BA Architecture (Design Studies) Code: K10D

The BA Architecture (Design Studies), Code: K10D, is offered by the School of Architecture as an alternative undergraduate programme to the “standard” BA Architecture, Code: K100.

The K10D degree does not have Year 1 programme of studies and does not recruit students through UCAS or through other external sources. Instead, students who are registered on K100, and who have sufficient credits, can, subject to University approval, transfer from K100 to K10D at the end of Year 1 or Year 2 of their studies.

Transfer from K100 to the K10D course is open to students who have joined the School from XJTLU. However, because there is not an equivalent course at XJTLU, students who graduate from K10D will receive only a Liverpool degree certificate.

The structure and content of the K10D degree has a number of consequences, principally:

  • K10D is not accredited by RIBA or ARB. SO, IF YOUR AMBITION IS STILL TO BE A PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECT, YOU SHOULD REMAIN ON THE K100 PROGRAMME.
  • However, if you have decided that you do not want a career in Architectural design, the K10D programme offers the opportunity to design part of your undergraduate programme to suit your ambitions and interests.
  • The programme allows students to graduate with a good degree which is more aligned to their needs, without having to change department or repeat a year of study in another programme.
  • The programme is subject to the standard University rules for progression between Years – unlike the K100 programme where all modules are mandatory – which makes progression more straightforward.

The essence of the K10D programme is that students undertake the non-studio modules of K100 and fill the remaining sixty credits in each year with modules from the School or from other departments, of each student’s choice (subject to approval and the University’s degree regulations) and, in Year 3, they undertake a thirty credit dissertation on a topic of their choice (again subject to approval.

In recent years, students have taken option modules provided by a number of other departments in the University, including: Geography and Planning, Philosophy, Archaeology and History. In general, we work together with the student to help them choose option modules and to design a programme that best fits their individual interests and ambitions. It may also be possible to undertake an assessed work experience module in Year 3, but this does depend on availability and specific arrangements.

The course structure for Year 2 of K10D looks like this:

Semester 1 
ARCH211 Environmental Design
ARCH221 Urban Studies
Plus: Option modules totalling 30 credits
Semester 2 
ARCH261 Structural Design
ARCH271 History & Theory of Architecture
Plus: Option modules totalling 30 credits

For Year 3 the course structure looks like this:

Semester 1 
ARCH361 Structural Design
ARCH321 History & Theory of Architecture
ARCH382 Dissertation (runs for whole academic year)
Plus either:
Option modules totalling 15 credits
Or
SOTA300 Work Experience Module (runs for whole academic year)
Semester 2 
ARCH371 Practice Management
ARCH311 Environmental Design
ARCH382 Dissertation (runs for whole academic year)
Plus either:
Option modules totalling 15 credits
Or
SOTA300 Work Experience Module (runs for whole academic year)

Students who have graduated from K10D have gone on to a variety of activities. Some have gained employment in other aspects of the construction sector, such as management in building contractors, clients’ project management and architectural modelling and rendering. Others have gone into roles in the arts sectors, such as music industry management and curating and managing exhibitions and venues. Most recently though, the majority of graduates have found the programme to be great preparation for studies on taught Masters programmes in their chosen areas, including: urban design, art history, law and architectural history. 

If you would like to know more or want to discuss your options, contact the Programme Director, Ben Devereau.