Architecture BSc
On the Architecture BSc you are supported to develop your own architectural vision. You learn through drawing, making and collaboration in a vibrant studio community, while building your knowledge of architecture and professional practice.
Key information
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAB
- Subjects
- Comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4
Contextual offer
- Grades
- BBC
- Subjects
- Comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4
At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- Points
- 36
- Subjects
- A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5. No specific subjects are required but a comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 30
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5. No specific subjects are required but a comprehensive portfolio of creative work required upon invitation, at application stage.
The English language level for this programme is: Level 1
Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education.
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who do not have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
About this course
Innovative design ideas grow from curiosity, experimentation and play. On the Architecture BSc you build your approach to architecture and design through studio-based learning, where you test and develop ideas through drawing, model-making, and portfolio building. You learn how architecture connects to people, place and society, supported by lectures and seminars that explore the contexts and issues shaping architectural practice.
From your second year you join a Bartlett Design Unit, a small studio community led by practising architects and specialist tutors. Each unit has its own design agenda, giving you space to develop your own interests and work with themes that link architecture to subjects such as craft, film, history, urbanism, philosophy and science. You learn in a supportive studio environment shaped by collaboration, with regular tutorials and generous feedback. The studio culture encourages experimentation, peer-to-peer learning and critical thinking in an environment that is both rigorous and welcoming.
Alongside your studio projects you study technology, history and theory, and professional practice. These modules build your understanding of climate, environment and spatial justice and help you connect design thinking with the wider role of architecture.
Field trips are an important part of your experience. You visit case study buildings and studios on an international fieldtrip in your first year, and Design Units offer optional field trips to relevant sites in Year 2 and Year 3.
This course is for students interested in space, design and the role architecture plays in shaping society and the environment. We welcome applicants with a keen interest in arts and sciences, who are motivated to learn through creative exploration, critical thinking and problem-solving. You will thrive if you are curious about how spaces are shaped, enjoy thinking critically about design, and want to contribute to society through thoughtful, innovative and imaginative architectural work.
Course structure
Year 1 comprises five compulsory modules, centred on studio-based Design Projects. These introduce the core skills of observation, design process, critical thinking and representation, emphasising individual and collective expression of ideas through drawing, portfolio, modelling and 1:1 making. This is supported by lectures and workshop-led modules on environmental, structural and material design technology, the making of cities and the built environment, the history of cities and their architecture.
In Years 2 and 3, the Design Projects are developed in a studio environment where you will join one of our 14 Design Units led by highly experienced tutors. Each design unit has a specific architectural agenda allowing you to develop personal architectural interests and to work with architecture to develop individual portfolios in relation to subjects as diverse as craft, film, history, philosophy and science. In addition, you take core modules in design technology, history and theory, and professional practice engaging your awareness of issues of climate, environment and spatial justice and the role of the architect.
Modules
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
Compulsory modules
- Historical and Cultural Developments of Cities and their Architecture (BARC0085)
- Environmental Design (BARC0086)
- Structure, Materials and Forming Techniques (BARC0087)
- Project Work IA (BARC0088)
- Project Work IB (BARC0089)
- Project Work IC (BARC0090)
- Project Work ID (BARC0091)
- Making Cities: The Production of the Built Environment (BARC0092)
The course is based in the studio, and the majority is taught through individual design projects. Most of the design teaching is on a one-to-one or small group weekly tutorial basis with frequent review sessions with tutors, many of whom are also practicing architects. History and theory, professional studies, and technology core modules support the design work and are taught in lectures, seminars and workshops.
You have the opportunity to undertake an optional field trip in each year of the degree, to inform and inspire your design projects through cultural visits, organised tours and site-related work. Field trips offer insights into different parts of the world and widen your perspective on architecture design and critical thinking. In the past, students have been given access to seminal buildings, establish links with local practices, universities and creative institutions, visit extraordinary landscapes such as quarries and forests, tours of factories and other cutting edge manufacturing facilities, and much more.
70% of the course is taught through a series of design projects and assessed through the design portfolio. The history and theory, professional studies and technology modules are assessed through a combination of coursework, essays and examination.
Contact hours vary across the degree as students move towards greater independence in their learning. In Year 1, students typically have around 13 hours per week of taught sessions, including studio tutorials, lectures and workshops. This gradually reduces to around six hours per week in Year 2 and five hours per week in Year 3, reflecting the increasing focus on independent studio work. Alongside taught sessions, students spend approximately 30–35 hours per week developing design projects, making models, researching and working in the studio, supported by regular feedback, peer learning and access to facilities.
The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
| Study mode | UK fee (2026/27) | Overseas fee (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | £9,790 | £35,400 |
UK undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are subject to parliamentary approval and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases. Fees for 2027/28 entry will be published in August 2026.
International undergraduate students benefit from a cohort guarantee unless indicated below, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.
International fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2026/27 entrants.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
Architecture students can expect to incur additional costs as part of their course; however, the school aims to minimise these where possible. All students work differently so costs incurred depend on the approach they take to the brief given. The school encourages students to use recycled materials in their models and presentations – not only is it sustainable but also cost effective and potentially innovative.
The average cost for materials and study-related items, including end of year portfolios and model fabrication, is up to £750 in the first year and up to £1250 in the subsequent years of study depending on the individual students’ design methodology and processes.
Students have the opportunity to undertake an optional field trip in each year of the degree. The estimated cost of the trip is £600, up to a maximum of £750 total depending on the destination. A £250 subsidy is provided by the school. Students who choose to attend may need to pay an additional amount of up to £500 maximum.
For in-person teaching, UCL's main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1–2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2026. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
In our faculty, The Bartlett Promise Scholarship aims to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in the built environment to pursue undergraduate studies. Please see the UK Undergraduate Scholarship page for more information on eligibility criteria, selection process and FAQs
Why study this course at UCL?
The UCL Bartlett School of Architecture, recognised worldwide for creativity and innovation. We are ranked first in the world for Architecture and the Built Environment studies (QS World University Rankings by subject 2026). As an Architecture BSc student, you join a global community of students learning how to practise architecture and imaginatively apply design skills.
You study in a studio culture that encourages experimentation, collaboration and critical thinking. Design teaching is led by practising architects, designers and academics who bring current industry insight into your learning and support you in developing your own design approach.
You work with specialist facilities, including the Bartlett’s B-Made workshop. B-Made merges craft, manufacturing, science and technology, giving you space to experiment with materials and processes. It supports your projects from concept through to completion, with access to tools such as laser cutting, 3D printing, advance robotic systems and much more, all supported by experienced technical staff.
Your work is exhibited in our world-renowned Bartlett Summer Show. This annual London exhibition draws over 14,000 visitors from the built environment, the university community and the wider public, giving you the chance to showcase your work and connect with those shaping the future of the field. Our digital exhibition expands the reach to a global audience.
London is ranked the best city for students in the UK and Europe (QS Best Student Cities 2026). The city gives you immediate access to contemporary architecture, heritage spaces and the cultural institutions that enrich your learning. You can access libraries, archives and galleries across the city and engage with professional bodies, supported by the Bartlett’s partnerships with practices and cultural organisations.
Discover Uni
To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.
What this course will give you
The Architecture BSc develops a strong set of design, technical and professional skills that are valued across architecture, design and the wider built environment. You develop strong abilities in drawing, model-making and using industry-standard software for design and visual communication. Studio work builds your confidence in developing proposals, solving problems creatively, collaborating with others and managing projects. You also gain transferable skills in research, writing, organisation and communication.
Throughout the course you engage with practising architects, designers and visiting professionals, and benefit from The Bartlett’s links with London practices and cultural organisations. Talks, exhibitions and events across the school help you build insight, networks and confidence for your future career.
Learn more about careers in architecture.
Architecture BSc graduates go on to careers in architecture, construction, the built environment and property sectors, as well as in film, performance, creative arts, engineering and manufacturing. Many continue their training towards becoming registered architects by gaining experience in practice and then progressing to a two-year MArch or similar master’s in architecture.
Graduates have secured roles in leading practices such as Foster + Partners, WilkinsonEyre, Grimshaw Architects, Hawkins\Brown and Populous (Graduate Outcomes Survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of graduates in the 2017–2023 cohorts).
Professional accreditation
The usual route to becoming an architect in the UK includes professionally accredited undergraduate study, postgraduate study, a period of practical work experience, and a final examination before registering with the Architects Registration Board (ARB).
In the past, the ARB prescribed undergraduate architecture degrees as part of the route to becoming a registered architect. This has now changed across the UK, and from 2028 onwards, an undergraduate degree in architecture (Part 1) will not be an essential requirement for registration. Students will be able to qualify as architects by progressing to ARB-accredited master’s study and continuing through the professional pathway to registration in the UK. You can learn more on the ARB student information webpage.
This course is validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). This means you gain exemption from RIBA Part 1 on graduation.
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Register nowRegister your interest
Register your interest in undergraduate study and become part of the UCL community.
Register nowHow to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Once we have established that you meet or are likely to meet our entry requirements, we will contact you to request a digital portfolio of your design or creative work, giving you instructions on how to prepare this. Please do not send this unless requested to do so. This need not be included in your initial application. You may then be invited to interview. If so, this will be conducted online using Zoom.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Apply for this course
You are applying for the Architecture BSc course. For application guidance please visit Application guidelines.Course starts: September 2027
UCAS applications open for 2027 entry on 12 May 2026.
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Bartlett School of Architecture
Click to email. bartlett.ug-bsa@ucl.ac.ukUCL is regulated by the Office for Students.
