you to work collaboratively, share experiences and experiment with ideas. You’ll learn the art of creative communication through drawing, model-making and 3D visualisation in our industry-standard design studios and materials workshops.

Explore the work of our graduating students in our Student Showcase.

Find out how this course compares to BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology and BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design.

  • 4th

    Architecture at NTU is 4th in the UK for the percentage of full-time undergraduate students in graduate level jobs within 15 months of finishing their degrees (latest Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2022/23

  • Exposure to industry

    Benefit from our industry links at our annual NTU Built Environment jobs fair and Annual Architecture Exchange event.

  • Top 3

    Architecture at NTU is Top 3 in England for the percentage of full-time undergraduate students in graduate level jobs within 15 months of finishing their degrees (latest Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2022/23).

  • 5th

    for the number of undergraduate students in Architecture, building and planning (HESA 2024/25).

Over three years, you'll develop the skills, knowledge and experience needed for a successful graduate career. You'll develop a solid foundation of design skills, theory and terminology, before working on complex and demanding projects as your studies progress.

Course accreditations

Professional, statutory and regulatory bodies*

The BArch Architecture at Nottingham Trent University is currently prescribed by the ARB (Architects Registration Board) at Part 1 level for purposes of registration as an Architect in the UK. The ARB is currently revising its requirements for registration, and is removing from its requirements the award of an undergraduate qualification in architecture. The intention of the ARB is that its prescription of Part 1 qualifications will cease on 31st Dec 2027.

Students entering the BArch Architecture course in Sept 2024 who graduate before 31st Dec 2027 will not be affected by this change. Students who take an additional year to complete the course will graduate in June 2028 and will therefore graduate after the proposed end date for ARB prescription at Part 1 and their degree will therefore not be a prescribed ARB award. This will not impact any student’s ability to complete qualification as a UK registered architect, as the ARB will continue to accredit academic awards at master’s level only. The BArch Architecture course is currently, and will continue to be, subject to validation by the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) at Part 1. The RIBA will continue to validate architecture qualifications at Parts 1, 2 and 3 – these are terms developed by the RIBA and its three-part validation pathway forms the typical route to RIBA Chartered Membership.

  • Royal Institute of British Architects logo

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

In Year One, you'll establish foundations in architectural design, communication and representation, contextual studies, technology and environment. You'll develop your creative ability to design in a variety of spatial, cultural and temporal contexts through project work and learn about the mechanisms associated with building production.

Core modules

Your Year Two studies will enable you to integrate your understanding of cultural contexts, technology and environment, and awareness of approaches in allied professions. Your studio projects are interlinked with your other design modules to ensure a truly inter-disciplinary approach.

Core modules

In your Final Year, you'll further develop the creative abilities associated with a holistic approach to architectural design and thought. You'll critically examine a range of related areas, including ethical positions on technological decision-making in the context of global sustainability, human habitation in a multi-cultural world, and engagement with contemporary architectural challenges.

Core modules

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Student experience

  • Becca smiling at the camera outside a building

    Becca Day

    Architecture student

    “NTU provided not only an insightful and creative course but offered such a wide variety of resources and equipment to help me to flourish.”

    Read Becca's profile
  • Nanfe smiling at the camera siting down in a table at a restaurant

    Nanfe Lar

    Architecture student

    “NTU was a great choice for me because of the diversity of culture and experiences that the school offers.”

    Read Nanfe's profile
  • Paria sitting in a desk looking at the camera

    Paria Ahmadi Motlagh

    Architecture student

    “The course staff at NTU are amazing and supportive. When I needed support the course staff were always there to help and guide me. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to study at a university that cares for the well-being of its students.”

    Read Paria's profile

Student Work

Video Gallery

 

How you're taught

You’ll learn through a mix of:

  • lectures - covering the key theories
  • studio projects - working both independently and as groups
  • live briefs - from industry and competitions

Outside of timetabled sessions you will need to undertake self-directed independent study. This will include preparing for lectures, researching, completing coursework, developing a portfolio, and directed reading to expand your knowledge.

Based on 40-hour weeks during term time, you will spend approximately 16 hours per week in scheduled learning.

The course is supported by external professional practitioners, ensuring that your learning is continuously enhanced through exposure to real-world perspective. This includes our guest lecture series, where an industry expert is invited to deliver a talk to expose our students to the work currently happening in architecture practices. You'll also have the opportunity to get involved with our RIBA student mentoring scheme in your final year, working alongside local firms, to develop your skills and knowledge.

Study trips

Field trips and study visits are an important part of your learning. Trips may include site visits and visits to practices, museums, exhibitions and events. Where a trip is mandatory it will be aligned to your modules and inform project work, and substantive costs – including travel and accommodation – will be paid for by the school.

Optional trips may also be organised which can provide additional opportunities to enhance your knowledge and experience. Optional trips will incur an additional cost of approximately £500 for participating students.

