Bachelor of Architecture

NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree
Register Your Interest
CAO points history
521*
Course code
LM099
Duration
5 Years
* Not all applicants who scored these points were offered places.
Fees
See what fees may apply to students
Subject area
Engineering
Course Director
Declan Feeney
Email
Declan.feeney@ul.ie
Admissions:
Tel
+353 (0)61 233755
Queries
Contact the Academic Registry
Apply Now for September

If you are a person that combines creative imagination and analytical rigour; if you are a good observer; and if you are inspired by the prospect of changing the world we live in, then UL’s problem-oriented approach to architecture may just be right for you. Architecture requires a lot of dedication, and is a very hands-on course that relies on constructional understanding, based on lots of model making and material experiments.

Why study Architecture at UL?

The School of Architecture offers a 5-year undergraduate degree in architecture. The objective of the School is to educate architects with a strong set of integrated skills, balanced with a clear understanding of the environment - built, existing and imagined - and vital to professional practice. The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has awarded full accreditation to the architecture programme at UL. Studying architecture in an accredited programme is the first step towards becoming a registered professional architect.

The School of Architecture embraces all parts of an architect’s education; it is a place where the study of architecture is undertaken with passion and inventiveness, open and transparent society of mobile thinkers. The School of Architecture teaches an architecture that is integrated with Environmental and Structural engineering, as disciplines that set us free from the limitations of our own knowledge and help us to achieve a balance with the environment by focusing human abilities.

For more information on the course please click here.

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What you will study

Training as an architect is engaging in a process of ‘learning by doing’ with the course curriculum structured around the design studio. The design studio is a creative laboratory where learning is developed through experimentation and reflection. Woven into the design studio will be courses of study in structures (structural engineering), environmental science (environmental engineering), history (of architecture, society, technology), and philosophy, sociology, law and management (professional practice).

The course is designed to equip you with a broad range of skills fundamental to becoming an architect. These skills include hand drawing, sketching, model-making, photography, computer-aided drawing, audiovisual and verbal presentation, as well as core skills including conceptualising and designing, problem-solving and working with other people.

Year 1

Semester 1

 

Semester 2

Summer

AR4001

Design Studio 1a

AR4002

Design Studio 1b

 

AR4011

Gravity & Reaction 1

AR4012

Gravity & Reaction 2

 

AR4021

Representation / Drawing 1

AR4022

Representation / Drawing 2

 

AR4031

History & Theory of Architecture 1

AR4032

History & Theory of Architecture 2

 

AR4041

Assembly & Techniques 1

AR4042

Assembly & Techniques 2

 

AR4051

Environmental Systems and Forces 1

AR4052

Environmental Systems and Forces 2

 

 

Year 2

Semester 3

 

Semester 4

Summer

AR4073

Design Studio 2a

AR4004

Design Studio 2b

 

AR4013

Gravity & Reaction 3

AR4014

Gravity & Reaction 4

 

AR4023

Representation / Drawing 3

AR4024

Representation / Drawing 4

 

AR4033

History & Theory of Architecture 3

AR4034

History & Theory of Architecture 4

 

AR4043

Assembly and Techniques 3

AR4044

Materials 1

 

AR4053

Environmental Systems and Forces 3

AR4054

Environmental Systems and Forces 4

 

 

Year 3

Semester 5

 

Semester 6

Summer

AR4005

Design Studio 3a

AR4006

Design Studio 3b

 

AR4015

Gravity & Reaction 5

AR4016

Gravity & Reaction 6

 

AR4025

Representation / Drawing 5

AR4026

Representation / Drawing 6

 

AR4035

History & Theory of Architecture 5

AR4036

History & Theory of Architecture 6

 

AR4045

Assembly & Techniques 4

AR4046

Assembly & Techniques 5

 

AR4056

Environmental Systems and Forces 5

AR4055

Visual Culture 1

Year 4

Semester 7

 

Semester 8

Summer

AR4007

Design Studio 4a

AR4008

Design Studio 4b

 

AR4019

Professional Practice - Contracts

AR4058

Profession & Society

 

AR4317

Advanced Construction 1

AR4068

Advanced Construction 2

 

 

Elective

 

Elective

 

 

Year 5

Semester 9

 

Semester 10

Summer

AR4099

Design Studio 5a

AR4010

Design Studio 5b - Thesis

 

AR4319

Advanced Construction 3

AR4310

Advanced Construction 4

 

 

Elective

 

Elective

 

 

Entry requirements

CAO points history
521*
Minimum grades

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. 
Subject requirements

Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

Note: Grade F6 in Foundation Mathematics also satisfies the minimum entry requirements. Foundation Maths is not reckonable for scoring purposes.

