Architecture Design Studies
UCAS code K10D
- Entry requirements
- View full requirements
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Duration
- 3 years
- Start date and application deadlines
-
- Start date
- September 2025 September 2026
- Apply by:
- Starts on:
About this course
Architecture Design Studies allows for a greater flexibility in course choices than the prescriptive Architecture qualification, enabling students to explore their personal interests in the wider field of architecture by including a range of courses chosen by students, delivered other University of Liverpool departments, including Sociology, Planning, Music and Geography.
Introduction
The Architecture Design Studies programme aims to provide a foundation in the general field of architecture and other related disciplines. It seeks to generate an enthusiasm for architecture, a spirit of inquiry, and to stimulate life-long learning.
As well as a first step towards professional activity, architecture design studies can be an enjoyable preparation for further study or other careers. It demands knowledge of many different but interrelated disciplines and the development of personal as well as technical skills. All students begin in year one on a common course with the BA (Hons) Architecture RIBA Part I accredited route, to provide some experience of design process, before students specialise in later years through a wide range of courses offered by other University of Liverpool departments.
The programme encourages investigative and critical approaches to architecture, and the development of research and specialist skills. It combines individual creativity with knowledge and understanding of a broad variety of technical and cultural issues. The aim is to provide a broad academic programme in architecture and cognate disciplines, which does not contain the design project modules needed by future architects, but which will equip graduates with useful skills and knowledge of the field.
What you'll learn
- Structural and constructional principles
- The theories and principles of environmental technologies, the relationship of environmental design and architectural technology to the climate, the development of a sustainable environment, and the impact that architectural decisions may have upon the natural world and its resources
- The history and theory of architecture and urban design, the history of ideas, and the related disciplines of art and cultural studies
- An appreciation of the influences on the contemporary built environment of individual buildings, the design of cities, past and present societies and wider global issues
- The cultural context of architecture and urban design, and the related disciplines of art and landscape studies
- How to make informed and considered judgements about the spatial, aesthetic, technical and social qualities of historical or contemporary designs
- An understanding of architectural history and the key drivers informing change and development
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year one
In year one, you will be introduced to the history and evolution of Architecture, developing foundational knowledge of the concepts and theories that will form the basis of the rest of your studies. We will look at the technology and principles of construction and structural design. Studio design modules will enable you to appreciate creative design process and learn architectural conventions.
- You will choose one optional module in each semester.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year two
Year two has two strands: a continuation of your understanding of architectural processes and context, and a number of additional modules that you have the opportunity to choose. These courses are drawn from outside of the School of Architecture and feature sociology, planning, geography and psychology.
- You will take two optional modules in each semester.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year three
Year three continues to develop core architectural understanding while more optional modules allow further broadening of student interests. A core module in third year is a two-semester dissertation course in which students can devote significant time to researching an area of particular interest to the student, something both useful in itself and potentially important to moving toward employment opportunities or further study at postgraduate level.
- You will take one optional module in semester one, and another in semester two.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Teaching and assessment
How you'll learn
The course comprises of a series of lecture-based courses, with seminars, group work and one to one tutorials. As the choice of courses in largely driven by each student it isn’t possible to provide a comprehensive description but the majority of teaching will be delivered on campus, with additional support through online Teams based conversations.
Architecture Design Studies does not have a studio design component, so the course is arranged as a number of lecture based courses which deliver core material supplemented by seminars, one to one tutorials and self-directed research.
How you're assessed
Each course assessed in different manners, which we attempt to provide in a series of ways to allow each student to demonstrate their knowledge in a range of submission formats. This comprise of essays, multiple choice quizzes, posters, reports, exams and presentations.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:
- Digital fluency
- Confidence
- Global citizenship
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
- Research-connected teaching
- Active learning
- Authentic assessment
All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.
Course options
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
Global opportunities
University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide.
Year abroad
Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.
- Choose from up-to 26 countries
- Experience another way of life
- Inspire your future career or studies
- Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
- More likely to earn higher salary
- More likely to be employed after graduating
Where can I spend a year abroad on this course?
- Australia
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- USA
Year in industry
Year in industry placements give you an in-depth workplace experience where you can develop your skills and apply your learning.
- Develop key employability skills that graduate employers are looking for
- Experience and understand workplace culture and discipline
- Understand the relationship between academic theory and real world application
- Begin your professional network
- Gain industry insight and insight into potential career options.
You don't need to decide now - you can choose to add a year in industry after you've begun your degree.
Learn more about year in industry
To spend a year in industry, you'll need to secure a placement with an organisation. If you're unable to find a placement, you'll continue with the standard version of the course without a year in industry.
Your experience
The Liverpool School of Architecture benefits from comfortable, well-lit studio, work and seminar/review spaces, including a ‘hi-tech’ design studio, to which you will have 24-hour access.
Our facilities include a Print Media Design Suite, computing labs, workshops, a laser suite, a CNC router room, 3D printers, computing labs and research labs. A team of dedicated technicians will help you to get the most of these facilities and to realise your ideas.
Explore where you'll study
Meet our Architecture students
Virtual tour
Supporting your learning
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
- Careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
- A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
- Confidential counselling and support to help students with personal problems affecting their studies and general wellbeing
- Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
Why study Architecture at Liverpool?
- Established in 1894, the Liverpool School of Architecture was the first university in the UK to award a RIBA-accredited degree in Architecture
- As one of the UK’s premier centres for architectural research and education, the Liverpool School of Architecture is the ideal place to pursue your architecture studies
- We are ranked 3rd in the UK for Architecture (The Guardian University Guide 2025) and 7th in the Times and Sunday Times Higher Education Good University Guide 2025. We are also currently ranked within the world top 100 for Architecture (QS World University Rankings 2025).
- In the latest Research Excellence Framework assessment (REF 2021), we were rated 5th in the sector for overall research classified as world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
- We are strongly focused on research, and have many leading architectural experts based amongst our teaching staff
- Our membership of the School of the Arts and wider University presents intriguing specialist opportunities, in fields such as autonomous building systems, arts and building design, and climate change risk mitigation
- Work is underway on a major refurbishment of our premises, which will comprise a new-build addition of more than 2,000M. The £23 million scheme has been designed by Dublin-based architects O’Donnell + Tuomey, and is expected to be completed by 2026.
The ambition the school of architecture has is unmatched by any other in the UK.
Chat with our students
Want to find out more about student life?
Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
David Grant – Architecture
Careers and employability
The programme prepares its graduates for careers into a series of fields related to architecture and the built environment. Successful students may go on to work in architectural journalism, art history, museum curatorship and arts administration, executive roles in the construction industry and architects’ offices, as well as the wide range of careers open to graduates in arts and social science disciplines. The programme also prepares graduates for further full-time education at Masters level or in vocational degrees such as Town and Country Planning.
Architecture graduates can follow a few options. This programme is also an ideal preparation for further study and hugely valuable in a whole range of other careers.
Recent graduates have gone on to work in the following:
- the Arts Council;
- the construction industry;
- and multidisciplinary think tanks;
- games design and the fashion industry;
- property development.