A new BA Architecture with a Foundation Year programme has been launched at Manchester School of Architecture, giving more students than ever before the opportunity to pursue careers within the architecture sector, and building on commitments from The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University to widen participation in higher education.
A four-year programme, the foundation element of the course will provide an accessible transition between school and university study, and grant successful students immediate access onto the BA (Hons) Architecture programme at MSA.
Units on the foundation element of the course include introductions to key architectural concepts, including perspective drawing, physical modelmaking, CAD and digital skills. Students will also gain insight into design processes, soft skills for study, and how to address societal, client and project related issues when conceptualising design solutions.
All students on the foundation programme will receive a £1,000 bursary to support their studies, with a further Student Financial Support Package worth £750 available to students meeting eligibility criteria.
Emily Crompton, Senior Lecturer and Foundation Year Leader sees the new programme as an important development:
“ The ambition for our new Foundation year is to address wide-held concerns of under representation in the discipline of Architecture. At MSA we believe that Architecture is for Everybody. I am really pleased that the Foundation gained the full support from both Manchester Met and the University of Manchester so that we could create a course which recognises, challenges and I hope removes some of the barriers that people face in deciding to study Architecture.
I am so excited to meet our first cohort of Foundation students in September. We are planning some creative, exciting, surprising, hands-on activities to facilitate our students in gaining the skills they will need for the rest of their degree – I can’t wait to get started!”
Currently ranked 5th amongst architecture schools globally (QS Architecture rankings 2023), Manchester School of Architecture unites two leading higher education institutions with more than 100 years of experience, over 100 expert members of staff and more than 1,000 students from 80 countries.
Full information on the BA (Hons) Architecture with Foundation Year can be found here.