u/nancysclater

As the title says.
As I understand it’s pretty difficult to find a part 1 job at the moment; for that reason would I be better off doing an integrated masters at a lower ranked uni to get to part 2 in 4 years straight, or just a Bachelors and then Masters at a higher ranked uni? How much do University rankings really matter when getting jobs in Architecture? And finally, is it better to go to a more local university because they’ll have more links to firms in my area than a University really far away and so I might have an easier time getting my first job close to me?

I’m really passionate about studying Architecture but finding it so so difficult to choose which University to do it at. Any advice you can give would really help me to narrow it down because I feel really lost with this at the moment and advice from someone in the industry would be great.

My current options are:
Sheffield BA
Oxford Brookes integrated MArch
UWE Bristol BA
Cardiff BA

I’m considering both Architecture and Landscape Architecture at this point as I’ve heard Landscape Architecture lets you be a bit more creative in your eventual job.

Thanks in advance!
Sincerely, a lost student

After a year studying a different course, I have realised I should have chased Architecture all along. I’m not sure whether I should go to a mid-tier uni this September or take a year out to apply to the top ones.

I’m a high achiever (A*AA) with a fairly strong portfolio, but the top unis in the UK I would consider (UCL, Cambridge, Oxford, UAL) are closed for applications for this September. I’m fairly certain I could get into one of them though if I took a year out and did and Art Foundation. For this September, my options are either Oxford Brookes or Manchester School of Architecture (which I’m not a massive fan of). Brookes is my favourite option because of proximity and being a nicer city though I get it’s not as well rated.

Should I take a year and try to get into a better uni, leading to better chance of employability at top firms, or does it not matter that much where you do a BA? The fact I’ve taken a ‘year out’ already and that I’m not guaranteed a spot at a top uni anyway means I just can’t decide. Or would Manchester this September be worth it, but better to wait a year to go to a top uni than go to Brooke’s??

Any advice or thoughts would be super welcome. I have to make this decision in the next week or so.

Thanks all!

After a year studying a different course, I have realised I should have chased Architecture all along. I’m not sure whether I should go to a mid-tier uni this September or take a year out to apply to the top ones.

I’m a high achiever (A*AA) with a fairly strong portfolio, but the top unis in the UK I would consider (UCL, Cambridge, Oxford, UAL) are closed for applications for this September. I’m fairly certain I could get into one of them though if I took a year out and did and Art Foundation. For this September, my options are either Oxford Brookes or Manchester School of Architecture (which I’m not a massive fan of). Brookes is my favourite option because of proximity and being a nicer city though I get it’s not as well rated.

Should I take a year and try to get into a better uni, leading to better chance of employability at top firms, or does it not matter that much where you do a BA? The fact I’ve taken a ‘year out’ already and that I’m not guaranteed a spot at a top uni anyway means I just can’t decide. Or would Manchester this September be worth it, but better to wait a year to go to a top uni than go to Brooke’s??

Any advice or thoughts would be super welcome. I have to make this decision in the next week or so.

Thanks all!