Architectural Technology with Foundation

University of Westminster, London

Our degree courses with Foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster.Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge and skills towards degree-level study, or want to change your subject specialism, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our Foundation year to progress onto full honours degree with us.Our Foundation year in Architecture and Design offers an introduction to the creative professions that shape the design of interiors, buildings and urban spaces. Through design projects you'll learn about the spatial, technical and cultural issues, and develop the grounding skills and creative practices necessary for further study. The first semester begins with an exploration of the design and inhabitation of urban space, followed by a materials and making project based in the Fabrication Laboratory, our outstanding Marylebone campus workshop facility. Running alongside these will be studio and field-based exercises to develop your drawing and creative skills. In the second semester, a project on the design of existing spaces will be followed by the development of a creative work driven by your own interests. Students from the Foundation will have the opportunity to exhibit in the School of Architecture and Cities summer exhibition. Your practical development will be accompanied by modules in both semesters on academic skills in writing and critical thinking.On successful completion of the Foundation year, you'll be able to move on to study for the Architectural Technology BSc Honours degree over a further three years of study.Our design-led Architectural Technology BSc will give you the skills you need to launch your career in design and development.From architectural composition and technical analysis to the business and management skills you'll need for contract procurement, we'll teach you how to apply technical decision-making to real-life design challenges.Learning in our dedicated Architectural Technology studio and working on real design briefs, you’ll develop a sound understanding of the processes of design and construction and the management tools, particularly CAD, for communicating design information.You'll gain an understanding of the multidisciplinary and collaborative nature of the modern construction industry, and will have the chance to work alongside students from all construction courses in Year 1.CareersGraduate architectural technologists have a wide range of career opportunities. Employment can range from architectural practice, working for contractors, engineering practices and construction management practices. As a design-based science degree, students can also move to product design, furniture design, and other design disciplines.Job rolesOur course will prepare you for careers in the areas of architectural/construction management, design management, architectural photography and construction project management, and roles such as:Architectural assistantArchitectural designerArchitectural design managerArchitectural technicianArchitectural technologistGraduates should aim for chartered architectural technologist status. After graduation and work experience, a chartered architectural technologist can set up their own practice, provide a full architectural design service and lead projects of all shapes and sizes from start to finish, from new homes and hotels to shopping centres and football stadiums. Graduate employersGraduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:BIGBLA ArchitectsFoggoFoster + PartnersHutchinson & PartnersPozzoni ArchitecturePTAL (Peter Taylor Associates)