Architecture

Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and spaces that are functional, safe, beautiful, and responsive to the needs of the people who inhabit them and the environments in which they stand. It is a discipline that brings together creative and spatial design, structural and environmental knowledge, technical building science, history, theory, and the practical management of the design and construction process. Architects shape the built environment in which everyone lives, works, and moves, and the responsibility that comes with that influence demands both creative ambition and rigorous professional training.

At Newcastle University, this three-year full-time programme represents the first stage of architectural education, the Part 1 degree, which is the foundation for further professional qualifications. You will develop spatial design skills through studio-based project work, which is the heart of architectural education, exploring how buildings are conceived, drawn, and presented from initial idea to developed design proposal. Alongside studio, you will study structural principles, environmental performance, materials and construction, architectural history and theory, and the technical drawing and digital representation skills that architects use throughout their careers.

Newcastle's school of architecture has a strong research profile and a commitment to socially engaged design, and the urban context of Newcastle provides a rich environment for exploring real design problems.

Architecture graduates with Part 1 typically go on to complete the further qualifications required for full registration as an architect, including Part 2 (a postgraduate degree) and Part 3 (a professional practice examination). Many work in architectural practices during and between these stages. Others move into roles in urban design, planning, property development, project management, and the built environment sector more broadly, where the spatial thinking and design skills of architectural training are valued.