The AA is a Higher Education Institution (HEI) and is one of the oldest schools of architecture in the UK. It is not a member of UCAS and all applications are made directly through the school. The application procedure is the same for UK, EU/EEA and international students, and there is one point of entry each year in September for all our programmes.
We are eager to hear from students who demonstrate initiative in entering the forms of presentation, discussion and debate that permeate the school, the architectural community and the world at large. We are looking for students who have a combination of curiosity and ambition to define a unique path through a school that fosters a multitude of methods and agendas.
The Foundation Programme is a one-year full-time course that focuses on observation, conversation and the development of key skills. This course is aimed at students who are at the very start of their architectural studies, and facilitates individual and group project work.
The Intermediate Programme (BA(Hons)) is a three-year full-time programme. The First Year is characterised by its shared, open studio, where students work individually and together across a series of projects. Years two and three introduce students to the unit system, in which small design studios (12–14 students) operate a vertical structure of Second and Third Year students.
The Diploma Programme (MArch) is a two-year full-time programme that accepts students who have completed the Intermediate Programme at the AA, as well as eligible new students who have studied elsewhere. The programme leads to the AA Final Examination (ARB/RIBA Part 2) and is structured around a unit system, in which small design studios (12–14 students) operate a vertical structure of Fourth and Fifth Year students.