Choosing your degree

Choosing which degree to study at university is an important decision. It’s the point where you begin to think carefully about your interests, your strengths, and the direction you might like your life to take.  

It’s an exciting time - and it's also completely normal to feel uncertain.  

For subjects like architecture or engineering, this uncertainty is often greater, because there are very few GCSEs or A Levels that allow you to experience the subject in advance. 

So how can you know if a course you have never studied before: will suit you - whether you'll enjoy it, or whether it plays to your strengths, 

• will suit you
• whether you'll enjoy it
• or whether it plays to your strengths

if you've never had the opportunity to try it first?

When expectations don't match reality

Starting a degree without a clear understanding of what it involves can have real world consequences. 

If a course turns out to be very different from what you expected - or not the right fit for you - the impact can be felt in a number of ways: on your confidence, your wellbeing, and the time and money you've invested. 

This is especially challenging when the subject is one you haven't have the opportunity to experience before. 

My aim is not to create anxiety around this decision, but to help you reduce uncertainty and to give you the information and perspective you need to make a choice that feels informed and right for you.

Liz Bromley

Architectural Educator and Designer

My Background: 

I was an Associate Professor and Head of the Year 1 Architectural Design Studio at the University of Nottingham from 2004 to 2022. During that time, I was responsible not only for students’ academic development, but also for their wellbeing and transition into university life.

Over 18 years of teaching, I worked closely with more than 3,000 architecture students, supporting them through the challenges and uncertainties of first year - a stage that often proves pivotal in shaping students’ confidence, expectations, and sense of direction.

The architecture degree at the University of Nottingham is widely recognised within the UK. During my time there, the course:

• consistently ranked within the top 10 architecture degrees in the Guardian League Tables

• was highly regarded by practice, ranking joint 3rd in the AJ100 survey (2020)

• received a rare RIBA commendation in 2018 for the way Year 1 supports students transitioning from school to university

As Head of Year 1 Design Studio, I helped guide students from having very little prior exposure to architecture to developing strong design thinking, confidence, and capability within their first nine months of study. Equally importantly, this role gave me deep insight into the pressures, doubts, and moments of uncertainty that many students experience during this transition.

That experience sits at the heart of how this course has been designed.

Course Content: 

What you’ll have access to

• Seven days of lessons, each accompanied by practical exercises.

• Two bonus modules.

• Optional fortnightly Saturday group tutorials, running alongside the course.

The course is structured so that students have time to engage with each set of ideas, work through the exercises independently, and reflect on what they are learning. The group tutorials provide a regular point of connection and discussion, helping students clarify ideas and build understanding as they progress.

The seven core modules:

Day 1 – Drawing Perspectives
An introduction to why drawing is such a fundamental tool in architecture, and how it is used to think through and communicate ideas.

Day 2 – Experiencing Architecture
Exploring how we instinctively understand and respond to buildings and spaces, and why experience sits at the heart of architectural design.

Day 3 – Designing for People
Looking at who architecture is designed for, the role of the client, and how architects respond to needs, wants, and constraints.

Day 4 – Site and Context
Understanding how buildings relate to their surroundings, and how site conditions shape design decisions.

Day 5 – Natural Light
Examining how architects use light for both practical and poetic purposes.

Day 6 – Architectural Representation and Communication
An overview of the ways architects develop and communicate design ideas, both at university and in practice.

Day 7 – The Architectural Design Process
Bringing the themes together to understand how architectural ideas are developed, tested, and refined over time.

Bonus modules

Bonus Module 1 – Architecture Courses 
An overview of how architecture courses can vary across UK universities, from highly conceptual and creative approaches to more technical and pragmatic ones.

Bonus Module 2 – Studying Architecture VS Working in Practice
Exploring the differences between life as an architecture student and working as an architect in practice.