Summary
- Birmingham Institute of Art & Design
- School
- School of Architecture
- Duration
- Full Time: 3 years
Sandwich: 4 years
- Fees
- Full Time: £3,290 per year
International Students: £9,250 International GDL
Part Time: £27 per credit
Overview
This is an academically challenging, design-based exploration into contemporary issues that question the traditional domain of landscape architecture. The accredited programme is based on a four-year model – the BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture three-year degree combined with a year-long professional diploma.
The course philosophy provides you with a comprehensive sequence of design projects that deal with the range of spaces: the urban laboratory and its interface with the rural fringe and extending beyond to the protected countryside, all with an approach that integrates design theory, research and culture within the process of design. The design focus embraces transnational agendas such as climate change and, sustainability, with productive landscapes using technology, nature and ecosystems in problem-solving that extends from the human to the international scale of landscape design.
The design studio is at the heart of your learning, enabling you to share ideas with other students. You will work on a wide range of projects, including the design of school grounds, country and city parks, and developing ideas to improve the quality of housing schemes.
Course Outline
Course Structure
The first year is a common foundation programme that includes architecture students. This year is designed as a foundation skills programme that aims to deliver a portfolio of skills. These draw upon the BIAD’s extensive resource base, including digital studios, three-dimensional design workshops and rapid prototyping. This is underpinned by traditional drawing workshops that include observational and technical drawing, AutoCAD and digital visual communication skills.
The second year takes your learning to a more sophisticated level and explores the field of landscape from a range of perspectives that include rediscovering Birmingham’s hidden rivers, ideas surrounding productive landscape and creative ecology, manipulation of the ground plane by earth sculpting and land modelling.
The third year provides you with two extensive design projects, one rural and one urban. Both are enriched by research into the subject areas, investigating the relationship between cultural issues and the boundaries of technology leading towards innovation in landscape design.
The course provides a unique opportunity to select a programme from a suite of elective modules, including digital modelling, rapid prototyping and workshop skills.
Assessments
The focus of the learning strategy is on design studio work and all coursework is based on continuous assessment.
After your studies
Further Studies
You can take further studies at postgraduate level. The course enables you to apply for membership of the Landscape Institute (LI), the profession’s governing body, and a full-time Master’s in Landscape Architecture.
Details can be found on the courses section of the website.
Employment Opportunities
The course is fully recognised and accredited by the LI and has excellent links with practices both nationally and locally offering good employment prospects across the profession. Other graduate opportunities are landscape management or landscape planning.
How to apply
Entry Requirements
A good portfolio, plus one of the following:
- 280 UCAS points
- BTEC National Diploma with five merits or distinctions
- Art and Design Foundation Diploma with merit or distinction at final stage
- International Baccalaureate with 26 points
- National Diploma in horticulture
Application Details
FT - UCAS Code K310 / PT - Direct to Faculty
Search for this course on UCAS.
For general information about applying to study at Birmingham City University, please refer to the Making your Application section.
International enquirers may contact the International Office for further help and advice.
Fees Notes
If you already have an equivalent level qualification, you may be charged a higher fee for your course. For further information visit the fees area of the Student Info section.
Further Information
Applicants other than those whose fee status is ‘Overseas’ should apply through UCAS. The deadline for application is the end of January 2010. Overseas applicants should apply directly to the Faculty. Part-time Applications should also be made directly to the BIAD Faculty Office.
BIAD Faculty Office
Gosta Green
Corporation Street
Birmingham
B4 7DX
Tel: +44 (0)121 331 5800
Email: faye.gelly@bcu.ac.uk