A valid passport and any associated visas will be required for trips outside of the UK.

  • 94% of Architecture students are positive about the teaching on their course (NSS 2024).
  • 93% of Architecture students are positive about the academic support on their course (NSS, 2024).

Design studios

Your design studios are a big part of your learning and reflect the approach typically encountered in professional architectural practice. Collaboration is key as you study with your peers to address a range of creative approaches, moral, aesthetic and theoretical positions related to your projects.

Design modules

Design modules are delivered through structured projects, supported by lectures and tutorial, seminars, workshops, peer-to-peer interaction and group reviews. Design projects will vary from academic and theoretical, to live and practical. You'll receive regular feedback on your design work through one-to-one catch-ups, via tutorials, and in public design reviews.

Design-based projects

Design-based projects are supported by our studio environment where you'll work, develop, prepare, display and review your work. As you progress through the course, the materials and model-making facilities you use become more important as you foster a 'learning by making' approach. Some of your projects may be set by our industry partners and based on real sites and briefs, to provide the opportunity to apply your learning, interact with, and present your ideas to professionals.

How you're assessed

People excel in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. You will be assessed through:

  • coursework, including group projects, case studies, research projects and live briefs
  • practical assessments, such as individual presentations of project work

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Around 40 of those hours will be taught in lectures, seminars or practical sessions. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

Who will teach you?

  • Lois Woods

    Lois Woods

    Senior Lecturer

    Dr. Lois Woods is the Course Leader for the BArch (Hons) Architecture undergraduate degree programme.

    Visit Lois Woods's staff profile
  • Guillermo Garma

    Guillermo Garma Montiel

    Principal Lecturer

    Guillermo is module leader of the Interior/Architecture in Context for level one and two and a tutor in the architecture design studio. He is a member of the Architectural Design and Global Difference Research Centre (ADGD) and The Nottingham Science and Technology and Culture Research Group (NSTC).

    Visit Guillermo Garma Montiel's staff profile
  • Tom Hughes

    Tom Hughes

    Senior Lecturer

    Tom brings his professional and academic background to the fore through his teaching across the spectrum of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the Architecture subject group. He particularly contributes his strength in technology and construction systems integration within the MArch course.

    Visit Tom Hughes's staff profile
  • Lindsay Purssord

    Lindsay Purssord

    Senior Lecturer

    Lindsay Purssord is a Senior Lecturer on the BArch and MArch Architecture courses. She also acts as Module Leader for the first-year modules: Design Studio and Architecture in Context

    Visit Lindsay Purssord's staff profile

  • Holly Mills

    Senior Lecturer

    Holly Mills is a lecturer in Architecture and module leader for Architectural Representation & Communication, and for Technology & Environment.

    Visit Holly Mills's staff profile
  • Gavin Richards

    Gavin Richards

    Head of Department

    Gavin Richards is the Head of Architecture in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment.

    Visit Gavin Richards's staff profile
  • Ana Souto

    Ana Souto

    Associate Professor

    Dr Ana Souto is an Associate Professor in Architecture at the School of Architecture, Design and Built Environment.

    Visit Ana Souto's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

  • Standard offer: 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent)
  • Contextual offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent)

Other requirements:

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

International students

Academic entry requirements: 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications. Two of which must be A-level equivalent.  We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

English language requirements:  See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Other requirements

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£9,790 per year

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including NTU bursaries and scholarships.

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees, including the placement year and study abroad options are subject to government policy and may change in future years of study.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but we don’t want you to feel anxious or confused about it. Visit our fees and funding pages if you have any concerns.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.
  • £17,950 per year

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees might increase from the second year of your undergraduate course, in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

Scholarships

We offer international scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for a scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money and the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Material costs for BArch (Hons) Architecture

Students on this course may incur some additional costs as follows:

  • Year 1: Drawing equipment £250 (estimate), printing £100 (estimate) and model making resources £100 (estimate).
  • Year 2: Printing £200 (estimate) and model making resources £150 (estimate).
  • Year 3:  Printing £300 (estimate) and model making resources £250 (estimate).

Our Students’ Union Shop and Bonington Art Shop are great places to pick up drawing and writing equipment at reasonable prices and are located right in the centre of our City Campus.

Student Showcase

In Final Year, the School will provide infrastructure costs for your Student Showcase, including course catalogue and exhibition set-up costs. If you’re selected to exhibit your work at a graduate show in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work, the exhibition stand and event set-up.

Field trips

Field trips and study visits are an important part of your learning. Trips may include site visits and visits to practices, museums, exhibitions and events. Where a trip is mandatory it will be aligned to your modules and inform project work, and substantive costs – including travel and accommodation – will be paid for by the school. Optional trips may also be organised which can provide additional opportunities to enhance your knowledge and experience. Optional trips will incur an additional cost of approximately £500 for participating students. A valid passport and any associated visas will be required for trips outside of the UK. Please note that field trip locations may vary and are subject to availability and change.

