Hiiiii, I guess I just need a simple answer or someone who is studying to be an Architect at Uni. (Don't let the username fool you, I'm actually quite seriously about this.)
I've just finished my GCSEs and I'm deciding, well already decided what to take for ALevels. I want to be either a Graphics Designer or an Architect. The subjects I've chosen are ICT, Art, Maths and Graphics and maybe Photography.
I was wondering for Architecture do you have to take Art for A Level and does it need to be a Uni requirement or can you take any Art based subject such as Graphics and still get in.
I actually really don't know what todo, to be an Architect you need at least 7years worth of training and that's too long for me and not to mention the costs. What is it actually like to study it at Uni? And also can anyone recommend me any good Uni's for Graphic Design and/or Architecture.
I'd really appreicate it if you answered back as it would help me muchly. Thank youuuuuuu in advance.
I'm not studying architecture although I think this is still accurate.
There is a trend for many universities to turn away from requiring art A-level and to instead look at a portfolio so not have art A-level isn't a massive disadvanage. However, most of the top ranked unis will still expect the student to have it (a few will accept something like graphics if you also have a great portfolio). I would so art, especially if you think you're capable of getting a good grade and will enjoy it.
I woulds advise against taking ICT, it's quite pointless a subject. English Lit, History, a science, geography, politics, philosophy/religious studies would be a good option in its place. It may be a good thing to get one arts subject in there. I also wouldn't take art and graphics, I'd just keep to art if you think you'll do well in it. Photography is OK, for a fourth subject.
Edit: - As for "good unis" then it's quite subjectuve. For the top ranked places you're looking mainly at Cambridge, Bath and Cardiff plus the solid redbricks (Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool).
I was thinking of taking a subject like psychology because I find it quite interesting but I haven't checked if my 6thform do the subject.
I really don't want to take art because it means so so much work and it'll just hold me back. I really like graphics so I'd love to take it. I need to ask at connexions or something about careers and etc.
Maybe graphics, pyschology, maths and photography. I think you have to be quite organised in arty subjects and that I am so I'm not worried abour photography and graphics together.
Like I said, a number of good universities will still be willing to consider an applicant who doesn't have art A-level providing they still have the correct combination of courses and grades at GCSE and A-level, plus portfolio and work experience. Have a look at this from Newcastle (under entrace requirements)
Try not to ask connexions. They're crap generally. They are usually no brain nobodies with no real knowledge of employment, just a few files tucked away to refer to every now and then.
That should provide some resources, RIBA is a big one. Otherwise just keep to these forums and, when in doubt, see if you can ask universities for advice.
But, bearing in mind what I said about art then those final four subjects (graphics, psychology, maths and photography) will be OK for most unis. Providing photography is kept as a fourth A-level or dropped after AS. I wouldn't advise you to take it as one of only three A-levels.
Thank you for the advice and such. I think I'll probably end up taking the 4 (graphics, psychology, maths and photography) and then drop photography in the second year. I guess I'll just have to take a risk and if it fails, I still have Graphic Designer as a career option.
Having just been through the whole ucas system to apply for architecture this year. I would reccommend taking Art as a alevel over graphics. I never took any arty subjects since GCSE (I only studied graphics and design tech at AS) and I really did struggle to produce a portfolio for my interviews.
I basically had to teach art all by myself and tried by best to experiment in painting, collages, sculpture, textiles to produce a decent portfolio (with mix mediums) and sketch books within 2 months.
Not only that, if you wanted to apply for the bartlett, they require Art A level as a requirement.
I also notice certain unis wont ask for a portfolio if you have A level art.
Also not having 'graphics' at a level would not affect you if you wanted to become a graphic designer. You need to do a Art foundation before a BA in Graphics at most standard art schools.
hope that helps, you should come to the architecture forum!
Whenever I think of taking art for ALevels, I just think of all the hassle and effort even though my school is an art school, it's not the greatest in that department and I just found at GCSEs that it was taking over and there was alot todo. And if I want to take it for ALevel, it'll be worse.
