Six reasons to study Architecture

1. Travel

Studying Architecture will expose you to the long and illustrious list of human-made wonders from across the globe. During your first year, you’re likely to study structures in some of the biggest cities in the world, such as Paris, London and Barcelona.

As a lot of the subject area is taught through going outside and gaining inspiration, you’ll likely have opportunities to visit these cities and experience buildings first hand.

2. Practice, practice, practice

An Architecture degree will teach you how to plan buildings, so they line up with pre-existing structures and provide effective services. You'll learn how to consider the environmental impact of what you design and think about how those designs could be reasonably implemented.

Many courses offer placement years, where you could work with a qualified architect and learn from them directly. This is a real plus as this kind of vocational tuition is rare.

3. Diversity of study

A combination of practical craft and historical theory means Architecture degrees perfectly blend arts and science. You’ll learn about the link between geopolitics and the design of historical buildings, why context might change the way a building is built, and how to calculate angles, use equations and analyse sketches. This will leave you with a broad skill set when you graduate.

4. Contact time

Architecture courses are defined by one-to-one tuition and workshops. Most courses give regular feedback and constructive criticism to encourage gradual improvement. Tutors put in the time with you and are usually quite accessible.

5. Make a difference

Architects have a pivotal effect on communities and the people who live in them. They design leisure centres, schools and housing estates, for instance – many of the structures that people need for living, learning and enjoying themselves. Study this subject area, and you could be working towards something genuinely meaningful.

6. Teamwork

Studying Architecture involves a lot of teamwork. You may often find yourself amid a group project, having to coordinate with others to achieve a collective goal. That’s not easy, but it does help to develop transferable skills in empathy, understanding, delegation, communication and leadership.