AIS Programme Information Sheet 2015

The course information sheet below includes details of the structure of the course, FAQs and application information.

BSc Architecture and Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS)

2014-15

BSc Architecture and Interdisciplinary Studies Oct 2014

Contents

Overview 3

Structure 4

Content 5

Staff 9

Opportunities 9

Applying 16

Entry requirements 17

FAQs 18


The Bartlett offers a BSc (Hons) in Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies both as a 3-year degree (K102) and as a 4-year degree With Year Abroad (K101). The BSc AIS is a unique course in the UK that allows students to follow modules within The Bartlett in conjunction with modules in other departments of UCL. It offers a specialism in architecture without the constraints of ARB/RIBA Part 1 requirements.

The programme has been running since 2002-3 and has accepted students from Year 1 since 2013-4. It now has over 110 graduates and a well-established track record. Graduates have gone on to postgraduate studies and professional careers in a wide variety of fields including journalism, landscape design, lighting design, documentary film, conservation, music, photography, print-making, arts education and management, events management, urban planning, law, marketing and the media, accounting, property valuation, construction management, international development, and heritage institutions. They have pursued graduate studies at universities such as the Royal College of Art, Central St. Martin’s, Imperial, City University, LSE, Sci-Arc, and ETH in Zurich, as well as at UCL.

The great strength of the AIS programme is its interdisciplinarity: students are able to tailor their own course of study to suit their particular interests and future postgraduate and career plans. It suits highly motivated, independent students who are interested in architecture, design, and urban studies, but who also wish to take advantage of electives on offer elsewhere in UCL. Popular choices include Anthropology, Art History, Archaeology, Economics, European Language Cultures and Society, Geography, Management, Languages, Psychology, Philosophy, and Mathematics.

BSc AIS is now offered from Year 1, and has six dedicated module offerings. In addition, the programme is available as a transfer option for 2nd and 3rd year BSc Architecture students within The Bartlett.

There are two streams to BSc AIS:

• BSc Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies (3 year)

• BSc Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies With Year Abroad (4 year)

BSc AIS introduces students to key architectural ideas and spatial strategies through a range of customised courses. Some of these are shared with BSc Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 1) and some are specific to BSc AIS. The programme aims to incorporate activity-based learning through research and creative practice components, which explore media, objects, and representational modes of architecture (text, models, drawings, film, software, or any combination of these) and develops skills in the use of these media. There is also an emphasis on onsite learning supported by study visits and an annual field trip.

The programme provides students with the necessary intellectual and practical skills to engage with architecture and the city in an increasingly globalised age, allowing them to consider how identity, cultural values, economics and environmental concerns shape and are shaped by the built environment. These ongoing processes will be explored not only through the disciplinary tools of architecture (though these remain a focus), but also those from other disciplines from art history to anthropology to management, where appropriate.

OvErvIEw

BSc Architecture and Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS)

Programme Leaders: Elizabeth Dow, Dr Barbara Penner


This flexible approach encourages the development of independent-minded and culturally sensitive graduates who are well equipped to problem solve in complex environments of all kinds.

Key Features of BSc AIS:

• Emphasis on Design and Creative Practice The BSc AIS’s own design and creative practice courses (Project X) are offered in Years 1, 2 and 3. These courses are unique to the programme and strongly encourage a speculative approach to design. They allow students to develop a wide range of practical skills, learning to research and survey objects, buildings, and sites through various means.

• Interdisciplinarity/Flexibility The BSc AIS offers a specialism in architecture without the constraints of ARB/RIBA Part 1 requirements. A very wide range of options can be selected from other UCL departments and a high degree of customisation is possible within one’s chosen path. Popular departments for the selection of modules include: Anthropology, Art History, Archaeology, Centre for International Health and Development, Economics, European Languages Society and Culture, Geography, History, Languages (Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish), Management, and Psychology.

• Field Trips/Study Abroad Option Every year, BSc AIS students are also able to go on a dedicated field trip (2013-4, Berlin; 2014-5, Madrid). BSc AIS with Year Abroad students additionally will benefit from a full year abroad (Year 3) supported by UCL’s Study Abroad team (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/studyabroad)

• Educational Environment BSc AIS is a select, friendly programme with a dedicated and experienced teaching team. We usually have 25-35 students in total which allows for close interaction with tutors through regular meetings and tutorials, and helps foster a stimulating and creative environment. The BSc AIS also offers students an opportunity to be immersed in the wider architectural culture of The Bartlett, the UK’s top-rated Architectural School. Students participate in The Bartlett’s Annual Student Show and may take advantage of the full range of evening lectures and exhibitions at The Bartlett, UCL, and in London.

60% of students’ selected modules come from within The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment (Architecture, Planning, and Construction Management), while the remaining 40% can be made up of electives from any other UCL department of their choice.

Content for both the 3-year and the 4-year versions of BSc AIS are the same, except that in Year 3, students on the year abroad programme spend the year away. While there are no core subjects in Years 1 and 2, it is expected that students will all take the following courses:

Year 1

ENVS 1001 The History of Cities and Their Architecture 0.5cu

ENVS 1026 Architectural Media: Looking, making & communicating 0.5cu

ENVS 1027 Project X: Design and Creative Practice 1 0.5cu

ENVS 1028 Architectural Research I 0.5cu

Electives in The Bartlett Min 0.5cu

Electives in other UCL departments Max 1.5cu

TOTAL 4cu

(cu= course units)

STruCTurE

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/studyabroad


Year 2

ENVS 2034 History & Theory of Architecture 0.5cu

ENVS 2037 Project X for Architectural Studies - 2nd Year 1cu

ENVS 2046 Architectural Research II 0.5cu

0.5cu

Electives in the Bartlett Min 0.5cu


TOTAL 4cu

Year 3 (For students in 4-year degree wYA)

Year Abroad

Year 3 (for students in 3-year degree); Year 4 (for students in 4-year degree wYA)

ENVS 3020 Dissertation in Architectural Studies 1cu

ENVS 3021 History & Theory of Architecture 1cu

ENVS 2046 Architectural Research II 0.5cu

ENVS 3032 Project X for Architectural Studies - 3rd Year 1cu /1.5cu

Electives in The Bartlett Min 1 to 1.5cu


TOTAL 4cu

Note:

• It is compulsory to take either ENVS 3020 or 3032. (Students may also opt to take both.)

