BA (Hons) Architecture (Study Abroad) Bachelor's degree at Lancaster University

Focusing on the fundamentals of architectural design, this module will engage you in spatial exploration and visual representation, culminating in the development of a small structure or building. Learning digital and analogue techniques to represent architectural space and form, both measured and illustrative, this module will help you develop your hand-drawn skills for visual communication, including orthogonal drawing and layout and annotation conventions. Delivered instruction and workshops will provide a basis for a series of technical projects, whilst live briefs, external visits, collaborations and opportunities for site visits and field trips, will provide you with real-world experie

Building on your representation skills learned in Architectural Design Studio 1A, this module will help you develop your ability to survey and analyse a site. You’ll learn how to observe, map, and understand the dynamics and human interactions of a place, leading toward a building design proposal. You will explore materials and representative techniques to present both cultural and social understanding of spaces, but also their materiality and identity. Through this exploration you will develop a critical understanding and appreciation of design generators and conceptual approaches to the resolution of a small building design. Live briefs, external visits, collaborations and opportunities fo

Covering issues in architectural history, theory, culture, design and urbanism, this diverse module will give you an insight into globalised and urban visionaries, country-specific influences and globalised contexts. Through a series of lectures, you will be taught using extended historical narratives with a range of temporal, spatial and geographical foci, each founded on a core text. Connecting architectural theory with architectural history, this approach will focus on wider issues of environment, culture, design and urbanism from prehistoric times to the present day. You will be introduced to key developments in architectural history using different critical starting points. We will demo

Gain an entry-level insight into structural principles, materiality and tectonics, whilst discussing environmental and technical contexts surrounding architectural technology. Through a series of lectures, workshops, practical demonstrations and seminars, this module will help you understand the fundamentals of architectural technology. You will explore building technology based on case studies and design studio modules, with a focus on materials and assembly, lean construction, and passive architecture principals. Live briefs, external visits, collaborations and opportunities for site visits and field trips will provide you with real-world experience essential for building your future caree

Through live project experience, this module will help you gain practical experience in design, while learning how to participate in collaborative processes, strengthen communication skills, and engage meaningfully with communities. In this design studio module, you’ll enhance your digital skills through CAD, 3D modelling, rendering, and digital fabrication, using industry-standard software. You’ll also explore site analysis and survey techniques while developing a design proposal in response to a set brief. The communication skills you gain on this module will help you tailor your projects to different types of audiences. Where applicable, live briefs, external visits, collaborations and op

Focusing on the UK building regulations, join us as we introduce you to urban design principles and planning frameworks. Enabling you to create an urban masterplan, this module will teach you to consider the social and cultural impacts of your work, whilst helping you progress onto urban building and specific building schemes. In this module, you will design a public building or collective housing project of approximately 750 sqm, developing it to the detailed design stage. You’ll also gain an understanding of the UK model for building design and construction, including the RIBA Plan of Work. Where applicable, the Design Studio will feature live briefs, external collaborations, and opportuni

Expanding on the foundation laid in Architectural Humanities 1, this module will deepen your understanding of architectural history, with a focus on the more recent developments in architectural practice. Focusing on alternative architectural practices, this module moves beyond traditional critical frameworks such as race, gender, sexuality, and social and spatial justice, by examining architecture as a form of activism and an expanded mode of practice. This enables an in-depth exploration of the architect’s roles and responsibilities in relation to ethics and moral decision-making. By drawing on histories of human rights and environmental activism, it connects these issues to architecture a

Exploring contemporary construction technologies, this module will provide you with a strong understanding of architectural technology, passive and active systems, energy efficiency and eco-technology. This module offers a clear introduction to the regulatory framework, focusing on key aspects of building regulations and the broader professional context. You’ll also explore the physical and material qualities of building components through detailed drawings and models, potentially including daylighting and environmental systems. Learning is delivered through a mix of lectures, seminars, written reports, and hands-on model making, and where applicable, the Design Studio will feature live brie

In your third year you will study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to expand your global outlook and professional network, as well as developing your cultural and personal skills. It is also an opportunity to gain a different perspective on your subject through studying it in another country. You will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially modules from other subjects offered by the host university that are specific to that university and country. The availability of places at overseas partners varies each year. In previous years destinations for students in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences have included Austral

As the first part of the final year Architectural Design Studio, this module focuses on the urban and architectural analysis of a specific site, framed within a broader global issue. Throughout this module, you will read, research and analyse both the ‘place’ and the ‘problem’ to develop your own response in the form of an architectural intervention and a suggested building programme. Emphasising regenerative design grounded in sustainable, circular and ecological principles, this module guides you in developing your project to the equivalent of RIBA Stage 2 within the RIBA Plan of Work. As part of your portfolio submission, you will typically include: Developed design concepts Sketches Draw

As the second part of the final year Architectural Design Studio, this module focuses on the development of proposals from Architectural Design Studio 3A and is aligned with content in Professional Practice and Integrated Technology. You will develop and refine your ideas through an iterative design process that includes drawing, model making and other creative media, using both analogue and digital methods. As your design progresses, you'll move beyond initial strategies to define key elements such as structure, materials, finishes and details, shaping a clear and resolved proposal. These activities align closely with Stages 3 and 4 of the RIBA Plan of Work. Typically, your portfolio submis

Building upon your visual research skills developed in Architectural Humanities 1 and 2, this module will encourage you to address the complexities of contemporary architectural production. Working in groups, you’ll analyse an architectural controversy and visually ‘map’ the many people and forces involved in bringing a built project to life. With architectural practice being closely connected to environmental, social, political, economic and cultural issues, this module will help you explore how both human and non-human factors shape buildings and public spaces. Using visual research methods, you’ll create a ‘supergraphic’ that combines qualitative and quantitative data to uncover the compl

Evaluating the role of the architect in relation to your design studio work, this module will see you demonstrate your understanding of regulatory compliance, technical requirements and the ethical considerations that are involved in the context of your design work. To support your design work, you’ll choose a relevant precedent and create a case study report. This will involve analysing how well it addresses sustainability, follows regulations, and considers ethical issues. You’ll also reflect on your findings and explain what legal and health and safety factors you would need to consider in your own design studio project. In the second part of the module, you'll focus on integrating struct

Focusing on both individual and collective understanding of professional practice, this module will explore an architect’s responsibilities at different stages of a project. Covering the essential skills and knowledge required for working in current practice, you will be encouraged to explore the possibilities for future developments in the field. During the first part of the module, you will be tested on contracts and procurement, the regulations and legislation that govern building design and the professional and socially responsible behaviours of architects. You will also undertake group work to establish a mock architectural practice. Through this, you will develop a portfolio in respons