Architecture and design integrated foundation year

Course structure

Throughout the year you will work on design projects and creative workshops. Each builds on the next in complexity and skill, enabling you to develop the confidence and skills to explore design ideas.

Term 1 will concentrate on analogue skills, introducing you to observational and hand drawing skills, and physical / 3D modelling techniques enabling you to understand different scales.

Term 2 will expand on the skills you have learned and combine them with digital practice. You’ll be introduced to digital drawing, modelling and fabrication, and representation and communication techniques. Projects will develop your knowledge of the design process and technical ability.  

Term 3 focuses on a final project within your chosen discipline and course. You’ll produce a portfolio where you’ll document your development, and your final design project. The project will be specific to your discipline and draw together all the skills learnt over the year and prepare you for your degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture or Product Design. It will include physical hand drawings, photography, models, digital work and discipline specific outputs.

The portfolio and project are assessed and you must pass in order to progress onto your chosen degree course.

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COVID-19 continues to disrupt exams and English language testing in some parts of the world. For 2022 entry, we have expanded the number of qualifications we are able to accept. If you have, or are sitting, one of the qualifications listed here and it meets our validity policy then you do not need to take an IELTS test, even if we asked you to do so in your offer. Please let us know and send a copy of your results so we can check your qualification.

• English language, English literature, or English language and literature A-levels at grade D or above.
• English courses from other UK universities, subject to subject to being awarded from an accredited institution and at the CEFR B2 minimum levels required and meeting all four components.
• A bachelors or masters degree from an accredited university in the UK or a Home Office majority English-speaking country.
• TOEFL iBT At Home test – check the TOEFL website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• IELTS Indicator home-based test – check the IELTS Indicator website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) - an easy to access online English Language test from Kaplan online that can be taken from home.
• LanguageCert International ESOL (IESOL) Exam.
• Occupational English Test (OET) – accepted for Medicine and a range of allied health profession courses, including Pharmacy, which have vocational training elements.

If you need additional English language training we have pre-sessional courses available.

All qualifications are subject to our normal admissions checks and the above is only a summary and not a guarantee that your qualification will definitely be accepted. If you are applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate taught course, contact the enquiries and admissions team for more support and guidance. If you are applying for a postgraduate research degree, get in touch with the doctoral college team.

We will also continue accept the standard English language qualifications detailed below.

Preparing for your career

In your career you'll need a combination of knowledge, technical ability, communication skills and relevant experiences and youll get all of this from your degree.

The foundation course provides subject knowledge and expertise, opportunities to develop your portfolio and to put what you learn into practice. Youll also develop transferable personal skills in teamwork, and project and time management skills that will be valued wherever your career takes you. Working and collaborating with students across all three subjects of the foundation is a big part of your learning experience.