BA (Hons) Architecture

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BA (Hons) Architecture

Norwich University of the Arts BA (Hons) Architecture is currently prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB), subject to periodic review, for the purposes of entry onto the United Kingdom Register of Architects. The prescription of this qualification will be due for renewal by 27 November 2025 as part of the review cycle.

Accredited by:

You have the opportunity to study architecture in an art school environment at NUA, developing professional skills in a creative community where improving the world around us through innovative and responsible design is our primary focus.

A distinctive combination of imagination and exploration, research and critical evaluation will be at the centre of your approach to the built environment.

You will acquire skills in technical aspects of spatial design using a variety of traditional and contemporary techniques, from drawing and model-making to 3D digital design.

Purposeful design

We value creativity and user-focused, purposeful architectural design. We’ll challenge your preconceptions about the built environment. You’ll explore how people inhabit and use space and the importance of users and communities in the design process. The starting point is understanding people, proportions and how humans use spaces.

You’ll then move into increasingly complex design projects based on actual sites – developing new ways of thinking that will guide your response to locations and client briefs.

Awards and accolades

Recent graduates have been selected for RIBA East Awards and the TRADA University Challenge.

Insight from professional architects

Our close links to the profession will give you an opportunity to meet and learn from our regional partners, including:

Field trips and site visits will help you develop your observational and design skills in a mix of cultural contexts.

Graduates work in a broad range of careers including

Architect
Architectural Assistant
Designer
Project Manager
Site Manager
Surveyor
Architectural Technician
Consultant
CAD Renderer

Product Designer
Town Planner
Architectural Historian Conservationist
Environmental Consultant Architectural Curator
Model Maker
Landscape Designer
Construction Journalist

You’ll also get specialist creative careers advice from our team in the Ideas FactoryNUA to help support you as you plan your career.

Course information

Institution code: N39
Course 3 Year UCAS code: K100
Course 4 Year UCAS code: K101
Course length: 3 or 4 year options
Sandwich courses: Creative Professional Development (1 year, Level 5 diploma), or Creative Computing (1 year, Level 5 diploma), available between years 2 & 3

All courses run as a blend of on-campus and digital teaching and learning, and follow current UK government safety advice. Applicants and students will be notified directly if any changes need to be made.

Course specifications
Three year degree
Four year degree
Course related costs

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Order a prospectus

Course content

Year 1
Explore the fundamentals of design and construction utilising a variety of drawing, photographic and modelling techniques
Examine the cultural contexts of historical and contemporary architecture using the local environment as a rich source of research
Integrate structural, environmental and material considerations into your design strategies
Establish a solid grounding in research techniques as a basis for your practice.

Year 2
Develop and refine your propositions through increasingly complex design briefs
Study user needs in relation to the aesthetic and technical requirements of a built environment
Explore structural and environmental design considerations
Investigate a range of research, critical and conceptual tools for project development and planning
Examine the social context of architecture, drawing on theories from other disciplines such as philosophy, cultural geography and fine arts.

Year 3
Undertake complex analyses of specific urban environments to formulate proposals for regeneration and development
Apply your creative vision and applied knowledge to a large scale architectural proposal and Research Report
Consolidate your work into a collaborative visual display and comprehensive portfolio as a basis for representing and promoting your practice.

Student work

Tap to expand

The Crank - 3D render of 'The Crank', an indoor cycling arena, by BA Architecture student Andrew Johnson

Timeless: The Mills Hotel & Auction - Technical cross section drawing of a building in a watercolour style by BA Architecture student Conrad Areta

Shotwell Sports Centre - A 3D architectural render by BA Architecture student Bahlen Hassan, showing an elevated view of a modern sports centre

Shotwell Sports Centre - An architectural drawing by BA Architecture student Bahlen Hassan, showing a cross section of a sports centre. The drawing depicts people on a climbing wall and moving throughout the building.

Growing East - A cross section of a new development in Hull, by BA Architecture student Kate Carlsen

Smokehouse Music Hub - An axonometric render of a music venue by BA Architecture student Morgan Radford.

Timeless: The Mills Hotel & Auction - A photorealistic architectural render of a modern glass and greenery filled building by BA Architecture student Conrad Areta

NUA Students Union building - Architectural illustration for a concept of the NUA Students Union building, by BA Architecture student Caitlin Meier. The building has a pointed roof and is glass fronted, with a perforated structure blending the interior and exterior

Lifeguard Tower - A technical drawing of pyramid-like lifeguard tower, inspired by fishing trawlers. By BA Architecture student Bradley Fletcher

Bench - A model of an outdoor sheltered seating area, made from laser cut pieces of wood, by BA Architecture student Sean Hendley

Crematorium - A technical drawing of a crematorium concept by BA Architecture student Chanti Clark

Norwich Storytelling Centre - An architectural 3D render by BA Architecture student Valeria Golban, for her concept for Norwich Storytelling Centre

The Children of Belfast - Architectural concept drawing in black and grey

Samuel Roe - Architectural designs by Sam Roe

Isaac Read - Wooden prototype of a building structure

Isaac Read - Wooden prototype of a building structure by Isaac Read

The Life Line, City within City - Collage concept of a building plan

Daniel Walford - Drawn concepts of a building complex

Rujena Begum - Drawn plans for the exterior of a building

Rafael Ramos - Drawn plans for the structure of a building

Halima Haruna - Architectural concept illustrations

Blair Luther-Veith - Illustrated concept for a building complex

Visit the Degree Show website

Entry requirements
Portfolio guidance
Fees & funding
Level 5 Diplomas
Four year degree

Typical UK offers

Candidates should have achieved GCSE passes at Grade 4/C or above in English, Maths and a Science subject.

