Radical creativity meets a planet-protecting mindset. Join us to learn from inspiring architects at our green and spacious campus, close to industrial cities and the Lake District. We will teach you how to think innovatively and prioritise sustainability while you perfect your practical skills.

Why Lancaster?

• Study in a school that guarantees a dedicated studio space for every student, available 24/7
• Take inspiration from our location – a rural, green campus on the edge of industrial cities and the Lake District
• Learn from experts shaping conversation on technology, environment, and architecture and delivering TEA Talks
• Benefit from top facilities - from hand tools, 3D printers and laser scanners to CNC routers, large-scale printers and specialist software
• Immerse yourself in a programme that puts design innovation at the forefront of its teaching through our dedicated research lab, Imagination Lancaster
• Enhance your CV with live project work, networking events, practical experience, summer school and mentoring

Radical creativity with a conscience

Studying architecture at Lancaster will give you the know-how to be agile and ethical in your architectural practice. Tackling three key areas: future practice, digital crafts and the climate emergency, this course will teach you to build with sustainability in mind and design innovative spaces that match the needs of the communities that will use them.

With sustainability at the heart of all that we teach, we empower students to search for innovative solutions that repurpose materials and extend the lifecycle of buildings. We help students to become pioneers of future technologies like digital fabrication, rapid prototyping and the maker movement. During the course we take advantage of Lancaster’s local surroundings, exploring areas such as the Lake District to address place-based issues, landscapes and contexts.

We are one of the first courses in the country to implement the latest ARB and RIBA guidance on teaching ethics, professionalism, fire safety and sustainability, ensuring your knowledge is fully up to date when you graduate.

Hands-on learning

Our campus is an inspirational setting for studying architecture. You will experience a great contrast in the Architecture of our working spaces – an Arts and Crafts manor house and the award-winning modern Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts. Our studio layout allows you to experience the culture of a professional practice and work collaboratively with other students, whilst taking advantage of our top facilities.

Alongside lectures, seminars and practical workshops you will have one-to-one tutorials with award-winning academics who have first-hand experience in the industry. You will learn from tutors who have worked on projects such as the London Olympic Village, award nominated Portuguese rowing centre, Pocinho, and the Glasgow Transport Museum, and several have published books on their work.With plenty of opportunities for hands-on work in the studio our small class sizes allow us to get to know all our students well, which makes for a friendly and productive environment.

In your first year, you will develop small scale projects around Lancaster and explore their context and architectural principles. Your second year will give you the opportunity to design a retrofit live project and work directly with a client such as Lancaster Music Co Op or Queen’s Market Morecambe. You will then consolidate your knowledge in your final year developing a longer retrofit and new build housing project with mixed use facilities.

Our Summer school is a great chance to practice alongside academics and architecture students from other years. This option is an opportunity to develop your teamwork skills, enhance your CV and explore innovative design approaches, technical solutions and materials.

Building Connections for your Future

With a strong and established network of national and regional partners, this course will equip you with the resources and the connections to effectively put your architectural skills into practice. Every student will have the opportunity to complete a placement in a local architectural practice through the RIBA North West Student Mentoring Scheme. This scheme provides two weeks’ experience within an architecture business, as well as valuable mentoring sessions with a professional architect.

At Lancaster School of Architecture, we have ongoing partnerships with several leading practices. Facilitated in part by the regional RIBA chapter and the Lancashire and Westmorland Society of Architects, we encourage students to start networking early, via events ranging from RIBA practice meet-ups, awards ceremonies, competitions, and cross-University studio reviews.

Through our design-led research lab, Imagination Lancaster, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with academics and public and private sector organisations, putting you at the forefront of live research projects that have real world, economic and societal impact. In previous years, we have partnered with organisations such as the Derwent Pencil Museum, The Ruskin Library, Museum and Research Centre, and UNESCO, all providing students with the opportunity to win awards for their work.

You will work with designers, architects, creative technologists and more, helping you build connections that will aid your future career.