Studying with us in 2021/22
It is possible that the 2021/22 academic year may be affected by the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any arrangements put in place by the University for the 2021/22 academic year will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
We live in a time of rapid social, economic and environmental change. Demand for housing is increasing, but not enough new homes are being built. Not only that, home ownership is out of reach for a lot of people. The type of housing we need is changing, and this course will give you the opportunity to meet these challenges head on.
Design for Future Living aims to develop exciting and innovative design thinking, questioning preconceptions about how society lives now and into the future. Developed in collaboration with TV architect George Clarke’s Ministry of Building, Innovation and Education (MOBIE), the course places you at the forefront of the next generation of designers tackling the design and delivery of new homes. You could break new ground through an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to designing for future living.The course prepares a new model of creative, skilled and disruptive designer with knowledge of home, digital technologies and creative design.
Studying a Foundation within Birmingham School of Architecture and Design is about ideas, concepts and creativity integrating various disciplines. This additional year has been designed to give you the skills needed to ensure you’re successful on the BA (Hons) Design for Future Living course.
In this Foundation year you will be working on a multidisciplinary basis with students on different courses from the School, giving you the opportunity to experience a dynamic learning environment that embraces our ethos.
After successful completion of your foundation year you will progress onto the BA (Hons) Design for Future Living degree.
How we live affects us all. Housing is a basic human right but what we produce doesn’t always meet today’s needs. Our homes should be smart, well designed and affordable; they should create a sense of community, respect the environment and support changing family structures. We urgently need new design thinking to revolutionise how we live.
The BA (Hons) Design for Future Living is a unique opportunity for you to lead the way in designing how and where we live. Through innovative ideas, new design methods, advanced technologies and entrepreneurial skills, you will critique, challenge and disrupt traditional thinking around the idea of ‘home’ and develop radical alternatives.
Design - the course embodies our ethos of “design through the scales”, from product design, furniture, interior spaces and architecture to urban design. In the final year, you will have the opportunity to pursue your own interests through a major project.
Make – we have a tradition and pre-occupation with “making”, inspired by Birmingham’s industrial and artisan heritage, making this an ideal setting for exploring new approaches to the production and manufacture of homes. Using our workshops and the city beyond, you will explore advanced materials, digital and analogue fabrication and technology transfer from product design, manufacturing and industry.
Live – we see houses not as ‘one size fits all’ units but as homes for specific users in specific places. Throughout the course, you will be challenged to consider the implications of your designs on how people live.
The course prepares a new model of creative, skilled and disruptive designers with knowledge of how new understandings of home, digital technologies and creative design can shape the places we live.
Visit our School site for more student work and extra information.
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
88 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level. |
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LEVEL 2 QUALIFICATIONS | ||
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GCSE |
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Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) |
See level 3 entry under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details | |
Scottish National 5 |
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IELTS |
Minimum overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in the remaining three skills. | |
LEVEL 3 (and above) QUALIFICATIONS | ||
A Level and Advanced VCE |
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AS and AS VCE |
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications (AS Levels must be in different subject to A-Levels) to obtain 88 pts | |
Access to HE Diploma |
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MMM | |
Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design & Media) |
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IBO Certificate in Higher Level |
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International Baccalaureate Diploma |
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Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) | Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate with a minimum of 88 tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects. This must include English Language and Maths taken at either Ordinary Level (minimum grade O1-O4 (or A-C/A1-C3)) or Higher level minimum grade H1/H7 (or A-D / A1-D3 up to and including 2016 | |
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma | MMM | |
Scottish Advanced Higher |
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T-Levels |
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UAL Extended Diploma in Art & Design | Merit overall | |
UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology | Merit overall | |
UAL Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts | Merit overall | |
Other qualifications | ||
If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS. Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website. |
Essential | ||
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EU/Non-EU (International) Qualifications | Requirements | |
IELTS | Minimum overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in the remaining three skills. |
Applications from mature students (21+) with alternative qualifications and/or considerable work experience will be considered on their merits.