• In Year 3, 3 out of 4cu must be Advanced courses.

The BSc AIS aims to produce graduates who have an ability to think relationally, and to understand the importance of context (of different disciplines, cultures, and environments). This is central to the BSc AIS’s philosophy and is the key to addressing the challenges of the 21st century – sustainability, intercultural interaction, well being, and global health.

At the heart of BSc AIS programme is its specially tailored courses in Design and Creative Practice (Project X) and Architectural Research. These are offered from Year 1 in order to provide general and subject-specific skills development for future study and employment, including:

• Key tools and techniques of architecture design and fabrication (casting, modeling, sketching, drawing, photography, film)

• Key research and dissemination skills (interviewing, researching, curating, writing)

• Presentation skills that allow ideas and information to be clearly communicated in visual, oral, and written forms

Distinct features of the course’s teaching and learning approach are:

• An emphasis upon onsite or activity-based learning supported by study visits and field trips

• An emphasis on the constant production of small assignments for seminars/tutorials which build up to a larger portfolio of work

COnTEnT


• An emphasis on group critiques (‘crits’) where students learn to explain their work, listen to and evaluate feedback, and make decisions about how to incorporate it into the next phase of their project

Main Project Componets

Project X: Design and Creative Practice Throughout the three years of BSc AIS, Project X design and creative practice courses are a main focus of activity. In Years 1, 2, and 3 students are taught in a year-wide group. Projects are not seen as isolated exercises but are continually related to other concerns. In this way design and creative practice is not treated as a remote skill, but as something which is integrated into other intellectual activities in a holistic manner. There is a level of integration between Project X and other courses, especially Architectural Research courses, so that each activity informs the other. In this light, Project X courses also reach out into all other areas.

Architectural research Throughout the three years of BSc AIS, architectural research is a main focus of activity. In Years 1 and 2, in Architectural Research I & II, students are taught in a year-wide group through a combination of seminars and workshops; in Year 3, Dissertation in Architectural Studies, they are taught through a combination of group teaching and individual tutorials. The underlying premise of these courses is that, rather than being the exclusive product of architects, architectural culture has often been significantly shaped by people working in related fields. Architectural Research aims to introduce ‘other’ activities that contribute to architectural knowledge and build relevant skills to support them.

Architectural History and Theory The cultural context of architecture is also addressed through the architectural history & theory modules which run through the three years of BSc AIS and are taken with the BSc Arch students. In Year 1, the module provides an overall view of the cultural context within which buildings and cities have been produced in the past. In Years 2 and 3, two series of lectures focus in greater attention on the architecture of the past 150 years. In addition, Year 2 students follow a seminar series explaining different kinds of architectural texts, while Year 3 students join a specialist seminar group exploring a specific historical or theoretical theme in relation to architecture. Finally, students are exposed to a whole range of outside influences through the public lecture series, Gallery exhibitions, conferences and other non-degree related activities of the School.

Other uCL electives Each year, students are able to choose up to 1.5 course units from other UCL departments and the teaching mode and content will vary according to their choices. Popular choices for students in BSc AIS include elective modules in UCL Anthropology, Art History, Archaeology, Economics, European Language Cultures and Society, Geography, Management Science and Innovation, Languages, Psychology, Philosophy, and Mathematics.

Customised BSc AIS Modules Note: While these modules are primarily for BSc AIS students, and priority will be given to them, we do also welcome a number of students from other departments who would like to take them as electives. If you are a UCL student from another department or an affiliate student, please contact the module coordinator directly to ask for permission to attend as well as registering on PORTICO. Acceptance is not automatic and your module selection will not be approved unless you speak to us first. If it is a design and creative practice course, we may well also request that you come in for an interview with a portfolio.

Please note that all of our modules are potentially available, however, offer one option, ENVS 2041 Architectural Studies: Creative Design Project (0.5cu; Term 1), specifically for affiliates. See description below.


Year 1

EnvS 1026 Architectural Media: Looking, making, and communicating (0.5cu; Term 1) Module Coordinators: Joel Cady, [email protected]; Frosso Pimenides, [email protected]

Architectural Media offers an introduction to skills used in the understanding, construction and representation of design proposals and architectural ideas. The module is taught through a mixture of lectures, practical workshops, and tutorials. You will be taught alongside first year architecture students and will be encouraged to develop a wide range of drawing and making skills including analytical sketching, sectional drawing, casting and soldering. As the module progresses, you will use these skills to develop a portfolio based on your own personal or academic interests. This portfolio will form the basis of the assessment for the module.

EnvS 1027 Project X Design and Creative Practice 1 (0.5cu; Term 2) Module Coordinators: Kevin Green, [email protected]; Freddy Tuppen, [email protected]

Project X: Design and Creative Practice 1 is not a conventional architectural design module, and although it may involve the design of an architectural space, the means through which space is imagined, drawn and represented can differ substantially from the traditional architectural means of representation, limitations and requirements of a professionally accredited module. You will be able to use a variety of media according to the ideas pursued, including writing, drawing, photography, physical making (models and crafts), sound, film, digital media, installation or performance. ENVS 1027 is a 0.5cu 14-week module offered across Terms 2 and 3. Through three to four set design projects, of differing lengths, the module offers an introduction to design and creative practice allowing each student the opportunity to begin to develop their own individual and distinct creative voice.

