Overview
Immerse yourself in an inspiring architectural journey driven by imagination and innovation in this architecture degree. Our flagship degree, endorsed by the Royal Institute of British Architects and Architects Registration Board, gives you the first qualification you need on your journey to becoming an architect. This course offers:
- Practical expertise that includes mastering drawing, model making, and cutting-edge computer-aided design.
- A rich curriculum covering history, theory, technology, and computing, guided by experienced tutors in personalised sessions.
- A chance to explore your creativity within our design studio. Improve your skills to develop your unique style. Become a professional in the field of architecture, ready to impress employers upon graduation.
AVA Yearbook
Download our yearbook to view examples of our students' work.
Professional body information: ARB / RIBA
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) have announced that they will no longer be prescribing undergraduate architecture qualifications from 31 December 2027.
Therefore, students who graduate past this date (which includes all students studying our “with Foundation Year” route) will be awarded the degree title of BSc (Hons) Architecture (RIBA) Part 1 with Foundation Year as you will graduate past this date.
Find out more about these changes on our professional body information page.
This course is in Clearing
Our LLM course is a top choice
UEL’s LLM programme has been recognised as a top choice in the latest PTES survey, achieving 1st place rankings for satisfaction, teaching and more.
Architecture at UEL
Our Architecture and Design programmes challenge assumptions and set new agendas for design in the 21st century.
What makes this course different

Highly Rated By Our Students
98% of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on “The Teaching on my Course” in the 2024 National Student Survey.
(National Student Survey 2024, Results published 10 July 2024)

Proud to be featured in the Architects' Journal
'The SpaceX of architecture schools' - UEL Student Show 2023 exhibited a cohort of future architects.
Read the Architects' Journal article
Award-winning
Our Sustainability Research Institute and the School of Architecture have developed a multi-award-winning carbon-neutral material, Sugarcrete®.
Explore SugarcreteAccreditation

RIBA/ARB
Our architecture course has the unconditional recognition of the Royal Institute of British Architects and Architects Registration Board, giving exemption from RIBA/ARB Part 1.
PLEASE NOTE: The ARB is currently revising its requirements for registration, and is removing from its requirements the award of an undergraduate qualification. We have more details on our professional body information page.
Course modules
In the Foundation for Architecture year, you’ll gain essential skills in design techniques, creative problem-solving, and hands-on architectural projects. The architecture programme emphasises collaboration, visual communication, and a critical understanding of architectural history and theory. It also equips you with professional and mental resilience skills, ensuring a well-rounded foundation for a future in architecture.
Throughout this architecture degree, you will develop a sound knowledge base and are encouraged to see, read, and articulate connections between developments in architecture and contemporary practice. You’ll enhance your ability to investigate, represent, and resolve design concepts while integrating technical and theoretical architecture knowledge.
In the second year of the architecture programme, you’ll deepen your understanding of design through advanced investigations and integration, focusing on resolving complex architectural challenges. Technical studies enhance your ability to represent and realise design ideas, while history and theory provide deeper insights into architectural contexts. The programme also sharpens your professional and personal development, equipping you with the skills to thrive in the architecture industry.
In the third year of the architecture programme, you’ll focus on mastering advanced design investigations and integrations, pushing the boundaries of creative and technical problem-solving. The curriculum emphasises the synthesis of design resolution with integrated technology, ensuring your projects are both innovative and practical. Deep explorations of history and theory provide critical perspectives, while the Mental Wealth module supports professional growth and readiness for the architectural field.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Your future career
By completing this architecture degree course successfully, you'll be exempt from Part 1 of the Architects Registration Board (ARB) examination. Exemption from all three parts allows you to register as an architect with the ARB which gives you access to architecture jobs.
Many of our architecture students go on to study further, eventually becoming fully qualified architects. The majority stay at the University of East London to study our MArch (ARB/RIBA Part 2) course or our Landscape Architecture MA. All of the work completed whilst earning qualifications will help you to develop your architecture portfolio which can be used in your career.
Industry links
We have links with Tate and Lyle, RIBA, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, David Chipperfield Architecture and Grimshaw.
Graduate employers
Previous architecture graduates have gone into roles in major architectural firms such as Kengo Kuma, Sergison Bates, Stanton Williams, Haworth Tompkins and AHMM, as well as many others.
Job roles
BSc (Hons) Architecture offers a strong foundation for various job prospects and further studies in design. Architecture degree graduates often venture into creative sectors like animation, graphic design, computer game design, film, fashion, and interior design.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
Further study
Upon completing this architecture degree course, you'll gain exemption from Part 1 of the Architects Registration Board (ARB) exam, setting you on the path to becoming a registered architect. Many of our architecture graduates often pursue specialisations like MArch (ARB/RIBA Part 2) or MA Professional Landscape Architecture.

