BA Architecture with Foundation Year

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

• Architecture

BBB

See personal background eligibility criteria.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

Please check for specific GCSE/IGCSE subject entry requirements below

This course is not eligible for a contextual offer. Contextual offers are only available for courses that have a standard entry requirements of ABB or higher. For further information on our contextual admissions please view our contextual admissions page .

Please check for specific GCSE/IGCSE subject entry requirements below

Contextual offers are available for applicants who:

• live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
• live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
• have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

32 points overall. 5,5,5 in Higher Level subjects

Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.

Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least 4 or C in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification.

All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:

GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade C/4, or;

IELTS 6.5 overall, with 6.5 in writing and no other sub-section below 6.0, or;

An acceptable equivalent qualification.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.

If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found  here .

Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 p/a collected by MMU for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.

Specialist costs

• Compulsory estimate: £2,400
• Optional estimate: £1,400

Included in this section are course materials, software, digital SLR camera, laptop, model making expenses, printing 3D printing.

None of these modes of production are compulsory, and the manner in which items are acquired can result in significant savings, e.g. the re-use and recycling of available materials in the production of models.

There is some requirement to print, but most submissions are digital. All materials, printing (2D, 3D), laser cutting etc. are charged at cost within the institution.

The one off acquisition of a camera and laptop for the duration of the course is spread evenly across the three years.

It is possible to work on university machines and to hire cameras, thus alleviating the costs incurred on some of these items.

Placement costs

• Compulsory estimate: £600
• Optional estimate: £1,500

Each BA year has a 5 day optional study trip abroad. An equivalent trip to a city in the UK is designed for those unable to travel for any reason.

One might expect the UK trip to attract between £100-200 of expenditure on travel, food and accommodation.

The anticipated annual cost of a foreign study trip is in the area of £400-500 inclusive of travel, accommodation and subsistence.

The figures shown here highlight the upper end of expenditure on each of these options and should viewed as separate sums and not conflated to a greater total.

Other costs

• Compulsory estimate: £600

Students may wish to acquire good outdoor clothing, boots and other forms of protective equipment.

Measuring devices, such as large tapes etc. could also be a useful part of an architecture students toolkit.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying.

You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course.

We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education.

If you are a home schooled student and would like further information or advice please contact the academic School for your chosen course who will be able to help you.

Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences.

Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.

The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates.If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.

Further information for mature students can be found here .

After an initial assessment of your UCAS application form, you will be emailed a brief on how to create a digital portfolio and the required elements. There are two parts to submit. However, here you can find some advice to make sure you feel prepared in making this.

Task 1: Visual Portfolio

Using your own artworks, tell us what is interesting and distinctive about your home and neighbourhood.

Through this visual portfolio you can share with us the characteristics of the place in which you live.

You might represent your neighbourhood through images of buildings, streets, parks and people.

We want to understand how you see the place.

We would like to see up to nine individual artworks. Everything you include must have been created by you.

You are free to use any kind of materials and style you choose. We want you to be as creative as possible to show us variety. This could include:

• Drawings
• Collages
• Ceramics
• Sketches
• Sculpture
• Photographs
• Watercolours
• Animation
• Pastels
• Graphics
• Videos
• Illustrations
• Models
• Paintings

1. Describe your home and neighbourhood. Tell us why you have represented the place you live in the ways you have? (300 words maximum)
2. Why do you want to study at the Manchester School of Architecture? (150 words maximum)
3. Name a favourite architect and tell us what you like about their work? (150 words maximum)

Once your initial application has been assessed, our admissions teams will email you instructions on how to send us a digital portfolio for consideration. Here are the requirements:

Task 1: Visual Portfolio

Using your own artworks, tell us what is interesting and distinctive about your home and neighbourhood.Through this visual portfolio you can share with us the characteristics of the place in which you live.

You might represent your neighbourhood through images of buildings, streets, parks and people.

We want to understand how you see the place.

We would like to see up to nine individual artworks. Everything you include must have been created by you.You are free to use any kind of materials and style you choose. We want you to be as creative as possible to show us variety. This could include:

• Drawings
• Collages
• Ceramics
• Sketches
• Sculpture
• Photographs
• Watercolours
• Animation
• Pastels
• Graphics
• Videos
• Illustrations
• Models
• Paintings

1. Describe your home and neighbourhood. Tell us why you have represented the place you live in the ways you have? (300 words maximum)
2. Why do you want to study at the Manchester School of Architecture? (150 words maximum)
3. Name a favourite architect and tell us what you like about their work? (150 words maximum)

Please note that students successfully completing the course will be awarded a place on the Manchester School of Architecture BA (Hons) Architecture programme.

Gain accreditation

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the statutory regulator for architects in the UK and sets the education and registration requirements for anyone wishing to practice and use the title ‘architect’ in the UK. They do this by accrediting qualifications required for registration as an architect. Details of ARB can be found on their website.

Following a statutory consultation in 2023, ARB has published changed educational requirements necessary for registration as an architect which will come into force from December 2027.

Currently, and up until December 2027, UK graduates wishing to register as an architect will need to have an ARB accredited Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 qualification, alongside relevant work experience.

From 31 December 2027 ARB will only accredit Master’s level qualifications (Level 7 in England, Level 11 in Scotland) and the professional diploma which follows. This means that from 2028 an undergraduate Level 6 qualification in architecture will not be required for registration as an architect in the UK.