EnvS 1028 Architectural research I (0.5cu; Term 1) Module Coordinator: Dr. Barbara Penner, [email protected]

Architectural culture has never been exclusively a product of professionally-trained architects, but now, more than ever, there are many other people working in related fields who shape debates and ideas around architecture in significant ways. Architectural Research I aims to introduce these ‘other’ modes of contributing to architectural knowledge. The themes that are covered will vary year-on-year, but include:

• Analysing Architecture (heritage, history);

• Writing Architecture (criticism, books, blogs);

• Exhibiting Architecture (curating, museums, art fairs);

• Touring Architecture (touring, teaching, animating)

• Disseminating Architecture (Wikipedia, podcasting, broadcasting, apps)

Year 2

EnvS 2037 Project X for Architectural Studies – Year 2 (1cu; Terms 1-3)* Module Coordinator: Chee Kit Lai, [email protected]

Project X for Architectural Studies – Year 2 module, is part of a unique suite of design and creative practice modules on the Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies programme that enables each student to develop an understanding of, and an individual approach to, design and creative practice, with particular reference to the context of an architectural education. In Year 2 we encourage students to approach their creative practice in a highly speculative manner. It is an opportunity to research and explore a wide range of current creative and design practices and to experiment with many media, with the intention

mailto:[email protected]







that they can begin to form a distinct and individual approach to their own creative practice.

EnvS 2041 Architectural Studies: Creative Design Project (0.5cu; Term 1) Module Coordinator: Chee Kit Lai, [email protected]

This is a short version of ENVS2037 for UCL BASc students, UCL students from other departments, and affiliate students. We generally expect students to have some previous design experience, for instance, ENVS 1026, however, this is not obligatory. To be accepted onto this course, you may be invited for an interview and be requested to bring in a portfolio of work. Instead of following the entire year of Project X and developing a final project, you will be asked to focus on producing three short projects in response to specific briefs that are set by the tutor in Term 1. There is considerable creative scope to interpret these briefs and to produce work in a wide variety of media.

EnvS 2046 Architectural research II (0.5cu; Term 2) Module Coordinator: Dr. Barbara Penner, [email protected]

Architectural Research II will put the research skills acquired in Architectural Research I into action. It is a 10-week Group Project (though each member’s contribution will be individually assessed). Each year, a different theme will be set by the module coordinator. The group must then research the theme with an eye to producing an exhibition at the end of the course. The group will be put into teams and given responsibility for a set task. This might include library or archival research, oral interviews, writing/editing wall texts, making curatorial decisions to do with the display, designing and fabricating display cases, organising the event layout, and arranging publicity for the event.

Year 3

EnvS 3020 Dissertation in Architectural Studies (1cu; Terms 1-3) Module Coordinator: Dr Brent Pilkey, [email protected]

The Dissertation in Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies enables a student to undertake an independent research project into an architectural subject that he or she has identified and wish to explore in greater depth. The emphasis in this module is on conducting original research and producing investigative in-depth written studies, supported by appropriate visual documentation. In addition, there will be a focus on writing as an iterative process.

Module: EnvS 3032 Project X for Architectural Studies – Year 3 (1 to 1.5cu; Terms 1-3) Module Coordinator: Elizabeth Dow, [email protected], 140 Hampstead Road, room 57.02

Project X for Architectural Studies – Year 3 module, is the final element of our suite of design and creative practice modules on the BSc AIS programme. In Year 3 we encourage each student to approach his or her creative practice in a much more defined manner. We encourage students to research and critique relevant creative and design practices and let this inform their own work, but more emphasis is given to the need for a clearly resolved final design project at the end of the course. The module provides the opportunity for each student to further develop his or her own individual creative voice but potentially can allow a student to explore their own future practice beyond their undergraduate education.






Programme Leaders:

Elizabeth Dow, [email protected] (responsible for overall coordination of Project X Years 1-3)

Dr Barbara Penner, [email protected] (responsible for overall coordination of Architectural Research/Dissertation Years 1-3)

Module Coordinators: Kevin Green, [email protected] Chee Kit Lai, [email protected] Dr. Brent Pilkey, [email protected] Freddy Tuppen, [email protected]

In addition, external lecturers and critics regularly contribute talks and workshops to the programme. Recent contributs have included:

• Matthew Butcher (architectural tutor and practitioner)• Christophe Gerard (film-maker and architect)• Brandon LaBelle (sound artist)• Yesomi Umolu (curator, writer and researcher)• Prof. Jane Rendell (architectural critic and historian• Prof. Iain Borden (architectural and urban historian)

Programme Administrator: Eleni Goule, [email protected]

The first cohort of students on the Architectural and Interdisciplinary Studies BSc three-year programme are due to graduate in 2016, therefore no exact information about career destinations is presently available. However, BSc AIS emerged from an existing BSc Architectural Studies, which has a strong track record with over 120 graduates since 2002-3.

Graduates have gone on to postgraduate studies and professional careers in a wide variety of fields including:

• accounting• academia• arts education and management/curating• business start-ups• charity work• conservation• construction management• design• documentary film-making• education• fine arts• heritage• international health and development• journalism• landscape architecture• law• lighting design• marketing, media and communications• museum management• NGOs• photography• planning• property valuation• publishing• set design• surveying• zoo management

Students have pursued graduate studies at UCL, as well as at other universities such as the RCA, Central St Martins, Goldsmiths, City University, London School of Economics, Imperial College and ETH in Zurich.

