Architectural Technology (with Placement Year)

• Ranked 5th in the UK for 'Architecture’ by the Guardian University Guide 2020.
• Teaching from current fully qualified and experienced staff who have a high level of design and technical experience in the construction industry and some of whom are still involved in research projects.
• Collaborative links with universities currently in 20 countries around the world, including Spain, USA, Denmark, Italy and France, giving you the chance for you to spend part of your studies abroad.
• Studios and laboratories equipped with the latest versions of CAD software including 2D, 3D and visualisation software, building information management software and building performance analysis programs.
• The opportunity to take part in events where you could meet members of the local design and building community, and attend professional development meetings held by the professional institutions on campus (subject to availability).
• Full accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) for the 2021/2022 intake, aiming to set you on the path to becoming a chartered builder, chartered construction manager or chartered architectural technologist.
• Primarily common first year makes it possible to transfer to construction management, building surveying, quantity surveying or commercial management in the second year if you wish, after successful completion of Year 1.

*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

In the first year, primarily common to other building disciplines, you will be introduced to the fundamental topics of building design and the construction process, which are essential to practitioners in all construction professions, such as what constitutes good building design and what causes damage to buildings.

In the second year, you will be introduced to more complex issues surrounding the profession such as adaptation of buildings and urban planning which aims to further explore your design and construction knowledge from the previous year.

Following your second year, you will have an option to apply for a one-year professional work placement or study abroad in a partner institution. Past students have undertaken placements working within architecture practices all over the UK and abroad.

If you wish to undertake the optional study abroad/placement year, you will take either the Placement Year module or the Study Abroad Year module which both typically run for a full academic year between years 2 and 3 of your course. You are normally able to progress onto the relevant module if you have successfully completed the first two years of the course (i.e. having accumulated 240 credits) and have a confirmed opportunity two weeks prior to the start of the academic year. However, we encourage international students to confirm their placements earlier to ensure they are able to meet any applicable visa requirements.

Students opting for either the work placement or study abroad module will be registered on a non-credit bearing module and therefore no additional tuition fees apply. Whilst the modules do not bear credits, they do require completion of marked activities reflecting on your placement/study abroad or work placement experience. Following successful completion of the activities, the module selected will appear on your final academic transcript.

Students will thus graduate with 360 credits in total, assuming successful completion of their final year.

In your final year, you should deepen your knowledge of the role of professional practitioners in the construction industry, as an independent practitioner or as an employee in a design office. You will cover professionalism and codes of behaviour, as well as skills relating to setting up in private practice, commercial development and management of a professional practice in the built environment sector.

The course culminates in a research-informed design project and an integrated design and construction planning project in collaboration with other students from our construction courses.

Recent graduates have found employment with all levels of companies at national level, such as:

• HOK
• local companies
• IDP Partnership and Corstorphine and Wright