The BA Architecture with the Foundation degree prescribed by the ARB (Architects Registration Board) at Part 1 level for purposes of registration as an Architect in the UK. The ARB is revising its requirements for registration and is removing from its requirements the award of an undergraduate qualification in architecture.

The intention of the ARB is that its prescription of Part 1 qualifications will cease on 31st Dec 2027. Students entering the BA Architecture with the Foundation course in Sept 2024 will graduate in June 2028, if they progress without interruption through the 4 years of the course.

Students will therefore graduate after the proposed end date for ARB prescription at Part 1 and their degree will therefore not be a prescribed ARB award.

This will not impact any student’s ability to complete qualification as a UK registered architect, as the ARB will continue to accredit academic awards at Masters level only. The BA Architecture with the Foundation degree is currently, and will continue to be, subject to validation by the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) at Part 1.

The RIBA will continue to validate architecture qualifications at Parts 1, 2 and 3 – these are terms developed by the RIBA and its three-part validation pathway forms the typical route to RIBA Chartered Membership.

Although ARB will no longer prescribe Part 1 qualifications after December 2027, they may be required to enter Level 7 (Masters) qualifications.

At the Manchester School of Architecture, a Part 1 RIBA award will continue to be a requirement to progress to our Master of Architecture Part 2 programme.

Focussing on the fundamental skills needed to embark on a career in the field, the foundation programme will prepare you for undergraduate study in Architecture.

We will help you develop your personal and academic skills, expose you to various communication and presentation techniques, show you how to understand and analyse project briefs and conceptualise design solutions, as well as giving you an insight into the practice of architecture.

The programme culminates in an architectural design studio project providing excellent preparation for learning at degree level.

Personal and Professional Development

• Learn about the importance of research and writing on an architecture degree, focussing on research methods, essay writing and referencing.
• Develop a range of soft skills needed for architecture study, including time management, building confidence and taking personal responsibility.
• Expand your academic language skills, study skills and cultural awareness required to succeed in UK Higher Education in a supportive environment.

Communication and Presentation Techniques

• Explore the practical skills and techniques needed for architecture study, including hand drawing, mark making, the use of diagrams, perspective drawing, exploration of various mediums and techniques, physical modelmaking, as well as basic CAD and digital skills.
• Develop your verbal presentation skills.

Analytical and Conceptual Techniques

• Gain an understanding for design processes.
• Learn to understand and analyse societal and client/project specific problems to then conceptualise design solutions.

Architectural Design Studio

• Develop a project brief into a final architectural design proposal presentation and put your newly acquired skills into practice.
• This design studio project will provide the ideal preparation for typical Studio learning.

In the second year of your BA (Hons) Architecture programme you will build upon your design knowledge through a series of interrelated projects that develop the context for architecture as a social and cultural act as well as one that is concerned with technology.

History and theory courses can be chosen as you begin to define your own path as an architect.

In technology, a specific focus on the ecological and environmental aspects of the profession forms a significant part of the course.

Core units

Studio 2.1

This unit consolidates design capability and introduces public and social programmes with associated issues of sustainability, inclusivity and greater complexity in building programme placing greater emphasis on relational abilities.

Studio 2.2

This unit consolidates design capability by extending the exploration of public and social programmes with associated issues of sustainability, inclusivity and complexity in building programme and technological manifestation.

Humanities 2

Humanities 2 places the focus of the wider physical, social and economic contexts for architecture and the professional practice of architecture.

The course is delivered variously through lectures, seminars and workshops exploring analytical and descriptive frameworks.

Technologies 2

Technologies 2 explores contemporary issues in the built environment with a specific focus on sustainable passive and active environmental technologies.

In the final year of your BA (Hons) Architecture programme, you will be guided to direct your own learning and, in an atelier-based system, define your own projects which are underpinned by the application of history and theory into your design studio activities.

You will have a choice of history and theory courses and can select technology case studies from a given set.

You will have more autonomy in Year 3 and therefore have more authority over your own work, which will give you confidence and assuredness as you prepare for the professional environment.

Core units

Studio 3.1

This unit introduces urbanism and develops the ability to apply techniques in analysis of and strategies for generic urban contexts as the basis for defining and developing a building programme and design proposition.

Studio 3.2

This unit develops ability in architectural design through the exploration of materials, structures, construction, and environmental modification integral with programmatic detail within a building design initiated in response to urban study.

Humanities 3

This unit develops knowledge and understanding of the historical, cultural and professional contexts for architectural design and extends skills in research, analysis, academic writing and visual representation.

Technologies 3

This unit develops knowledge and understanding of the environmental, material and technological contexts for architectural design and extends skill in research, analysis, synthesis and visual representation.

All students on the Foundation course will receive a one-off £1000 bursary to support course costs. This is managed by MMU.

As part of our ongoing commitment to widening participation, the Manchester School of Architecture (MSA) also offers a Student Financial Support Package amounting to £750 for those with a household income of £25,000 or less as a contribution to aid you with some of the costs of getting started at university. This is managed by MMU, see further information here .

Additionally, you might be eligible for further scholarships offered by the University of Manchester. For more information, please see our undergraduate finance pages .

As a student at Manchester School of Architecture (MSA), you will study a degree that is delivered jointly by The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.

You will, therefore, benefit from the facilities and resources of both institutions such as libraries, computer suites, making and media workshops, and much more.