Architecture BA(Hons)
Learn through making on this RIBA and ARB Part 1 accredited course.
Course overview
While supported by practising professionals, you’ll define your own agenda within a broad architectural context. You’ll work on live briefs in a studio environment to hone your design skills and gain hands-on experience of building real architectural projects.
You’ll discover how to design specifically for unique places, in harmony with challenging locations and in response to environmental issues. As you work, you’ll gain valuable industry skills in preparation to launch a successful career.
You will:
- Explore environmental solutions through radical design challenges and proposals, working without concrete, petrochemical-derived insulation materials and non-renewable energy sources to heat and cool buildings
- Learn in a collaborative, studio based environment that reflects 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 from specialists across the industry
- Access excellent technical facilities to explore your design projects through a range of analogue and digital fabrication processes
The course is ARB part 1 prescribed and RIBA part 1 validated.
Course details
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 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.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details.
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.
How you'll spend your time
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study | Placements |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 30% | 70% | 0% |
2 | 28% | 63% | 9% |
3 | 18% | 82% | 0% |
How you'll be assessed
Year | Written exams | Practical exams | Coursework |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
2 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
3 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Assessment methods
- No formal exams, all work is assessed through coursework.
- 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.
What our students do
Student claims the Architects’ Journal Prize
26 July 2021
BA(Hons) Architecture student Louis Domville-Musters has outperformed some of the finest young archi...
Centre for Life on Scilly
27 May 2020
Students from the BA(hons) Architecture course at Falmouth University have been working in collabora...
Expert panel for Architecture Final Review
15 May 2020
BA Architecture welcomed an expert panel of industry specialists to their third year final review re...
Have Clay, Make Bricks
09 April 2020
Architecture students had a virtual visit from Brickfield recently to share their insights on making...
Timber Talks
03 April 2020
Architecture students regularly benefit from workshops with speakers who share their knowledge and e...
Award-winning Consultant Visits Falmouth
30 December 2019
Architecture students recently welcomed Sustainability Consultant Toby Cambray to Falmouth. Toby ...
Architecture Students Create Structure for National Trust
25 October 2019
First year Architecture students are gaining valuable industry experience in a live-build project wi...
Student Wins Architecture Design Award
02 July 2019
Architecture student Nina Jones has won the Open Award at the Architects for Health (AfH) Student De...
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 ...
Architecture Students Design Sustainable Bio Houses
04 June 2019
Designing a house is one thing, designing a completely new sustainable community for the future is a...
Titanic Collaboration with the Maritime Museum
23 May 2018
Falmouth University staff and students have assisted in the creation of two replica lifeboats for th...
Leading Architect Visits Falmouth
15 May 2018
The School of Architecture, Design & Interiors will be hosting Shard architect William Matthews ...
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.
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.
Tom Ebdon
Course Leader
Tom Ebdon joined Falmouth University in 2014 to head up the new BA(Hons) Architecture course. A...
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...
Mark Innes
Lecturer
Part-time lecturer at Falmouth since 2016. On-going occasional teaching at Dessau International Grad...
Laurence North
Senior Lecturer
I joined Falmouth University in 1991, I have taught across a number of courses including Art and Des...
Dr Tiago Pinto da Costa
Senior Lecturer
Dr Tiago Pinto da Costa is an international architect born in Porto - Portugal, registered within th...
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.
Art & Design Facilities
Primarily located at the Falmouth Campus in a subtropical garden, our studios and workshop facilitie...
Library Facilities
Offering extensive collections, our two libraries provide a wealth of digital resources, magazines, ...
Sports Centre
Our Sports Centre, on Penryn Campus, includes a spacious gym with up to 90 of the latest, new statio...
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 graduates have worked at:
- Adjaye Associates, London
- Foster + Partners, London
- BHSF, Zurich
- Kast Architects, Cornwall
- Lilly Lewarne Architects, Cornwall
Hands-on Experience for Graduate
31 January 2020
Architecture graduate Freddie Hutchinson is working as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant at Foster an...
Graduate Champions Sustainable Building
20 January 2020
With plans to start her own practice in Cornwall, to revolutionise architecture in local c...
Graduates' Cornish Projects Shortlisted for Coveted Architect Awards
02 August 2019
Nina Jones and Will Bingley, who graduated with BA(Hons) Architecture last month, have been shortlis...
"A Perfect Blend of Logic and Creativity"
08 February 2019
Architecture has always been in Jessica Fairlie's blueprint but discovering what she loved didn't al...
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
Ready to join us? You can apply for September 2022 through Clearing or for September 2023 through UCAS Apply and Track. You'll need to reference the course and University code (F33).
Applying as an international student?
International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our International applications page.
| Course route | UCAS code |
|---|---|
| Architecture BA(Hons) three year degree | K100 |
Application advice & interview information
Go to ToolkitWe 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 |
120 - 136 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.
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'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.
For starting your studies in 2022
UK applications: 26 January 2022 (for equal consideration)
Applications after the 26 January will be considered on a first-come, first-served as long as there are places available. Apply for this course now.
For starting your studies in 2023
UK applications: 25 January 2023 (for equal consideration)
Applications after the 25 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.
What we're looking for
We want someone who:
- Has observational and developmental drawing abilities.
- Shows clear communication skills.
- Has a critical understanding and contextual awareness of drawing and the visual arts.
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