The programme is considered to be excellent for teaching quality. It has the unconditional recognition of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Architects Registration Board and gives exemption from RIBA part 2.

If you are interested in .......

• Developing your creativity and professional judgement,
• How things look as well as how they work,
• Buildings and cities and how people use them,
• Making a better place to live

If you enjoy....

• Making things as part of the design process, group work, hard work

If you want....

• A wide-ranging socially responsible programme that develops your creativity as a designer as well as your judgement

The Architecture programme at UEL educates students to become practising architects. Students are taught on the atelier or unit system in small groups under the direction of tutors who have freedom to devise their own projects. The School emphasises learning through making and on reflecting on what one has made.  In this way each student develops creativity and critical judgement.

The programme is exemplary in the amount of personal tuition each student receives each week, from teachers who are usually also active as practising architects. Most of the learning is done thorough project work in the School’s excellent studios, computer suites and workshops.

BA/BSc Architecture: 2.2 or equivalent
RIBA /ARB Part 1 Exemption

Entry is conditional on an interview over portfolio. We also accept portfolios by post for assessment.

In selecting students the School looks for evidence of creative potential and the development of professional judgment and that the candidate will contribute to and benefit from the programme.

The programme is only available in full-time mode. It is structured as a modular programme with students required to take two modules per academic year - Design and Supporting Studies.  The programme is taught using the atelier or unit system.

Some of the learning is through lectures and seminars, and involves reading and writing, but the heart of the programme is the design studio where students learn to become architects through project work. The field of Architecture is located in the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering and is housed in a building on the Docklands Campus, designed by one of our staff. As well as its excellent studios there are extensive wood and metal workshops, photographic darkrooms and computer suites. Students also make visits to study sites and buildings, cities and landscapes in the UK and abroad. At the end of the Academic Year the students exhibit their work at the end of year show.

Most assessment is done through design projects and related work. Students receive feedback on their progress throughout the year but formal assessment only takes place at the end of the academic year. There are no closed book examinations.

The skills of analysis and creative synthesis and of communicating in drawings, words and using IT are useful in many other areas of life and work.

The programme is the second stage of architectural education. It is also good preparation for any work in which you need to be able to analyse problems and make creative proposals for their solution.

Diploma students come to the School from all over the world, from many different educational backgrounds so the first year of the programme is partly diagnostic. It is organised to develop all the practical and conceptual skills which an architect needs. Each student has a personal tutor whom they meet at least once a week. The tutor is responsible for guiding your academic development and will give personal support. You also receive support from fellow students because most of the teaching and learning is in small groups working on common themes in the project work.