BSc Architectural Studies
About this course
Architectural studies is the academic examination of architecture as a cultural, social, and aesthetic practice. Unlike a professional architecture degree that trains you directly for registration as an architect, architectural studies takes a broader view, asking what architecture means, how it is produced, what it does to the people and communities it serves, and how it connects to history, politics, and culture. It is a discipline that combines historical and theoretical analysis with design thinking and visual intelligence, developing graduates who can engage critically and creatively with the built environment. Cardiff University's three-year full-time Architectural Studies programme engages with these questions through the history and theory of architecture, design principles and representation, environmental and technical considerations, and the relationship between architecture and its social and urban contexts. You will study how buildings and cities have been conceived and built across different periods and cultures, develop skills in architectural drawing and representation using both manual and digital tools, and engage with current debates about sustainability, social responsibility, heritage, and the future of cities. Cardiff School of Architecture and Planning is one of the established centres for architectural education in Wales and the UK, and the programme benefits from a studio culture that takes design seriously alongside historical and theoretical inquiry. A typical entry tariff of 168 points reflects the programme's expectation of both analytical and visual capability, and you will build a substantial portfolio of work across the three years. Graduates from architectural studies are well placed to proceed to Part 1 of the professional architecture qualification if they wish to train as architects, but the degree also opens routes into architectural journalism, heritage and conservation, urban design, planning, arts administration, set design, and the broader creative industries. Postgraduate study in architecture, urban design, or related fields is a common next step.
Syllabus & Modules
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