Architecture MEng, BEng

Course overview

Innovative building design is driving the inspirational environments of the future. By bringing together architecture and engineering, the next generation of architects can ensure that today’s emerging issues – environmental impact and sustainability – are also addressed as we push the boundaries of design and reimagine the buildings of the tomorrow.

Studying architecture at Leeds gives you a critical understanding of how science, the arts and society are brought together through creative building design projects. You’ll develop a scientific and creative approach to building design, supported by learning in architectural history and theory, urban design, structures, construction, materials and building physics.

You’ll build in-depth knowledge of architectural principles as well as applied science and technology, exploring creative design issues through drawings and models, developing presentation and computer modelling skills using industry-standard software.

Our degree programmes develop world-class architects who actively contribute to sustainable and economic growth whilst maintaining the highest ethical standards and delivering the infrastructure we all rely on in everyday life. That’s one of the reasons why our courses are accredited by several leading professional bodies and are shaped by our world-leading research.

This is a practical course, so in addition to a design studio space, you’ll also have access to extensive library facilities, industry standard software, and an impressive laboratory with specialist facilities for structures, materials, public health engineering, building services and geotechnics – everything you need to begin your career as an architect or architectural engineer.

Why study at Leeds:

• Design projects are a key part of our Architecture and Architectural Engineering degrees, giving you valuable hands-on experience and putting into practice the creative and technical skills you have learned, supported by our team of academic and practicing architects and engineers.
• Access excellent laboratory facilities, as well as industry standard software such as Revit (Building Information Modelling), IES (dynamic thermal modelling) and Robot (structural analysis).
• Develop your experience and boost your career prospects with our paid industrial placement opportunities.
• Take advantage of our world leading research here at Leeds, which helps to address societal and technical challenges with infrastructure around the world.
• Make the most of university partnerships which include long-standing collaborations with the Institute for Transport Studies, Robotics at Leeds and the Centre for Global Development and leadership roles in major initiatives including water@leeds, an interdisciplinary centre for water research, the Institute for High Speed Rail and System Integration, the Centre for Infrastructure Materials, and the Neville Centre of Excellence in Cement and Concrete Engineering.
• Our Civil Engineering Society (CivSoc) gives you the chance to meet like-minded people who share your passion for civil engineering. Not only will you be treated to industrial networking events and site visits to build your experience and connections in the field, but CivSoc also puts on exciting social events like paintballing and the annual CivSoc Ball.

Accreditation

Architects Registration Board

Royal Institute of British Architects

Joint Board of Moderators

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers

The University of Leeds MEng, BEng Architecture is currently prescribed to Part 1 by the Architects Registration Board (ARB), subject to periodic review, for the purposes of entry onto the United Kingdom Register of Architects until 2027. The ARB is the government body which regulates Architects and standards of professional conduct.

The course is fully Validated to Part 1 by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) until the next standard review in 2027. The RIBA is the professional body which promotes and supports Architecture in the UK.

Accreditation is by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. This course is also accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). The JBM and CIBSE work with and advises universities to ensure that their degree programmes help to develop professional engineers that will continue to provide a global contribution to sustainable and economic growth whilst maintaining the highest ethical standards.

Accreditation and Validation all mean the assurance that a university course meets the quality standards established by the profession for which it prepares its students.

The MEng, BEng programme in Architecture is accredited as satisfying fully the academic requirements for progression to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.

Our programmes are EUR-ACE labelled, which means they also meet the framework standards and guidelines of EUR-ACE and that the accreditation is recognised by the member states of the European Higher Education Area, until the next standard review in 2027.

Course details

The course integrates creative and technical knowledge in architecture, structural and building services engineering – all reinforced with world-class research and practice. You’ll be exploring creative design issues in practical, real-world project settings.

This course is a four-year degree. If you choose to finish after three years, you’ll graduate with a BEng in Architectural Engineering.

Year 1

Every degree course within the School of Civil Engineering shares a common first year. You’ll complete six compulsory modules across the range of programmes offered, giving you a firm basis on which to specialise in later years, and the flexibility to switch between courses.

Year 2

You’ll consolidate your technical knowledge of structural design and analysis, materials and geotechnics, as well as building physics. You’ll also develop a more academic approach to architectural history and theory, which is delivered in collaboration with the School of Fine Art, History of Art & Cultural Studies. As with year 1, the design studio is the core which develops your learning through architectural design projects.

Year 3

You’ll focus more on the architectural design projects and work on urban design issues in your study of architectural history and theory, which is linked to your architecture design studio and a study visit to a European city. You’ll enhance your technical knowledge in structures and building physics and demonstrate an integrated understanding of creative and technical building design in your design studio work.

Year 4

In your final year, you’ll focus on project work. Your architecture design projects will be linked to research-focused modules in architectural history and theory, building physics and the context of the construction industry in architectural management, practice and law. In semester two, you’ll concentrate on a sophisticated architectural design project where significant parts of the brief, development and execution are largely set by you. Your project will demonstrate a fully integrated architectural design including structure and building services, to a high standard of visual communication skills.

One-year optional work placement or study abroad

You can choose to take up a one-year industrial placement which will extend your degree by 12 months. Recent industrial placement students have gained valuable experience at Arcadis, Evolve Consulting Engineers Limited, Price & Myers, Cummins and Nationwide Structures Ltd.

Fieldwork

During this course, you’ll have the opportunity to attend a residential surveying field course in year 1 and a residential architectural study period in a European city in year 3. You are also able to join a construction site field course.