STAFF

OPPOrTunITIES









Further Degrees taken by former AS students

• MBBS Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, King’s College London• Masters Art History, Birkbeck • Masters Design, Central St Martin’s • Masters Art History, Courtauld Institute of Art• Masters Property Valuation and Law, City University • Masters Management, City University Business School • Masters Journalism, City University • Masters Arts Management, City University• Masters Research Architecture, Goldsmiths • Masters Landscape Design, ETH (Zurich) • Masters Management, Imperial College London • Masters Public Policy, School of Social Science and Public Policy, King’s

College London• Masters Culture, Media and Creative Industries, King’s College London

Masters Spatial Design, London College of Communication• Masters NGOs and Development, London School of Economics• Masters Interior Design, Scuola Politecnica di Milano (SPD) • Masters Islamic Arts, Prince’s Foundation• Masters Printmaking, Royal College of Art• Masters Sculpture, Royal College of Art • Masters Contemporary Art, Sotheby’s Institute of Art• Masters Architecture, Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-

ARC)• Masters Planning Policy and Practice, Southbank University• Masters Archives and Records Management, UCL• Masters European History, UCL• Masters Advanced Architectural Studies, Bartlett School of Graduate

Studies, UCL Masters Architectural History, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL

• Masters Engineering, UCL• Masters European Property Development and Planning, Bartlett School of

Planning, UCL • Masters Media, Slade School of Fine Art, UCL

Masters Planning, UCL• Masters Architecture: Advanced Energy and Environmental Studies,

University of East London/ Centre for Alternative Technology, Wales • Masters European History, SEESS, University of London • Masters Building Surveying • Masters Publishing• PhD Management, University of Edinburgh

Internships

• A10 New European Architecture (Amsterdam)• Architects for Aid• Architecture Foundation (London)• Crafts Council (London)

Donald Judd Foundation (New York)• Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art (London)• The Gopher Hole (London)• National Trust (East of England)• Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Venice)• La Machine (Nantes)• Open City (London)• Sotheby’s (London)• White Cube (London)

Prizes/Projects

• 2009 Prix de la Sculpture, Noilly Prat, France• Interior design installation, 40 Store Street, London• Central Teaching Laboratory, University of Liverpool


Former Student Testimonials

[Please note: These are students who graduated from BSc Architectural Studies degree which ran between 2002-3 and 2012-2013 before becoming the BSc Architectural & Interdisciplinary Studies in 2013-4.]

Ruth A Allan, 2005, NGO Country Director, South Sudan I began at The Bartlett School of Architecture with an interest in design, the built environment and social space. I decided that although I did not want to practice within the architectural profession, I wanted to continue my interest in a constructed society, its development and survival.

Architectural Studies allowed me to remain in the inspired and diversely stimulating environment of The Bartlett, continue to pursue a creative outlet through Project X, and fulfill my need for a solid grounding in a less conceptual reality. Architectural Studies allows one to be part of the greater ethos of UCL - societies, active student networks and forward-thinking activist approaches - in a way the tunnel vision of professional study does not.

I view The Bartlett as a unique environment in which to study; to be able to self-direct ones spatial design or creative work, in whatever medium, with the high level of teaching staff, fellow students and discussions, is a very valuable opportunity. The work ethic of the school and the thought processes that are developed are unquestionably powerful and useful in whatever one goes on to do. I have continued to value the transferable skills and attitudes The Bartlett left with me.

As with many people, my interests and emphasis changed as I progressed. On graduation, I directed my career towards humanitarian work. Taking forward a spatial understanding and project experience, I worked for non-government organisations (NGOs) in Pakistan following the 2005 earthquake and in Darfur, Sudan. I returned to the London School of Economics in 2009, completing my MSc in Humanitarian Emergencies and Social Policy. After consultancies with Oxfam and United Nations, at the time of writing, I am now the Country Director of the health NGO Malaria Consortium in Juba, Republic of South Sudan. There are always parallels to be drawn between earlier experiences. Some are directly transferable, others less obviously so. For example, the time pressure of managing and motivating a team on The Bartlett first year installation project compared with the construction of tented clinic facilities in camps for displaced people in Pakistan-administered Kashmir; or preparing a university-researched dissertation compared with a report on a current conflict for the United Nations.

The Bartlett is more than a pure architecture school leading people into the building profession. I believe Architectural Studies allows one to develop a way of seeing and to study within an open-minded school of creative thought which allows you to step into many diverse and sometimes unexpected outcomes.

Tom Barnes, 2005, Archivist, National Motor Museum, Beaulieu Having made the difficult decision that architectural practice was not for me (and that this was probably not where my talents lay), Architectural Studies gave me the freedom to pursue and develop interests both within the School and without. Most prominent in my mind are the modules that I took at the Slade, and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies. By graduation, I was determined to enrol on a history masters programme, which I did after a year in work. On completion, my path became a little less clear. Although I struggled to find engaging employment at this time, voluntary work with the Civic Trust and National Trust ultimately helped me secure a graduate trainee position at the Britten-Pears Foundation, where I was introduced to the wonderful world of archives and libraries. Here I was privileged to work with original manuscripts, libretti, and rare books. Following on from my traineeship, I was grateful to receive a studentship that enabled me to study Archives and Records Management, and I am now a qualified archivist. Working with original archival material provides many fascinating insights into lives perhaps unknown, forgotten, or misrepresented; it has the power to challenge accepted narratives or to breathe new life into the past. My route


has been an interesting one, if somewhat circuitous. I retain a strong interest in architecture and hope one day I will find myself working with architectural archives!

Joey Clark, 2008, Medical Student Having always had a passion for art and design I realised architecture was not the branch that inspired me the most. Project X allowed me to maintain a creative outlet, but incorporate a theme I was more passionate about but had long since forgotten - medical illustration. My final project was an exploration of the representation of suturing relating to aortic stenosis. I extended this anatomical interest to my History and Theory of Architecture dissertation, looking at human dissection as art.

Architectural Studies’ ability to allow students to explore interests outside architecture is of its essence. The opportunity to select modules from across UCL was central to me finding my place in an entirely different discipline. The most significant module was Anatomy for Artists where I worked alongside medical students, both in the UCL dissection room and in lectures. There I rekindled my passion for anatomy which eventually escalated into a desire to study medicine. Initially it was difficult to admit to myself I was on the wrong path, but after changing course I was infinitely happier and found my work more enjoyable.

