Best A-Levels for Studying Architecture

Every year approximately 33,310 students are enrolled in further education and studying architecture. Architecture is an incredibly popular vocational degree subject and has high rates of post-graduate employment, with 83.9% of architecture students heading straight into full-time employment after completing their degrees. If you have ambitions to become an architect and are thinking of studying architecture at university then you may be wondering what A-levels you should study.

When you complete your UCAS application you will need to include details of the A-levels you have taken and your predicted grades in each subject. Many universities will discount applicants based solely on this information, so it’s important to ensure that you have chosen A-level subjects that are relevant to the subject you wish to study in further education. You can’t apply for a medical degree if you’ve studied art instead of science subjects at A-level, for example. But what if you want to study architecture? Are they any subjects you are required to study, and which subjects will give you the best chance of securing the place you want? Here are the best A-levels for studying architecture:

Why Study Architecture?

At the highest level, an architect is a designer that works with buildings. Architects combine artistic drawing skills with technical maths skills to ensure that built environments are both structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing. Architecture is an incredibly rewarding profession that allows its practitioners to combine their technical know-how with creative and imaginative ideas.

Architecture is a vocational degree, which means the main reason to study architecture is that you want to become an architect. Becoming an architect requires seven years of hard work and study at further education level, making it much more time-consuming and labour-intensive than a traditional three-year degree course. Some of the things you can expect to do if you study architecture and go on to become an architect are:

• Using your creative skills to design sketches and models of your ideas for a project, based on the project design brief that will be provided to you by your clients.
• Once you have this creative brief approved; you will need to continue designing your structure using digital software. These detailed technical plans should be accurate and scalable.
• You will need to be financially minded keeping your client’s budget in mind when sketching your design and choosing the materials that you will use within your project.
• Whilst architects are not construction workers, your role will include overseeing the construction of the building you design and ensuring progress is on design, on budget and on schedule.

If you feel that architecture is the right degree course and career path for you based on your skill set, but still aren’t really sure exactly what the role of an architect will involve on a day-to-day basis then the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a great resource for exploring architecture and offers a range of dedicated resources specifically for students.

It is not uncommon to study architecture and then not go on to work within the architectural profession. Other professions that individuals with architecture degrees include design, teaching, construction, real estate, and public administration.

As well as the obvious desire to become an architect, some of the other reasons you should study architecture include:

• The opportunity for personal growth. Students are often capable of so much more than they think they are, and the study of architecture will provide you with the opportunity to test your limits, expand your mind, and develop incredible new skill sets.
• Thinking outside the box. Architects are rarely linear thinkers, and rather than focusing on getting from A to B they will look at the journey from every angle. Architecture students are rewarded for their creative thinking as much as for their technical skills.
• To improve your creative and technical skills. If you like to make things, then this is the right degree course for you. Architectural study involves more than just sketching and drawing. You will also create paintings, collages and models, as well as do rendering and 3D computer modelling. These are transferable skills that can be utilised in a wide range of future professions.

The Type of Knowledge Needed for an Architecture Degree

Because architecture is such a competitive degree course, it is not enough to simply take the right A-levels to complete your UCAS application form. Most universities will ask you to present a portfolio of your art and design work, to ensure that you have the artistic talent and creative skills that you need to succeed in your chosen course. Ensuring that you have a strong portfolio is perhaps the single most important thing you can do if you wish to study architecture at degree level, alongside securing the required grades in your A-levels. Your portfolio should demonstrate a wide range of skills, so it should include text and photographs alongside your drawings and graphics. Don’t worry if you don’t have enough architectural images and designs to fill your portfolio: you can also show other elements of your artistic skills and talents by including sketches of other objects, provided you can demonstrate perspective with these. The key is to demonstrate to universities that you have both range and talent with your portfolio.

Other knowledge, skills and qualities you will be expected to demonstrate include:

• Strong mathematical skills and an ability to think analytically and with logic.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work well with individuals from all walks of life.
• Digital design skills and the ability to use a wide spectrum of IT platforms proficiently.
• Creativity, design skills, and the ability to think outside the box.
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to focus on the bigger picture.

Essential A-Levels for Studying Architecture

You cannot study architecture at university level without securing A-levels. If you wish to study architecture then you will need a minimum of two A-levels, but most universities will require that you have a minimum of three A-levels. Because architectural degree courses are so competitive, you will need to secure high-level grades in order to secure a place. Offers range from AAB to CCD, so you should expect to secure at least a BBB if you want to attend a highly regarded university. As well as securing three A-levels you will also need a minimum of five GCSEs, with all courses requiring that you secure a grade C or above in both maths and English. The ability to demonstrate your proficiency in maths and the English language (English Literature will not be accepted as an alternative) is essential to be accepted into an architecture degree.

If you have a degree in architecture in your sights and have already achieved the GCSE grades that you need to proceed to study for your A-levels, then you may be wondering which A-levels you should take. Not all universities will have a set list of required A-levels, but some will request that you secure A-levels in both mathematics and either art or graphic design. A common statement of chosen subjects is that a mixture of science or maths and humanities and arts subjects is preferred. It is important to note that you shouldn’t limit yourself to studying either solely arts subjects or solely maths and science subjects.