Design Project Work

Every year of your course gives you hands-on experience of project work. This gives you the opportunity to explore your subject further as well as developing valuable skills in problem solving, communication and teamwork.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Architecture MEng, BEng in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 2 compulsory modules

Year 3 compulsory modules

Year 3 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Year 4 compulsory modules

Learning and teaching

Studio-based learning is at the heart of the student experience, with open-ended and creative architectural design projects used to demonstrate and develop the knowledge you gain in other modules. The course is centred in a new studio space designed to host lectures, tutorials and personal study. In the studio environment, you will benefit from learning from your peers, the academic teaching team and design tutors from practice.

You’ll benefit from our integrated style of learning and teaching. Laboratory classes and industry sponsored fieldwork allow you to gain hands-on experience investigating and applying material from your lectures and tutorials to real life work situations. Together they will equip you with in-depth knowledge and key practical skills that will put you in a good position to compete in creative construction industry careers, where integrative abilities are increasingly in demand.

The course is delivered by a dedicated teaching team within the School, comprised of professionally qualified and experienced architects and engineers, supported by practice-based architects who are part of the studio tutoring team. You’ll also benefit from the range of scientific and technical expertise provided by the School of Civil Engineering.

Our close links with industry also mean that you have direct contact with industry and potential employers from an early stage in your course. We organise industrial visits and offer additional seminars and tutorials delivered by practising architects, engineers and other professionals.

You’ll be assigned a personal tutor to guide you through your studies, and you will receive support from fellow students through our Peer Assisted Study Support (PASS) scheme. PASS mentors are students who are on your course but are in Years two or three. They’ll help you when you arrive at University and throughout your first year. You’ll meet your PASS mentors during your first week for a social activity.

Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme and modules.

You can also benefit from support to develop your academic skills, within the curriculum and through online resources, workshops, one-to-one appointments and drop-in sessions.

Watch our taster lectures to get a flavour of what it’s like to study at Leeds:

• Architectural history – Victorian architecture

• Civil Engineering in the 21st Century

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed through both written examinations, held at the end of each year, and through coursework in the form of reports, projects, presentations and portfolios.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAA including Mathematics.

Where an A-Level Science subject is taken, we require a pass in the practical science element, alongside the achievement of the A-Level at the stated grade.

Excludes A-Level General Studies or Critical Thinking.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), International Project Qualification (IPQ) and Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (ASCC): We recognise the value of these qualifications and the effort and enthusiasm that applicants put into them, and where an applicant offers an A in the EPQ/IPQ/ASCC we may make an offer of AAB at A-Level (any required subjects such as Mathematics must still be at grade A).

All applicants must be studying Mathematics at level 3. For most students, this requirement is fulfilled by achieving the required grade in A-level Maths. Applicants for whom this requirement is to be fulfilled via qualifications other than A-levels (eg BTEC Maths and Additional/Further Maths modules) may be required to take a diagnostic Maths test in addition to their other level 3 maths studies. This is to ensure a suitable level of mathematical literacy.

GCSE: English Language at grade 4 or above, or an appropriate English language qualification. We will accept Level 2 Functional Skills English in lieu of GCSE English.

Alternative qualification

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds A Level offer: ABB including Mathematics.

For alternative qualification offers please contact the admissions team.

If you do not have the formal qualifications for immediate entry to one of our degrees, you may be able to progress through a foundation year. We offer a Studies in Science with Foundation Year BSc for students without a science background at A-level and an Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year BSc for applicants who meet specific widening participation criteria.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each section. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

Fees

UK: £9,250 (per year)

International: £27,500 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2023/24 and 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will remain capped at £9,250 for 2023/24 and 2024/25. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2023/24 and 2024/25
Tuition fees for international students for 2023/24 and 2024/25 are available on individual course pages.

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Applying

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

We may consider applications submitted after the deadline. Availability of courses in UCAS Extra will be detailed on UCAS at the appropriate stage in the cycle.

Read our guidance about applying and writing your personal statement.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2024

This course is taught by

School of Civil Engineering

Contact us

School of Civil Engineering Undergraduate Admissions

Email: ugcivil@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

There are a variety of exciting career opportunities awaiting you when you graduate – from specialist building design consultancies, to muti-disciplinary firms, to some of the largest construction organisations in the world. Architecture and architectural engineering graduates are in great demand and University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2022, High Fliers Research.

Typically, the majority of graduates each year secure professional or managerial positions and take their first steps in their career as structural, civil or building services engineers, design engineers, architectural engineers or architectural consultants.

Here’s an insight into the job roles some of our most recent graduates have obtained:

• HKS Architects
• Squire and Partners
• Ryder Architecture
• AKT II

Read profiles of our alumni to find out more about where some of our graduates are working.

Careers support

Study abroad and work placements

Work placements

An industrial placement year is a great way to help you decide on a career path when you graduate. You’ll develop your skills and gain a real insight into working life in a particular company or sector. It will also improve your employability and help you to stand out in a competitive graduate jobs market.

Benefits of a work placement year:

• 100+ organisations to choose from, both in the UK and overseas
• All placements are salaried
• Build industry contacts within your chosen field
• Our close industry links mean you’ll be in direct contact with potential employers
• Advance your experience and skills by putting the course teachings into practice
• Gain invaluable insight into working as a professional in this industry
• Improve your employability

If you decide to undertake a placement year this will extend your period of study by 12 months and, on successful completion, you will be awarded the ‘industrial’ variant in your degree title to demonstrate your added experience to future employers.

With the help and support of our dedicated Employability team, you can find the right placement to suit you and your future career goals.

Here are some examples of placements our students have recently completed:

• Arcadis
• Evolve Consulting Engineers Limited
• Price & Myers
• Cummins
• Nationwide Structures Ltd
• Yonder

Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.

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