Amber Fahey, 2011, Architecture Foundation (Intern) Architectural Studies presented me first with the opportunity to design a building, and then a tailored degree programme that enabled me to academically pursue a broad range of interests. Taking modules within a range of UCL’s world-class departments, while centring yourself in the cutting-edge environment of The Bartlett, allows you to be multifaceted in your learning, gain experience in many fields at once, and even to embark on new subjects that you are curious to explore; among my options, I was able to begin learning French, and to study Astronomy at the University of London Observatory. With every module being elective, each graduate finishes the course with a unique degree. Alongside developing a broad range of employable skills, this route enabled me to become more involved in UCL as a body, to take part in more extra-curricular activities, and to discover the vast number of opportunities that being a UCL student offers.

The core modules unique to Architectural Studies, although also optional, are Project X and the Advanced Architectural Dissertation. They are run by exceptional tutors within The Bartlett, who give a huge amount of one to one time, support, inspiration, knowledge, expert opinions, and constructive feedback throughout. They encourage you to explore a range of working methods before specialising and pursuing topics and ideas that you are most passionate about, and assist you in using them to stimulate a successful body of work. Other experts are also brought in to offer additional feedback and advice, and a number of group discussions are held throughout each year. In Project X you are also encouraged to continually refine your chosen methods of spatial creation and representation, which can be realised through any medium of your choosing.

Architectural Studies has opened my mind to the endless possibilities and opportunities that can be pursued, rather than having a predetermined career path. Project X and Dissertation have in particular taught me how much I enjoy creatively communicating ideas, as well as equipping me to do so. Currently I am working at the Architecture Foundation, which keeps me connected with the world of Architecture in a range of contexts. There I am able continue working in a creative workplace, where I am involved in the communication of the rich and diverse variety of cultural events hosted; including exhibitions, talks, film screenings, educational projects and more.

Will Henderson, 2009, Entrepreneur, multidisciplinary designer and product inventor (www.thiswilliam.com) Since graduating from the Architectural Studies (AS) course five years ago I have had the opportunity to work in a range of sectors including Architecture, Consumer Products, Design & Media, Education and Venture Capital. I have co-founded five companies, learnt Chinese and worked with schools, charities, Fortune 500s and governments. And it is testament to the course that throughout all of these endeavors, the consistent and critical aspect of success

www.thiswilliam.com


has been the multidisciplinary approach to solutions that I was taught and learnt while studying.

In this increasingly focused and competitive market, there is a temptation to specialise, often at the expense of one’s own interests and at the risk of limiting one’s unique offering. With AS there is a rare opportunity to experiment while also specialising – to explore the diversity of world-class courses and departments that UCL possesses, all the while being housed within the legendary Bartlett.

I am a designer at my core but I have a love and appreciation of science and languages. It is hard to beat The Bartlett environment for sheer design and creative excellence, and the main AS courses provided me with the best of this. I designed buildings, books and installations, took photos, made films and wrote dissertations. But I also had a chance to study Spanish (to business level), anthropology, sustainability and urbanism. If there was ever a chance to have your cake and eat it, AS is it!

Lynne Holtum, 2007, Fitzrovia Construction Ltd, MSc Building Surveying I think the fact that Architectural Studies allows you to tailor your degree to your interests and desired directions was its most important aspect. In my career so far it is easy to see how the breadth of knowledge I gained has been useful. Though this knowledge may not be at as dense a level as a more concentrated discipline would provide, my introduction to different subjects means that when I have encountered similar circumstances at work I have been able to recognise this and further my understanding from there. Also the openness of the dissertation module gave me an opportunity to learn about a subject in which I had a great interest, and turned it from an interest into something about which I am passionate.

Rupert Muldoon, 2004, Painter and Landscape Architect (www.rupertmuldoon.com) After my first year at The Bartlett, I chose to leave the more conventional architecture route as Architectural Studies offered me a chance to decide upon my own course of studies within the different departments at UCL. At The Bartlett I concentrated on the history and theory of architecture and was encouraged to explore my personal interests. I became engrossed in landscape as art and the relationship between art within landscape.

In the History of Art department I specialised in the Conservation and Restoration of Easel Paintings, which had a strong influence on my own painting.

Following university I have experienced a wide range of activities relevant to my degree and other interests, which have enabled me to cross boundaries between art and design and also to experience them in a commercial context. I have continued to paint, exhibiting successfully in London, with a solo show on Bond Street in 2011.

In 2009 I completed my MA in Landscape Architecture at ETH Zurich. I stayed in Switzerland for a further year to work within a landscape architecture practice that has a global perspective and a strong emphasis upon artistic conceptual principles and practical design skills. Landscape is a new-found scale of working for me. It is one continuous mass and must be approach with the holistic view of an artist. What I am most fascinated by as an artist and a designer is the identity of a place.

Satu Streatfield, 2005, Designer working with light The philosophy and ethos behind the Architectural Studies degree is one that any genuinely creative degree programme at university level should aspire to. The course supports students in the pursuit and development of their own creative and critical voice, encouraging them to continually refine and criticise their chosen methods of space creation and representation. My time on the course was definitely the most liberating, challenging, enlightening, stimulating and definitive of my education. I am still passionate about the concepts and theories that I explored for my dissertation and Project X and am eternally grateful for the encouragement, criticism, knowledge and inspiration of the course tutors and the specialist tutors they brought in.

www.rupertmuldoon.com

www.rupertmuldoon.com


My two years on the course paved my way to a job where I’m practicing the very things that I fell in love with on the AS course - using ephemeral media to create and augment space. I work in an inspiring and internationally well-respected team that uses light to create spaces that can morph from being intimate to beautiful to awesome to uncomfortable to intimidating and back again in a matter of minutes. I work with a medium capable of evoking sleep as well as stimulation, one which can soothe as well as cause pain, can reveal space, define and redefine it or make it disappear. During the past four years I’ve worked in the UK and abroad on urban strategies, landscapes, cultural centres, heritage sites, public buildings and squares, skyscrapers, sculptures, art installations and present and future landmarks. I have lectured internationally and genuinely love what I do and am sure it would have taken many more years to get here without my AS degree.