Whilst all universities will warmly welcome art or fine art A-levels, applicants with three arts-based subjects (for example, art, graphics and 3D design, or art, photography and design and technology) will not fulfil the entry criteria needed to study architecture at degree level. The technical elements required to study architecture mean that most universities will strongly consider mathematics to be an essential subject, and you should certainly consider studying maths if possible. If you are choosing your A-levels with the sole intention of going on to study architecture at university then you should consider an A-level in both maths and either art or graphic design to be essential. You will have a little more leeway with the subject you choose for your third A-level.

Other A-Levels for Studying Architecture

There are two main types of architecture degrees: those that focus on architecture as a creative subject, and those that focus on architecture as a technical subject. If you are more interested in the technical aspects of architecture, then studying further maths or physics may be beneficial as your third subject. If you are more interested in the creative aspects of architecture, then another creative subject such as fine art, art history or graphic design may be beneficial. Some students choose to demonstrate their range of skills and their ability to study at a higher level by taking an essay subject such as English Literature or English language, or one of the humanities (with history and geography being the most popular).

However, if these subjects do not appeal to you then there is no need to limit yourself. You have much more scope when choosing your third A-level than you might think, and your main focus should be on choosing a subject that you enjoy and that you know you will perform well in. University College London offers a list of preferred subjects for their potential architecture undergraduate students, and this is a great resource for ascertaining which other A-levels may be valuable, particularly if your chosen university doesn’t have a list of preferred subjects (which many don’t for this subject). The subjects detailed on this preferred subject list are incredibly extensive and include:

• Ancient History
• Anthropology
• Arabic
• Archaeology
• Art and Design
• Art and Design: 3D Design
• Art and Design: Art, Craft and Design
• Art and Design: Critical and Contextual Studies
• Art and Design: Fine Art
• Art and Design: Graphic Communication
• Art and Design: Graphic Design
• Art and Design: Photography
• Art and Design: Textiles
• Bengali
• Biblical Hebrew
• Biology
• Biology (Salters-Nuffield)
• Biology (Human)
• Biology B
• Business
• Cantonese
• Chemistry
• Chemistry (Nuffield)
• Chemistry (Salters)
• Chinese
• Classical Civilisation
• Classical Greek
• Computer Science
• Drama (WJEC specification)
• Drama and Theatre Studies
• Dutch
• Economics
• Economics B
• Economics and Business
• Economics and Business Studies (Nuffield)
• English Language
• English Language and Literature
• English Literature (specifications A or B where applicable)
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Studies
• Film Studies
• French
• Geography A
• Geography B
• Geology
• German
• Government and Politics
• Greek
• Gujarati
• Hindi
• History
• History of Art
• History of Art and Design
• Information and Communication Technology
• Irish
• Italian
• Japanese
• Latin
• Law
• Mathematics
• Mathematics (MEI)
• Further Mathematics
• Pure Mathematics
• Media Studies (2022 entry)
• Modern Greek
• Modern Hebrew
• Moving Image Arts (CCEA specification)
• Music
• Panjabi
• Persian
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Physics (Advancing Physics)
• Physics (Salters-Horners)
• Polish
• Politics
• Portuguese
• Psychology
• Psychology A
• Psychology B
• Religious Studies
• Russian
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Statistics
• Tamil
• Turkish
• Urdu
• Welsh
• Welsh (Second Language)

You should note that general studies is not a subject that appears on this list. Whilst general studies can be an interesting subject to study, and some schools will consider it to be a requirement for all of its A-level students, it’s important to note that most universities will not consider general studies to be a legitimate third subject when they make you a conditional offer for a place to study with them. General studies should be considered as a fourth subject but should not be included in the three subjects you take to secure your university place.

Getting the Right A-Levels for Architecture

Perhaps more important than choosing the right A-level course is ensuring that you get the grades you need in your A-levels. Because places in architecture degrees are so highly sought after, you will need good grades to ensure your application stands out from the crowd. The good news is that there are over 300 architecture undergraduate courses in the UK, meaning that you’ll have a wide range of options for courses when you reach the university application stage. According to The Guardian, the five top-performing universities for architecture in the UK are:

• The University of Cambridge (you will require A*AA grades to be accepted onto this course)
• University College of London (you will require AAB grades to be accepted onto this course)
• The University of Bath (you will require A*AA grades to be accepted onto this course)
• Cardiff University (offers are typically AAA or AAB to be accepted onto this course)
• Nottingham University (you will require AAA grades to be accepted onto this course)

Because it is such a highly regarded and sought-after course, The University of Cambridge is a great example to look at when assessing what A-levels you will need. Perhaps surprisingly, there are no specific subject requirements to apply to study architecture at Cambridge university. However, you will need to complete a series of both written and practical assessments, undergo an interview, and submit your portfolio of work. When applying to Cambridge university it is your portfolio of work, alongside your grades, that will be integral in determining whether you get an interview. Having to interview for your place is not uncommon if you wish to study architecture. The University College London and Cardiff university from this list will also ask that you attend an interview, whilst all of the universities on this list will ask that you submit a portfolio of work alongside your application.