Studying architecture helped me to develop the necessary skills to become an architect. The hands-on approach provided key knowledge in the field of architecture that's unique compared to anywhere else."Kent Gin
Architecture, BSc (Hons), winner of 2014 RIBA/SOM Foundation Travel Fellowship
How you'll learn
The heart of the architecture degree course is the design studio. Here you'll learn the strategies of architectural design through hands-on design project work. You'll also learn from lectures, and from reading and writing designed to stimulate your creative mind.
At the core of our teaching philosophy is the relationship that develops between students and our academic team, so we teach you in mainly small groups to ensure you have plenty of contact with your tutors and lecturers.
As well as excellent studios, our modern, purpose-built Docklands campus in the heart of east London's vibrant regeneration area features extensive wood, metal, and digital fabrication workshops, photographic darkrooms, printing, and computer suites.
You'll visit study sites and buildings, cities, and landscapes in the UK and abroad. Each year there's an overseas study trip, and you can choose from a variety of different design units which often involve overseas travel.
At the end of the academic year, you'll exhibit your work at our summer showcase. There are also opportunities to enter competitions and win scholarships, individually or as part of a team.
Guided independent study
When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, and specialist facilities, such as game labs, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.
Academic support
Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas - including learning and disability support.
Dedicated personal tutor
You'll spend time with a personal tutor at least once a week to guide your academic development and ensure you have all the personal support you need. If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, our Academic Tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help our students achieve their potential.
Workload
Full time students have three full days of teaching (10.00-17.00) during term time, which is 25 weeks per year.
You will also have to work outside class time to develop your design work and complete reports, essays and other assignments. Allow for 40 hours per week total workload.
There is a week-long field trip one week per year.
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible.
Class sizes
At the core of our teaching philosophy is the relationship that develops between students and our academic team, so we teach you in mainly small groups to ensure you have plenty of contact with your tutors and lecturers.
How you'll be assessed
Assessment tasks are mainly spread across the year to make the workload manageable. Assessment methods include group work, exams and individual work including essays, presentations, case studies, professional development and practical activities depending on the nature of the course. All grades count towards your module mark. More details will be included in the student handbook and module guides. You will always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face-to-face assessments.
These different assessment methods can help you build and create your architecture portfolio that will help you in your future career.
Campus and facilities
Our campus and the surrounding area
Our waterfront campus in the historic Royal Docks provides a modern, well-equipped learning environment.
Join us and you'll be able to make the most of our facilities including contemporary lecture theatres and seminar rooms, art studios and exhibition spaces, audio and visual labs and a multimedia production centre.
Features include our 24/7 Docklands library, our £21m SportsDock centre, a campus shop and bookstore, the Children's Garden Nursery, cafés, eateries, a late bar, plus Student Union facilities, including a student lounge.
The University of East London is one of the few London universities to provide on-campus accommodation. Our Docklands Campus Student Village houses close to 1,200 students from around the world. We are well connected to central London and London City Airport is just across the water. We also run a free bus service that connects Docklands with Stratford campuses.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering.
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
- Course leader
Luke Jones
Department of Architecture & Visual Arts, School Of Architecture, Computing And Engineering - Course leader
Aleks Catina
Department of Architecture & Visual Arts, School Of Architecture, Computing And Engineering - Course leader
Carsten Jungfer
Department of Architecture & Visual Arts, School Of Architecture, Computing And Engineering - Course leader
Dr Deborah Do-Rosario-Benros
Department of Architecture & Visual Arts, School Of Architecture, Computing And Engineering - Course leader
Armor Gutierrez
Department of Engineering & Computing, School Of Architecture, Computing And Engineering
What our students and staff say

Here you get to feel that you get to be part of a family, and you don’t find that anywhere else. I would strongly recommend people to come here and visit and see the amazing work that we have been doing and to come and join us. The University of East London is the future. It’s a great place to study and it’s a nice place to be."
Rafael Ives Ribeiro Fischer
Architecture Student

The modules, workshops, and on-site experience were great and enriching because by teaching us more in practice, it prepared me better for working life."
Gertrude Teca Nsamba
Architecture (ARB/RIBA) Part 1 BSc (Hons) student and Assael Architecture Award for Tenacity winner