BA Hons Architecture

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Bath Spa University

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Architecture at Bath Spa University brings together creative design, social purpose, and environmental responsibility, preparing students to design meaningful, sustainable spaces. It is ideal for students who want to explore how architecture can respond to community needs and global challenges through thoughtful, human-centred design.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Students begin developing core design skills in Design Studio 1: People, Form and Space, where they explore how users interact with built space, and Design Studio 2: Collaborative Design, which introduces teamwork and interdisciplinary thinking. Technical foundations are built through Architectural Technologies 1, while Communication 1: Observation, Surveying and Depiction strengthens visual communication, drawing, and model-making skills. They also study Wicked Problems: The Complexity of Critical Design Thinking, encouraging early engagement with environmental and social challenges.

Year 2

Second-year students take on more complex project briefs in Design Studio 4: Scale and Design Studio 5: Collaborative Design, advancing their design capability across different scales and contexts. Technical understanding deepens through Architectural Technologies 2, and Architectural Practice 1 introduces the realities of professional work, ethics, and regulatory frameworks. The module Architecture – Theory and Contemporary Issues strengthens critical thinking about how design responds to culture, society, and contemporary challenges. Students may also choose an optional Professional Placement Year to gain industry experience.

Year 3

The final year focuses on advanced design exploration and professional readiness. In Design Studio 7: Climate Positive Design, students investigate sustainable, low-carbon architectural strategies. They then undertake Design Studio 8: Final Project, producing a comprehensive design proposal that showcases their full creative and technical development. Alongside this, Design Futures – Independent Critical Project encourages research into forward-looking architectural questions, while Architectural Practice 2 prepares students for transitioning confidently into industry.

Focus Areas

Sustainable and climate-positive design, collaborative studio practice, architectural technologies, social and cultural design context, professional ethics, contemporary architectural theory.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates gain the ability to design socially and environmentally responsible projects, communicate ideas through advanced visual methods, and apply technical and theoretical knowledge to real-world design challenges. They also develop professional awareness, teamwork skills, and a strong architectural portfolio.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This degree is formally prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB), fulfilling the academic requirements for RIBA/ARB Part 1 and forming the essential first step toward becoming a registered architect in the UK.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The course is recognised for strong graduate prospects within the design and creative disciplines, supported by hands-on studio learning and an award-winning campus environment. Students consistently benefit from practical experience, collaborative projects, and a portfolio-driven assessment approach that enhances employability.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BA (Hons) Architecture at Bath Spa University offers an experience built around creativity, sustainability, and hands-on design. From the first year, students work on architectural projects that respond to real communities, landscapes, and environmental challenges. The course uses a strong studio-based approach, meaning you’ll spend much of your time designing, modelling, testing ideas, and taking part in critiques. Live briefs with external partners introduce real clients and real sites, allowing you to design for genuine needs. The course also encourages material exploration — stone, wood, glass, metal, and green infrastructure — helping you understand how ideas translate into physical form.

Moving from this rich studio environment into structured practical learning, students gain experience through:

Design studio modules focused on people, space, place, sustainability, and collaborative design
Live briefs with community groups, organisations, or professional partners, letting students work on real design challenges
Strong emphasis on model-making, material exploration, and hands-on construction techniques
Use of digital tools, including drawing, representation, surveying, and architectural technologies
Development of research and critical thinking, linking theory to design in urbanism, sustainability, and architectural history
Opportunity for an optional professional placement year to gain industry experience and practical workplace understanding
Collaborative, interdisciplinary design work with peers from related creative disciplines
A substantial final-year independent design project, forming a strong professional portfolio

Facilities

Locksbrook Campus, a reimagined industrial building with open-plan architecture studios, social spaces, and a specialist creative environment
Technical workshops supporting model-making, materials exploration, and fabrication, staffed by experienced technical demonstrators
Digital design facilities including access to Adobe Creative Suite and digital tools used for architectural representation
Flexible studio spaces designed for group critiques, solo working, collaborative ideation, and design development
Library and learning resources supporting architectural theory, design research, sustainability, and contextual studies

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BA (Hons) Architecture at Bath Spa University develop a strong blend of creative, technical, and sustainability-focused skills. Many move into roles within architecture, urban design, conservation, or wider creative industries. A significant number secure positions as Part 1 Architectural Assistants, while others contribute to design-led practices and community-driven projects.

Typical career paths include:

Architectural Assistant (Part 1)
Urban or Spatial Designer
Interior or Environmental Designer
Conservation or Heritage Project Assistant

Here’s how the university supports you and enhances your career prospects:

University services for employability: Bath Spa’s Careers and Employability team provides dedicated placement support, one-to-one guidance, and portfolio development. Students who undertake the professional placement year benefit from extensive real-world experience that strengthens both skills and confidence.
Live briefs and community engagement: Students frequently work on live projects with external organisations, focusing on contemporary challenges such as sustainability, adaptive reuse, community design, and environmental responsibility.
Industry-standard facilities: Learning takes place at the award-winning Locksbrook Campus, home to modern design studios, fabrication workshops, and specialist technical resources that support both model-making and digital design.
Long-term accreditation value: The course is formally prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) as fulfilling the Part 1 requirement — the essential first step toward becoming a registered architect in the UK.
Graduate outcomes: Alumni progress into architectural practices, conservation agencies, urban design studios, interior design companies, and wider creative fields such as set design, lighting design, and digital spatial design.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates may continue to an accredited Master of Architecture (MArch) to complete the recognised Part 2 stage of architectural training. Other options include postgraduate study in sustainable architecture, urban design, heritage conservation, interior architecture, or environmental design, depending on individual interests and professional goals.