A / AS Levels – GCE
3 A-level qualifications at grades BBB. Where candidates are not taking 3 A-levels, NUA will consider combinations of A-level/AS-level and other Level 3 qualifications.

BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit in an art, design or media related subject

BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction*, Distinction* in an art, design or media related subject

T Levels
A T Level in any subject with overall grade Merit or above

UAL Extended Diploma
Merit

UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Merit

UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass

Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Merit

Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass

International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 27 points

NUA welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through your portfolio, responses to questions asked and personal statement, so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.

If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.

If the qualification that you are studying is not shown, do not worry as we are able to accept other pre-entry qualifications as well as combinations of different qualifications. Please do contact our Student Recruitment Team if you have any queries.

International applications

We accept qualifications from all over the world. To find our entry requirements from a specific country, please check our dedicated international pages.

Most international students are required to hold an English language qualification. Applicants are required to have a minimum UKVI approved IELTS exam score of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each section. Equivalent English language qualifications are acceptable such as, IB English language syllabus A or B/English Literature (Grade 4).

We also accept some alternative English qualifications. Learn more about our English entry requirements.

You can email us on international@nua.ac.uk if you’d like to discuss your application individually.

BA (Hons) Architecture portfolio guidance

Your portfolio should be relevant to this course, but you can include a wide range of work that shows your creativity, technical competence and understanding of space.

You may wish to include some of the following:

2-Dimensional creative work such as drawings, sketches, collages, paintings, photographs or illustrations that demonstrate technical ability and creativity. Try to include a wide range of different media and show work which demonstrates a variety of skills such as observational, landscape, life, perspective, architectural and technical drawing; use of colour, form, scale, accuracy, composition and creative imagination in a mix of digital and hand rendered images
3-Dimensional creative work (usually documented through good quality photographs). You may include models, product prototypes, artefacts, sculptures or installations that you have designed and constructed. Try to demonstrate your understanding of scale, form and structure through the work you include
Work created using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, CAD, Sketch Up or other architectural design software
Don’t be afraid to show us work that you don’t think was successful. Be prepared to tell us why, and talk about what you learned in the process.

Further portfolio advice and tips

Get more advice on presentation formats, layouts and when to submit your portfolio in the application process.

2022/23 University fees for new entrants

NUA will assess students’ tuition fee status using the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs

Students from the UK or Ireland and EU students with ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status will be charged ‘Home’ fees if they meet the relevant residency requirements. They will usually be eligible for a tuition fee loan from the UK government, meaning that they won’t have to pay NUA’s tuition fees up front.

Students who do not meet the necessary residency requirements will usually be charged ‘Overseas’ fees and will not be eligible for the UK government tuition fee loan. Since 2021/22, this includes new entrants from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who do not have ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status, because the UK has now formally left the EU.

Fee status	Course	Annual fee
Home	Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree)	£9,250
Overseas	Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree)	£17,500

In subsequent years inflation may be applied to the fees of those who started in 2022/23, at no more than the Office for Students’ recommended measure based on forecast RPI-X.

See our Fees and Funding page for further information which is also available in a downloadable format.

Financial support for UK students in 2022

Tuition fee loans and loans for living costs are usually available to UK and some EU students, as well as non-repayable NUA bursaries based on family income. Find out more about applying for funding.

All students have an opportunity to spend a year, between the second and third year of their course, enhancing their employability options through a Level 5 Diploma.

These courses are offered in Creative Professional Development; a structured programme of input sessions and work-based learning, and Creative Computing; designed to build the foundation skills in coding and software design that are in high demand in the digital and creative industries.

Four year degree – BA (Hons) Architecture

Four year degrees offer students a chance to build on their experience within their undergraduate course of choice.

Year 0 will help to build confidence and develop subject specific practical, creative and conceptual skills – making full use of University studios and workshops.

Typical UK offers and entry requirements for Year 0 entry

GCE A/AS Levels
2 A-level qualifications at grades CC or higher.

BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Merit, Merit, Pass in an art, design or media related subject

BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit in an art, design or media related subject

T Levels
Pass (D or E on the core)

UAL Extended Diploma
An overall Pass

UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
An overall Pass

Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass

Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass

International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 24 points

If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.

Related Courses

BA (Hons) Fine Art

Students

photo of alum Tom Cassidy leaning against railing in large atrium room looking away from camera with short dark brown hair and a dark blue long sleeved jumper

Nicholas Cassidy

"I’ve become more adventurous when developing design, the course encourages you to test concepts and always seek alternatives. But it’s not just my practice that’s developed, I have so much more confidence"

BA (Hons) Architecture

Edd Mitchem

"Our studio has the perfect atmosphere — it feels like a working practice and with a city centre campus it’s easy to immerse yourself in the historic and inspirational buildings of Norwich."

BA (Hon) Architecture