Architecture: The University of Manchester

Course description
The Manchester School of Architecture, one of the largest in the UK, was established in 1996 as a result of an innovative collaboration between the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.
When you join the Manchester School of Architecture, you benefit from the considerable resources and expertise in teaching and research available in both institutions and receive an award from both institutions.
Course content
Architecture education consists of five years of full time study divided between two degrees. These are the three year BA (Hons) in Architecture followed by the two year BArch degree, which carry exemption from the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Part 1 and Part 2 respectively. On graduation from the BA, you normally undertake a year of professional experience in an architectural office under the direction of the school. This first experience of practice prepares you for your architectural education in BArch.
Year 1 gives you the opportunity to develop your architectual creative process through a series of studio design projects and skills workshops. The emphasis is on helping you begin to develop a way of thinking, working and designing as an individual designer with an understanding of human nature and spatial experience.
During Year 2 you will further develop your design processes and critical thinking skills. Your skills will be tested through various projects using your own design solutions. You will gain an increased awareness of architecture within both rural and urban contexts.
By Year 3 you will identify what contemporary architecture means to you. You will establish your theoretical position through a variety of projects leading to one major project where your design initiative and intuition is needed to formulate and communicate your architectural designs.
Career opportunities
On graduation from the BA you will normally undertake a year of professional experience in an Architectural office under the direction of the School. This first experience of practice prepares you for your final two years of full-time architectural education in BArch. Alternatively, opportunities exist for BA(hons) graduates to undertake research for higher degrees. Each year a small but significant few go on into other fields such as advertising, banking, art history or web design. After the BArch all our graduates who want a job in practice obtain one while some will move into other fields including Masters Degrees or PhDs.
Entry requirements

• English language: IELTS 6.5, or TOEFL 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based), or equivalent qualifications.
• A level: Grades AAA. Two AS-levels may be accepted in place of one A-level.
• Unit grade information: The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit grade information which, like all other available information, will inform the consideration of applications.  Unit grades will not normally form part of offer conditions, except for Mathematics programmes.
• GCSE: Mathematics and English Language at minimum of grade C.
• Key Skills qualification: The University warmly welcomes applications from students studying the Key Skills qualification. However, as the opportunities to take these modules are not open to all applicants, currently this is not an essential requirement of the University.
• International Baccalaureate: Award of the Diploma with a minimum of 36 points overall.