 
Additional considerations

Applications are particularly welcome from mature candidates (at least 23 years of age on the 1st of January of year of registration).

All mature candidates must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) – www.cao.ie. For details please refer to the www.ul.ie/admissions website and the separate SAUL application guidelines.

Mature applicants are required to attend for interview and to bring material to support their application to that interview.

Mature student information can be found here.

QQI Entry

Certain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme.

Applicants must submit a portfolio  as part of the application process.

For the most up to date information on QQI entry requirements please visit the Central Applications Office (CAO) website.
Non-EU Entry Requirements

How to apply

Where are you applying from? How to Apply
Ireland Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. 
The UK  Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. 
The EU EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Non-EU country If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here.

 

Fees and funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €4,262
SUSI pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €102
Total €7,364

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €4,262
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €102
Total €7,364

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays Tuition Fees €4,262
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €102
Total €7,364

Non-EU Students

Student pays Tuition Fees €21,798
Student pays Student Levy €102
Total €21,900

Student course fees are comprised of the following components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €102. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

  1. Residency
    • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
  2. Citizenship
    • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
  3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
    • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 years' duration
    • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

  • Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
  • EU Fee Status: You satisfy both the citizenship and residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees.
  • Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for this course

Title Award Scholarships Available
Arup Access Scholarship €1,500 a year for 4 years 1
Johnson and Johnson WiSTEM2D Programme
The Critchley Prize 1

These scholarships are available for all courses

Your future career

Employability skills from this degree

  • Problem-solving in an analytical, logical way
  • Decision-making
  • Working effectively in multinational teams
  • Using creativity to establish innovative solutions
  • Managing the design process and evaluating outcomes
  • Meeting the changing needs of customers
  • Numeracy, design and drawing
  • IT skills (e.g. CAD)
  • Project management
  • Teamwork
  • Written and verbal communication
  • Research
  • Flexibility in dealing with unexpected situations
  • Self-reflection and continued professional development

Job titles for graduates 

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on Graduate Outcomes Surveys by graduates approximately one year after graduation:

  • Architect
  • Architect Part II
  • Architect Technician
  • Architectural Assistant
  • Architectural Graduate
  • Architectural Research Assistant
  • Consultant
  • Junior Architect
  • Project Architect
  • Teaching Assistant
  • Technical Support Agent
  • Architecture Tutor

Student profiles

Aisling Duffy

Aisling Duffy

Aisling graduated from University of Limerick with a BArch in 2021. During her time in college she developed an interest in sustainability and biodiversity and based on her final year thesis on architecture influenced by nature and the environment. On her year out from college after 3rd year, she working in Limerick and a 'part 1' architectural assistant and spent time travelling Europe. She has a keen interest in writing and in 2021 was awarded the RIAI Architecture Ireland student writer prize. While in UL, Aisling was involved in various student groups, acting as treasurer on the society of Architecture committee and also as a committee member for the Outdoor Pursuits Club. Her hobbies include rock climbing, hiking and painting. She is currently working for Drake Hourigan Architects in Limerick as an architectural assistant, working towards becoming a registered architect. She is also a part time tutor for first year students in SAUL and hopes to go onto further study in the area of sustainability or conservation. 

Martin Lennon

The first day I arrived at our SAUL (School of Architecture UL) studio I sensed I would enjoy my time in Architecture School. The Studio embodies everything that the school and the education stand for. The Architectural education here is not about divulging information individually, rather it is about sharing knowledge, opinion and ideas amongst our colleagues. Within the studio there are always lectures and tutorials taking place, however, the essence of what our education here is about, lies in the conversations and debate (sometimes heated!) that occurs alongside our timetable. All the architecture students, from freshers to 5th year, working in the same space really solidifies the school’s diverse social atmosphere - I find that we learn from each other as much as we do from our lecturers!

I have had an incredibly wholesome experience here and have always felt encouraged to explore and to test things. After the 3rd year, I decided to take a year off from school and gain some experience within a practice. I travelled to Sydney Australia and worked for 6 months as an architectural assistant. Personally, I feel it was really beneficial to pause academically and further my education through a practice and through travel also. The experience away has allowed me to return to SAUL with a fresh vigour and renewed confidence!!