Freddy Tuppen, 2009, Artist and Co-Founder of ADA (www.adaprojects.co.uk) During my two years spent on the Architectural Studies course I was able to develop a range of interests in fields related to architecture, whilst keeping open many possible avenues to explore once graduating. It was a difficult decision to move into AS having realised that BSc Arch was not where I saw my future but having decided to go for it there have been no regrets.

In Project X, I led an in depth study into our experience of architectural space through sound. This culminated in a series of live, interactive sound installations that have subsequently been show in exhibitions in London and New York. I have just finished the first of two years on the MFA Media course at the Slade School of Art where I am expanding upon the themes I began to consider at The Bartlett.

Since leaving the AS course there have also been opportunities to continue my architectural practice in a variety of forms, such as building the interior of a café on Store Street and winning a commission for a large scale installation at Liverpool University. With another AS student, Kevin Green, I founded ADA in 2012, a London-based initiative composed of three core elements: a programme for young individuals wishing to pursue studies in the arts; a forum for ambitious collaborative projects; and a public events programme. The group of teaching associates is composed of artists, architects, writers, filmmakers and theorists with wide-ranging interests who cooperate to cultivate an environment for the sharing of knowledge and skills.

There are numerous varied and exciting options for a Bartlett student other that an RIBA qualification and the AS course encourages students to develop a broader spectrum of specific interests, providing opportunities that few other courses can offer.

Alexia Vasilikou, 2005, Press Officer, Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens, Greece Spending a few years as a student of the Bartlett was the first step towards shaping a creative way of thinking. The AS course opened up so many possibilities for me. Most important of all are the people that make the AS course. All tutors showed a great amount of dedication, treating each student on a one-to-one basis, and taking a close look into each one’s strengths, needs and potential. Guiding and at the same time setting free.

The opportunity to attend modules within other departments of UCL was an enlightening experience, understanding the great quality and ethos of UCL at its full extent. And also getting the chance to meet people with diverse interests and become acquainted with a variety of academic fields. A way to find out what suits one best.

During my studies on the AS course, I discovered my passion for art and realised I would be spending my future years working in the cultural sector. Following an MA in Arts Management, I have been working at the Museum of Cycladic Art for three years, in the Communication and Development Department.

Olivia Wodehouse, 2005, Property Investment and Development Surveyor, Knight Frank The Architectural Studies course at the Bartlett gave me the ability and freedom to explore architectural ideas through a different medium. Each project could take on the form you desired rather than being restricted to

www.adaprojects.co.uk


creating physical spaces. The final products that were generated over the course of the year were surprising and diverse and yet each one had a definite affinity to architecture. I enjoyed the strong interaction between other students and tutors, and the encouragement to follow ideas and really test them.

Since graduating from the Bartlett I have gone on to complete a master’s in property valuation and law at Cass Business School and joined the graduate scheme at Knight Frank. My role now involves consulting on potential development schemes in the city and working closely alongside architects. My love of architecture is still strong and I enjoy the tangible way in which I can include this in both my career my personal life.

Jenni Young, 2008, Architectural Writer and Editor, Italy When I first chose to study architecture I was attracted by the possibility of mixing both art and science but, as someone who couldn’t restrain the number of subjects they were interested in, I felt I was missing out on something during the two years I studied BSc Architecture. When I looked at the Architectural Studies program, I suddenly felt I had found what I had been missing; there are so many subjects that influence and are affected by architecture and design. During my time on the AS course I divided my time between planning, anthropology, history of art, and management. I developed a strong interest in anthropology, of which I had not had any previous experience, and had a chance to take modules in other top-class departments at UCL on, for example, the Anthropology of Architecture and the Social Construction of Landscape.

I developed a focus on the experience of architecture and the individual’s relationship with the built environment, and I used what I was learning in the different departments to drive my own interests through my essays and final dissertation. A key part of the course was Project X. I was, and still am, interested in writing and architecture, and PX was where I could explore these ideas without the constriction of having to write an essay or design a building.

I am now working for an innovative architecture practice in Italy, which focuses on the way we understand and interact with cities, and I still contribute to the design table in a diverse number of ways, including writing and editing articles for the architectural press. The experiences I have had have been fantastic and I believe the opportunities I have been offered are due to the range of skills I developed through such a formidable multidisciplinary education. One thing hasn’t changed since my time at the Bartlett: I am still involved with those striving to be at the cutting-edge of architecture - it’s a very inspiring place.


For information on application procedures and fees, please consult UCAS:

The Bartlett School of Architecture is an exciting place to start your architectural education. The BSc AIS degree offers a challenging environment with an open-minded and multidisciplinary approach towards architecture. We are looking for equally open-minded students to challenge and to push the boundaries of architecture.

Your application BSc AIS attracts a large number of highly qualified applicants and we are looking to recruit approximately 10 students a year. We do not interview you prior to acceptance, but are happy to meet with you less formally once you have been offered a place on the course, either in person or by Skype.

Portfolio Even though the BSc AIS is not an ARB/RIBA accredited course, it does still revolve very much around design and creative practice. Consequently, in your application, it is important that we see some evidence of your creative talents in order that we can better judge your suitability to the programme.

We would like to see a minimum of ten items that represent the range of your work and demonstrate your visual/spatial and creative abilities. These might include a freehand drawing, a painting, a photograph, a sculpture, something else you have made (an object, model, film etc.). Surprise us! It is important that each of the above items should include a brief explanation of what they are made of, their meaning to you and what ideas relevant to architecture they might contain. The items should be sent in the form of a small A4 portfolio of scans or annotated photographs. Please do not send originals as they will not be returned to you.

Open days/School visits We take part in the UCL and ULU Open days in June and September and would be pleased to welcome and speak to potential applicants then. More information about UCL Open Days can be found on the UCL Prospective Students website. Please note that it is important to register for the Open Day as soon as you can.

