About this course
Prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), this creative, project-driven course is designed to help you develop your own design approach and style.
You’ll be exposed to diverse aspects of architectural design, linking sustainability and urban design with business practice. This course will equip you with skills and knowledge to tackle contemporary issues related to the built environment, exploring the design, human, professional and technical influences needed to pursue a successful career in architecture.
Reflecting modern architectural practice, our studio culture encourages you to work collaboratively, share experiences and experiment with ideas. You’ll learn the art of creative communication through drawing, model-making and 3D visualisation in our industry-standard design studios and materials workshops.
Explore the work of our graduating students in our Student Showcase.
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Successful completion of this course is the first step towards becoming a qualified architect, satisfying the educational requirements needed for your RIBA Part 1 qualification. -
You'll take part in live design projects, with creative briefs from real clients. Students have previously worked with RIBA East Midlands, Flo Skatepark and local charity Growin' Spaces on design briefs and installations. -
Exhibit your work at our annual final year degree show and Architecture Exchange event, attended by architecture professionals, industry experts and potential employers. -
NTU is ranked joint 6th in the UK for Architecture Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2024).
How does this course differ from our BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design and BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology?
What you’ll study
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Video Gallery
Careers and employability
We've got a great track record of producing skilled, industry-ready graduates. Our BArch (Hons) Architecture course is designed to prepare you to take your first step in the architecture industry. Through working on real projects from industry, fieldwork, and creative briefs from industry clients, you'll be equipped with skills and experience to carry with you for the rest of your professional career.
You’ll be encouraged to undertake work experience alongside your studies, to expose you to professional practice and give you hands-on experience of it. You'll also be supported in your development with a final year mentoring programme, working alongside RIBA and local practices including Leonard Design Architects, Buckenham & Co and Franklin Ellis Architects.
Where do Architecture graduates from NTU work?
Recent graduate roles include architects, architectural assistants and design team members at leading companies such as:
- Benoy
- Foster + Partners
- Atelier New York
- Terry Farrell and Partners
- Dixon Jones
- Balfour Beatty
- PolkeyCollins
- Peldon Rose Group
- Virgin Media
Becoming an Architect
The course has full Architects Registration Board (ARB) prescription, meaning successful completion satisfies the educational requirements needed for your RIBA Part 1 qualification. Following this, you’ll be ready to complete your first year of experience before starting Part 2, on your way to becoming a qualified architect. Take a look at the ARB Student Handbook for a guide to becoming an architect.
Employability team
Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies, and for up to three years after completing your course.
Throughout the year, our Employability team runs a series of events specifically for students studying in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment. This includes our annual Architecture Exchange event which brings together current students and prospective employers for an evening of presentations, round table discussions and networking opportunities. We also run a Property, Design and Construction Fair, offering employers the opportunity to advertise graduate roles to our final year students.
NTU is 1st for the number of UG students studying Architecture, building and planning (HESA, 2021/22)
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
Campus and facilities
Entry requirements
UK students
Additional requirements for UK students
Contextual offers
If you don’t quite meet our entry requirements, we might be able to make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and your individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer, and we get data from UCAS to help make these decisions. We do this because we believe everyone with the potential to succeed at NTU should have the opportunity to do so, no matter what barriers you may face.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Additional requirements for international students
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Sign up for emails
Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.
Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS
As part of your application, you’ll submit a personal statement. This is your opportunity to tell us about your ambitions, skills and experience. You have 4,000 characters to impress us – here’s how to make your words count.
If your initial application is successful, we’ll then ask you to submit a digital portfolio*.
Your portfolio is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your potential as an architect. Take a look at our digital portfolio advice.
*If you're studying a relevant creative qualification and predicted a Grade B or above in that subject, you won't be required to submit a digital portfolio as part of the application process. Accepted creative subjects in this instance include A-levels in Art, Design or Graphic Design, a UAL Extended Diploma, or a BTEC in Art and Design.
Keeping up to date
After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.
You can apply for this course through UCAS.
If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU Applicant Portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Your portfolio
If your initial application is successful, we’ll then ask you to submit a digital portfolio*.
Your portfolio is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your potential as an architect. Take a look at our digital portfolio advice.
*If you're studying a relevant creative qualification and predicted a Grade B or above in that subject, you won't be required to submit a digital portfolio as part of the application process. Accepted creative subjects include Art, Fine Art, 3D Design, Graphic Design, Product Design, Critical and Contextual Studies, a BTEC Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art & Design, and UAL Extended Diploma in Art & Design.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