Building Blocks financial package

As a student at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, you’ll also benefit from our Building Blocks financial package, which aims to help minimise the additional costs of study, while you’re here at NTU.

What you’ll receive

  • All of the materials needed for induction workshops and activities, working within our workshops and laboratories.
  • Free personal protective equipment (PPE), which usually includes hard-wearing boots, goggles and high-vis vests, to keep you safe on site visits and while working in our workshops.
  • Access to the free professional body accreditation, as appropriate for your course.

IT resources and specialist software

All current students have access to Adobe products on campus via NTU computers such as in the Libraries and specialist computers in the school.

Current students at the university can purchase a single Adobe Creative Cloud licence directly from our online store at a discounted rate. This allows use on personal devices. For 2025/26 this is £49.90. Terms apply, visit the NTU online store for further details.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

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Cost of living in Nottingham
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Our student benefits and free services
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Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

We've got a great track record of producing skilled, industry-ready graduates. Our BArch (Hons) Architecture course is designed to prepare you to take your first step in the architecture industry. Through working on real projects from industry, fieldwork, and creative briefs from industry clients, you'll be equipped with skills and experience to carry with you for the rest of your professional career.

You’ll be encouraged to undertake work experience alongside your studies, to expose you to professional practice and give you hands-on experience of it. You'll also be supported in your development with a final year mentoring programme, working alongside RIBA and local practices including Leonard Design Architects, Buckenham & Co and Franklin Ellis Architects.

Becoming an Architect

Successful completion satisfies the educational requirements needed for your RIBA Part 1 qualification. Following this, you’ll be ready to complete your first year of experience before starting Part 2, on your way to becoming a qualified architect.

Employability team

Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies, and for up to three years after completing your course.

Throughout the year, our Employability team runs a series of events specifically for students studying in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment. This includes our annual Architecture Exchange event which brings together current students and prospective employers for an evening of presentations, round table discussions and networking opportunities. We also run a Property, Design and Construction Fair, offering employers the opportunity to advertise graduate roles to our final year students.

  • Employability Promise

    Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

  • Graduate employers

    Graduates from this course have successful careers in organisations such as:

    • Benoy, Foster + Partners
    • Atelier New York
    • Terry Farrell and Partners
    • Dixon Jones
    • Balfour Beatty
    • PolkeyCollins
    • Peldon Rose Group
    • Virgin Media

  • Our graduates are…

    Graduates from this course now work in a wide range of roles such as:

    • architects
    • architectural assistants
    • architectural designer
    • architectural technicians
    • design team members

  • Assessed work-like experience

    We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.

  • NTU Enterprise

    If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Where your degree could take you

Discover how our students and alumni used their Architecture degree to further their careers. Take a look at our other profiles and explore the possibilities awaiting you.

  • Sam posing in his graduation gown underneath the ADBE sign

    Sam's journey to a Part 1 Architectural Assistant

    Architecture graduate Sam Bray shares his NTU experience, putting pen to paper and exploring design iterations, as well as his first steps into a design career.

    View Sam Bray's profile
  • Madeleine Rutherford Browne

    Madeleine's journey to become a RIBA Chartered Architect

    Architecture graduate Maddie shares her NTU and employment experiences, studying to be a RIBA Chartered Architect and aspirations of completing a masters degree.

    View Madeleine Rutherford Browne's profile

Campus and facilities

As an Architecture student you'll have full access to our dedicated studio space, based in our Grade II* listed Gothic Revival Style Arkwright building. This is where you'll spend the majority of your time studying, supported by our expert team of academic and technical staff.

Our studio is a perfect space for you to develop your skills in sketching, physical model-making and computer software as part of the design process. You'll be introduced to various programmes throughout the course including Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, AutoCAD, Sketchup, REVIT and VRay to complete your work.

Applying

UK students

Apply through UCAS

If your initial application is successful, we’ll then ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

Your portfolio is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your potential as an architect. Take a look at our digital portfolio advice.

Keeping up to date

After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.

Apply through UCAS

International students

You can apply for this course through UCAS.

If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU Applicant Portal.

Your portfolio

If your initial application is successful, we’ll then ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

Your portfolio is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your potential as an architect. Take a look at our digital portfolio advice.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply through UCAS Apply through NTU portal

Personal statement guidance

You’ll submit a personal statement with your UCAS application – here are our tips on what to include and how to structure your personal statement.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on 44 (0)115 848 4200.

Related courses

Student work at 2024 Student Showcase

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Architecture student using a VR headset

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More from this subject

View more courses on the Architecture subject page

Further study

View Architecture postgraduate courses

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