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2021
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2021
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
You are not required to submit a portfolio for this course.
Our courses include activities such as performance, exhibitions, field trips and production of works or artefacts which may require you to purchase specific equipment, instruments, books, materials, hire of venues and accommodation, or other items.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Designing across the scales from product design to architecture to the city, you will have unique skills making you ideally placed to develop new approaches to the homes of the future.
Your projects will explore objects, spaces for living and future homes and communities. Through hands on experience you will understand the potential of new technologies and technology transfer. Working individually and in team-based activities, you will develop your professional and entrepreneurial skills ready for industry.
The course goes beyond lectures and gives you great opportunities. Interdisciplinary working is part of our ethos; you'll be part of Co.LAB, a collaborative architecture and design initiative within the School working on live projects. This engagement with one-to-one scale interventions and real-world practice helps you to become a more rounded and responsive designer.
As part of the Praxis module, you will undertake a work placement during year two, with options including design practice, construction, manufacture, developer, and more. This engagement with one-to-one scale interventions with students and staff from various disciplines, external partners and real-world practice helps you to become a more rounded and responsive professional.
The collaboration with MOBIE brings a wealth of knowledge and industry connections to the course.
The BA (Hons) Design for Future Living programme is located within the Birmingham School of Architecture and Design.
The course builds upon the School’s employability driven reputation, by providing students with the knowledge and skills to work in industry.
The collaboration with MOBIE brings a wealth of knowledge and industry connections to the course.
As well as gaining course-specific skills, you could also gain broader tools through our Graduate+ programme, which will help enhance your employment options by helping with careers development, employability activities, volunteering and part-time work experience.
Allied with these course-specific experiences, you will also have access to a range of support staff and services from the University’s Careers Service, who can help with:
As part of our commitment to developing the essential skills required as part of the BA (Hons) Design for Future Living, we have continued to develop the two-week, assessed work placement scheme in Year Two. The placement is part of the PRAXIS (Management Practice and Law) module and takes place towards the end of the academic year.
While on placement, organisations are encouraged to provide you with a wide range of activities, including meetings, site visits and design reviews, as well as developing additional writing, CAD and graphic skills.
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
When you join Birmingham City University, the first thing you will notice is the high standard of our campuses. With an investment of £340 million across our buildings and facilities, we are committed to giving you the very best learning environment to help shape your experience.
You’ll be based in the multi-million pound Parkside building – part of our City Centre Campus – with technology and facilities that reflect advanced professional practice. We offer facilities which will accurately reflect the work environment you will enter after graduating. These include Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and a computer-generated Virtual Building Site, creating real life scenarios for you to work on.
While based in The Parkside Building, you will get sharpen your CAD and digital visual communication skills, prototyping and digital production, while also having access to a range of specialist software, workshops, computer and project learning laboratories, and a social learning space.
You’ll also benefit from:
From industry-standard software, to our workshops and studio spaces, everything you need will be at your fingertips from day one. Working with our expert technicians, you'll be supported from concept through to completion.
Matthew is a qualified architect and Director of Technical Studies at Birmingham School of Architecture and Design. As well as overseeing technical input across the School he teaches in the architectural design studios.
A graduate of the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA), Matthew worked at the Young Architect of the Year Award finalists Design Research Unit Wales (DRU-w) and Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects before founding his practice, Coombs Jones. He taught at the Welsh School of Architecture and the University of the West of England (UWE) before joining BSoAD in 2019.
Matthew’s PhD by design explored place specific approaches to the development of rural towns, a theme he continues to explore through practice and research. He is currently writing a book for RIBA Publishing, ‘Transforming Towns’, which aims to demonstrate the potential of contemporary architecture to positively transform small towns and villages in the UK. He has further experience in socially engaged and participatory place making, community-led planning, public engagement and university-community live projects.
He recently organised a conference in partnership with the research group AMPS exploring health and wellbeing in the built environment from which an edited book has recently been published. Matthew was a judge for the RIBA President's Awards for Research 2017.