We do understand, however, that deciding on a particular university programme is a major decision and if there is a very good reason for why you are unable to attend an Open Day (for instance, you are from overseas) and you are a serious applicant for BSc AIS, we will try to make alternative arrangements to meet with you.

There are other opportunities for students to sample Bartlett culture, however, most notably our public events. All applicants are encouraged to visit The Bartlett Summer Show, held every year in late June. Take a glimpse at some of the work displayed at the Bartlett Summer Show on The Bartlett School of Architecture’s Facebook page.

The Bartlett also runs a high-profile International Lecture Series which is open to the public. Please see our website for further details.

How to Transfer BSc AIS is open to students who have already completed one year of BSc Architecture, Planning or Construction Management and have passed three course units. Students may also enter the course in Year 2 or Year 3 if a total of seven course units have been passed. [Please note: you do not need to recommence at Year 1.]

FOr nEw APPLICAnTS

FOr CurrEnTLY EnrOLLED BSC ArCHITECTurE

STuDEnTS

Applying


Transfer students from other universities have also been accepted in the past. Please note, however, that you need to have successfully completed one full year of study at your home institution, preferably in a department of architecture, with a minimum of a 2:1 for us to consider your application.

when to Transfer Students must first discuss the possibility of a transfer with their unit tutor and/or BSc Architecture Programme Leaders and the BSc AIS Programme Leaders, Barbara Penner and/or Elizabeth Dow ([email protected]). The decision to transfer can be made at any time before the academic year begins. Once term is underway, Year 2 or 3 students can also consider switching at the very end of Term 1.

Once you have obtained the agreement of the relevant programme leaders, the transfer process itself is easy - it only requires the completion of a Change of Degree Programme Form.

A Levels

• Grades AAB

• Subjects Art required. A portfolio is required at a secondary stage in the application process. Applicants who meet the A level grade requirements of AAB but have not studied A level Art, may offer an art and design foundation year as proof of their ability.

• AS Levels For UK-based students a pass in a further subject at AS level or equivalent is required.

• GCSEs English Language and Mathematics at grade C. For UK-based students, a grade C or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment.

• IB Diploma Points —36 Subjects —A score of 17 points in three higher level subjects including Art, with no score lower than 5. A portfolio is required at a secondary stage in the application process. Applicants who meet the IB Diploma points score of 17 in three higher level subjects but have not studied IB Diploma Art, may offer an art and design foundation year as proof of their ability.

undergraduate Preparatory Certificates UCL offers intensive one-year foundation courses to prepare international students for a variety of degree programmes at UCL.

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPCs) are for international students of high academic potential who are aiming to gain access to undergraduate degree programmes at UCL and other top UK universities.

For more information see our website

English language requirements If English is not your first language you will also need to satisfy UCL’s English Language Requirements. A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education

EnTrY rEQuIrEMEnTS



• who is BSc AIS for? BSc AIS is for students who would like to pursue a specialism in architecture, design and creative practice, alongside a mix of arts, humanities, social science and science courses from other UCL departments. It is unique in the UK.

• Does BSc AIS offer an rIBA Part 1 qualification? No, it does not. Students who want an RIBA qualification, should apply to BSc Architecture (K100). http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate-study/degrees-1314/ubsarcsaia05

• Please contact the BSc Architecture Admissions Tutor, Ms Sabine Storp for further information about the accredited course [email protected]

• what kinds of career options do BSc AIS students have? There is no one answer to this question. While BSc AIS’s first cohort has not yet graduated, graduates of the programme that it emerged from, BSc Architectural Studies, have gone on to a very wide variety of fields and professions. Many of them continue to study and work in the arts and design-related fields, for instance, as set designers, lighting designers, landscape designers, curators, and journalists. Others, who took greater advantage of construction management and economics modules, have gone into fields like quantity surveying or property valuation. And yet others have trained in other professions, teaching, accounting, medicine and law. This degree has proved flexible enough to allow students to direct successfully their studies into very different areas. Please see the student testimonials, which give a very detailed picture of the career tra jectories followed by one-tenth of BSc AS graduates since 2002.

• I would like to visit uCL. Is this possible? We take part in the UCL and ULU Open days in June and September and would be pleased to welcome and speak to potential applicants then. More information about UCL Open Days can be found on the UCL Prospective Students website. You are also welcome to come along to our open lectures and exhibitions. These are all open to the public. Please see our website for further details and information, www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/architecture

• I cannot attend the uCL Open Day. Can I visit The Bartlett during term time to speak to current students and staff? We do understand that deciding on a particular university programme is a major decision and if there is a very good reason for why you are unable to attend an Open Day (for instance, you are from overseas) and you are a serious applicant for BSc AIS, we will try to make alternate accommodations to meet with you. Please note: we are unable to respond to questions to do with BSc Architecture. If that is your focus, please contact our BSc Architecture Admissions Tutor, Ms Sabine Storp [insert Sabine’s e-mail here: [email protected]]

• Are there any further Entry requirements? In addition to requiring passes in English Language and Mathematics at grade C or higher, for UK-based students, a grade C or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment.

FAQs

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate-study/degrees-1314/ubsarcsaia05

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate-study/degrees-1314/ubsarcsaia05


www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/architecture



• Do I need an A or A* in art to apply to The Bartlett School of Architecture? All applicants meeting the minimum entry requirements will be treated equally.

• will you accept Design Technology, Photography or Graphics instead of Art as an A-level subject? Presently we do not accept any other design technology based A-level subject, except for Art and Design / Textile Design as these courses have a strong emphasis on drawing and sketching.

• I do have an interest in architecture but I don’t do art for the full two years at my school, what can I do? My school did not offer art at IB. Please consider entering an art foundation at a local art school or college. State clearly in your personal statement that you will apply for a deferred entry. If you get an offer, this offer will be a conditional offer based on the successful completion of your foundation.

