Architecture with Foundation BA (Hons)

Our degree courses with Foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster.<br/><br/>Whether youre looking to expand your knowledge and skills towards degree-level study, or want to change your subject specialism, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our Foundation year to progress onto full honours degree with us.<br/><br/>Our Foundation year in Architecture and Design offers an introduction to the creative professions that shape the design of interiors, buildings and urban spaces. Through design projects youll learn about the spatial, technical and cultural issues, and develop the grounding skills and creative practices necessary for further study. The first semester begins with an exploration of the design and inhabitation of urban space, followed by a materials and making project based in the Fabrication Laboratory, our outstanding Marylebone campus workshop facility. Running alongside these will be studio and field-based exercises to develop your drawing and creative skills. In the second semester, a project on the design of existing spaces will be followed by the development of a creative work driven by your own interests. Students from the Foundation will have the opportunity to exhibit in the School of Architecture and Cities summer exhibition. Your practical development will be accompanied by modules in both semesters on academic skills in writing and critical thinking.<br/><br/>On successful completion of the Foundation year, youll be able to move on to study for the Architecture BA Honours degree over a further three years of study.<br/><br/>Architecture is a fascinating subject involving wide-ranging academic, practical and vocational activities. It requires creativity and imagination, as well as the inventive employment of environmental and technical knowledge.<br/><br/>Architecture is normally studied with a view to becoming a professional architect, but as it embraces the fields of art, history and science, it also opens doors to a range of postgraduate study options and other forms of career development.<br/><br/>At the heart of our course is a rich choice of design studios, in which students are taught in small groups by current practitioners, reflecting London’s dynamic architecture scene. There are also lecture courses in environmental and technical studies, history and theory of architecture, as well as numerous opportunities to engage with the architecture profession through construction site visits, mentoring and a work placement.<br/><br/>Field trips are offered in the second year and there are opportunities to study abroad, with the most recent destinations including Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and China.

The University of Westminster is a global university in London with a supportive and welcoming community of over 20,000 students from over 160 countries. <br/><br/>Students receive tailored support through personal tutors, mentoring from industry professionals and access to Zone29 - a nine-storey hub for enterprise and career success offering placements, events and one-to-one advice. You can also look forward to opportunities for UK and international travel and free perks like breakfast, gym membership and a wide range of student clubs to support your wellbeing. <br/><br/>Westminster was ranked number 1 in the UK for work-based learning (Forage UK University and Educator Awards 2023) and shortlisted for Best Entrepreneurial Initiative at the London Higher Awards in 2024. They were awarded TEF Silver in the 2023 teaching excellence framework. They have been rated Silver for Student Experience and Student Outcomes, indicating a very high standard in these areas.