Architecture at Wolfson
Cambridge is a rich environment in which to study Architecture, having numerous significant buildings that together represent one thousand years of architectural history. The University is highly ranked for both teaching and research in the subject.
The Architecture course provides a basic grounding in Architecture and exemption from the Part I exam of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The course is oriented around design - from the scale of the city to that of furniture - and is supported by lecture courses which draw upon the humanities (history and theory) as well as upon the sciences (construction, environmental design and structures).
Applicants who have a strong interest in architectural and urban design - its history, theory, construction and technology - are encouraged to apply.
The core of the teaching programme is in practical design, carried out in studios. Projects are set throughout the year and students are required to produce models and drawings to communicate their design ideas. The Department provides studio desk space together with workshop and computer facilities. The course also involves lectures, classes, visits to buildings under construction or restoration, and study trips.
You can find further information about studying Architecture on the University's course . Detailed information is also available on the Department's Tripos .
What are we looking for?
We are looking for students with a natural curiosity about the world and a sense of spatial imagination. The course demands that students are able to draw fluently and with precision and to develop ideas in visual ways. Candidates for architecture need to be prepared to work in a broad range of disciplines. They must understand conceptual, technical and analytical approaches to the built environment. Architectural students need to calculate logically and to conduct evidence-based argument persuasively.
Entry Requirements
There are no specific subject requirements requested by the College. Mathematics, Physics and Art are highly desirable for this course. We may modify offers to take account of individual circumstances. Please consult the University's for further information.
Applications
Applications to study Architecture at Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çare submitted through UCAS. The College additionally requires the submission of written work, a separate written assessment and an online interview, as detailed below.
| Written Work | Applicants are required to submit a PDF (6 A4 pages, and less than 15MB in size) of their own artwork. The selection of images should, in part, reflect material you might present at interview as part of your portfolio. Submission deadlines can be found here. |
| Assessment | Those interviewed will also sit a written assessment (Graphic and spatial ability) around the time of the interview. Further information about the written assessment can be found on our applying page. |
| Interview | Shortlisted candidates will be invited to be interviewed in December. There will be one or two interviews (in total lasting 40-50 minutes) which will be conducted online via Zoom. Candidates are also expected to show a portfolio of recent work at interview; they will be encouraged to discuss their work with the interviewers during their subject interview. We are not expecting to see work of an architectural nature in the portfolio (e.g. plans, sections, etc). What we will want to see is something that will illustrate that candidates have a strong interest in the subject as well as exceptional ability in the visual and material arts. Normally drawing and painting forms the basis of the portfolio but other media such as sculpture and photography may also be included. It is usually sufficient for three-dimensional work to be exhibited in photographs. A sketchbook with ongoing drawings is extremely helpful and applicants are encouraged to have one at the interview. It may be in any media (pencil, charcoal, crayon, etc) and should include a variety of subject matter. The work can be material prepared for school-leaving examinations but creative work executed outside formal courses will also be welcome. |
For more information about making an application, please visit our application webpages.
You can also find useful information on our Application FAQs page.
Student perspective: Architecture at Wolfson
Studying Architecture at Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çhas been instrumental in developing my academic and professional skills. I am continually inspired by the diverse perspectives of everyone surrounding me, both at College and in my Faculty. The extensive support and resources, especially the vast collection in the Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çlibrary, have been invaluable in my studies and projects. For my dissertation, I am currently researching Community Land Trusts and their impact on rural affordable housing.
This was largely inspired and shaped by Dr Nicholas Simcik Arese's lectures in The Neighbourhood: Global Perspectives from Philosophy and Planning. History and theory lectures, as well as studio sessions, are held twice weekly and helped me mature as a designer. I have developed a love for and interest in the impacts of retrofitting Cambridge buildings utilising sustainable designs. Our coursework was set during the holidays which allowed me to pursue other interests, including rowing for Wolfson's Women’s First Boat. As a mature student, I have felt completely included and engaged in my studies and the architecture society events.
Carla (third-year undergraduate)