• I am an overseas applicant and my school is not following an A-level course structure. Art is not included in my choice of subjects. Can I still apply to your course? Applicants from abroad not following an A-level course structure where art is not included in the curriculum are invited to apply to our course. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Do mature students need an Art A-level? Mature applicants do not need an Art A-level but would be expected to submit a portfolio of work demonstrating their creative ability. We welcome applications from mature applicants from a wide range of backgrounds.

• what other A-level or IB subjects are necessary? We don’t have any preference in A-level subjects. We welcome applicants with a wide variety of subjects. It is down to your own personal preference. Applicants are encouraged to take Maths or/and English but it is not a requirement for entry at The Bartlett.

• what are you looking for in the personal statement? Please write about what you find interesting. It is not a test and we do not have any specific things we are looking for. Generally, however, we would like to see that you have closely read the relevant webpages about our programme, that you understand the ethos and purpose of BSc AIS, and that you also have a suitably broad and varied set of creative and academic interests.

• Is an interview part of the Admissions process? Unlike BSc Architecture, we do not require an interview. We do require a portfolio, but we request this after an application is received.

• Do I need a portfolio to apply and what should this include? Yes, it is important that we see some evidence of your creative talents in order that we can better judge your suitability to the programme. Once we have received and checked your UCAS application, we will contact you to request a portfolio. A portfolio consists of a minimum of ten items that represent the range of your work and demonstrate your visual/spatial and creative abilities. These might include a freehand drawing, a painting, a photograph, a sculpture, something else you have made (an object, model, film etc.). Surprise us! It is important that each of the above items should include a brief explanation of what they are made of, their meaning to you and what ideas relevant to architecture they might contain. The items should be sent in the form of a small A4 portfolio of scans or annotated photographs. Please do not send originals as they will not be returned to you.

• Is it a good idea to take a gap year? We do encourage, if possible, taking a gap year, as a way to get some life experience, travel, work to earn money, do some charity work etc. In


our experience students with a gap year have a very different and more mature attitude towards their work.

• How do I apply for a deferred entry? will I be disadvantaged? Please state in your UCAS application that you will apply for the following year. You will not be disadvantaged.

• Once I’ve started my BSc AIS degree can I transfer to the BSc Architecture degree? No, not without restarting your studies, as the BSc AIS course modules do not exactly map onto the professional criteria required by the ARB/RIBA. If you wish to be an RIBA-qualified architect you must enroll on the BSc Architecture degree in Year 1.

• Once I’ve started my BSc Architecture degree can I transfer to the BSc AIS? Yes. Though there is no automatic right of transfer, we will consider allowing Year 1 BSc Architecture students to transfer onto Year 1 BSc AIS as we do not have the same constraints in terms of professional criteria. If you transfer before the end of Term 1, you do not need to restart Year 1. It is more usual, however, for students in BSc Architecture to transfer in BSc AIS once they have completed their first year and have passed a minimum of three course units. Students may also enter the course in Year 2 or Year 3 if a total of seven course units have been passed. There is no automatic right to transfer, but approximately three to five students are accepted for transfer each year.

• I am in BSc Planning/BSc Construction Management. May I transfer into BSc AIS? Yes, we will accept transfers in Year 2 or Year 3 if a total of seven course units have been passed.

• I am interested in transferring into BSc AIS. How do I go about it? Contact the BSc AIS Programme Leaders, Barbara Penner and/or Elizabeth Dow, for an initial chat. We will help you to work out if BSc AIS is a good option for you. The decision to transfer can be made at any time before the academic year begins. Once term is underway, Year 2 or 3 students can also consider switching at the very end of Term 1. Bear in mind, however, that mid-year transfers are not always possible to arrange.

• Do you accept transfer students from other institutions? Transfer students from other universities have been accepted in the past. Please note, however, that you need to have successfully completed one full year of study at your home institution, preferably in a department of architecture, with a minimum of a 2:1 for us to consider your application.

• I am a uCL student from another department/an affiliate student. May I take any of your courses? We presently run six modules for our BSc AIS students. They are:

ENVS 1027 Project X Design and Creative Practice 1 (0.5cu; Term 2)

ENVS 1028 Architectural Research I (0.5cu; Term 1)

ENVS 2037 Project X for Architectural Studies – Year 2 (1cu; Terms 1-3)* Also available as a 0.5cu option, ENVS2041 Architectural Studies: Creative Design Project, specifically for UCL students from other departments and affiliate students in Term 1

ENVS 2046 Architectural Research II (0.5cu; Term 2)

ENVS 3020 Dissertation in Architectural Studies (1cu; Terms 1-3)

ENVS 3032 Project X for Architectural Studies – Year 3 (1 to 1.5cu; Terms 1-3)

While these modules are primarily for BSc AIS students, and priority will be given to them, we do also welcome a number of students from other


departments who would like to take them as electives. If you are a UCL student from another department or an affiliate student, please contact the module coordinator directly to ask for permission to attend as well as registering on PORTICO. Acceptance is not automatic and your module selection will not be approved unless you speak to us first. If it is a design and creative practice course that interests you, we may well also request that you come in for an interview with a portfolio.

Please note that all of our modules are potentially available, however, we offer one option, ENVS 2041 Architectural Studies: Creative Design Project (0.5cu; Term 1), specifically for affiliates.

• I am a uCL student in another department/affiliate student and I am interested in design and creative practice. which course should I take? ENVS 2041 Architectural Studies: Creative Design Project (0.5cu; Term 1), is a module that specifically caters for UCL students from other departments and for affiliates, and is a meant as a follow-on from ENVS 1026. However, in special circumstances, we will also consider admitting students onto our 1cu versions of Project X in both Years 2 and 3 (ENVS 2037 & ENVS 3032). Please get in touch with relevant module coordinators to discuss this option further.

AIS Programme Information Sheet 2015

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Transcript of AIS Programme Information Sheet 2015