I love love graphics more than art. One of my friends are taking graphics instead of art and he wants to be a architect and he went to the careers advisor and she said it was alright so I guess I'll take graphics.
As for the portfolio, that'll be okay because my mum is an interior design/art teacher so she can help me. : )
What kind of stuff do they want to see in the portfolio? Haha, sorry, i'm thinking of this way too early.
Lol, is this not the architecture forum? USually I'd advise the OP to go straight to the subject forum but for some eason I always thought this was in architecture.
Anyway, Newcastle give some advice about what they expect their prospective students to show in a portfolio: -
"As part of the selection process, we may require candidates to demonstrate evidence of creativity and design through the production of a portfolio, which might include examples or combinations of any of the following: artwork, line drawings, life drawing, photography, model making, demonstration of colour awareness, sculpture or any other artefact that demonstrates creativity"
Things such as CAD may also be worthwhile, although I'm no expert.
As for the portfolio, that'll be okay because my mum is an interior design/art teacher so she can help me. : )
What kind of stuff do they want to see in the portfolio? Haha, sorry, i'm thinking of this way too early.
If your mom is an art teacher then thats great!
in the portfolio you need to demonstrate the following clearly:
1. 3D design and spatial awareness skills
2. experimenting with different mediums - paints, spray paint, pastels, photography, clay, collages, fabrics, pencils, string, origami paper, even reused old rubbish!
3. exploring what inspires you - artists, scientists, architects, trends, colour, people, places, the environment etc
4. DEVELOPMENT - put everything in your sketch book to show how you experimented and developed each final peice. take photos, notes, your experiments, the crap piece of work you wanted to throw in the bin, ideas of improvements and stick that all in.
best tip is to not draw a sketch book full of buildings and people only.
Unis are looking for students who can think 'beyond architecture' which isnt neccessarily all about people and buildings.
my mate managed to get into kingston with a sketch book full of illustrated drawings of cartoons. they had to questioned him about why the hell he was applying for architecture when hes work was based on illustration. it did give him an edge because his sketchbook was 'different'.
I guess it largely depends on what universities you apply for. if you wanted to apply for these schools:
Glasgow school of Art
UCL (Bartlett)
Oxford Brookes
Kingston
Brighton
Edinburgh school of art
dundee
London Met
Cambridge
then you will require a art portfolio for the interview. there are other unis which only ask you to do a small drawing task, or send in examples of your work.
i would say 10 final peices (thats 10 projects) and 1/2 sketch book would be enough for a decent profolio.
btw the competitive for places have risen over the years within architecture. Unis used to ask for BBC - ABB, now the normal offer is ABB-AAA at places like Bath, Sheffield, Cardiff etc.
and no CAD is not important, i wouldnt really put it in a art portfolio. Although its handy to learn it so you can get a head start in the class when you have to do drafting plans.
Heres one big tip that people should have told me before but didnt.
CHECK OUT THE UNI'S DEGREE SHOWS.
if there were any unis you interested in, go and visit their architecture degree show which is held every year during june- july months.
each architecture school teaches in a different way from one another. some unis focus on sustainability, others are more creative and others will be more technical.
go and visit, you will see for yourself if its the type of work you want to do.
I'm applying to study architecture, just finished my AS year and about your AS choices - please please dont do that combination - maths is good, but i think the other three r a bad combination. Art really is helpful so reconsider it. It's a bad idea to have psychology, graphics and photography together because they r all new subjects at Alevel and not as popular with unis as the traditional subjects - its a bad idea to do more that two. and ICT is a better AS or Alevel than graphics or photography. also, they might sound good as choices because they r new, but u dont know your going to like them because u havent tried them before - if u end up not liking more than 1 thats really difficult for u because u can't give up more than 1 at AS.
I'm applying to study architecture, just finished my AS year and about your AS choices - please please dont do that combination - maths is good, but i think the other three r a bad combination. Art really is helpful so reconsider it. It's a bad idea to have psychology, graphics and photography together because they r all new subjects at Alevel and not as popular with unis as the traditional subjects - its a bad idea to do more that two. and ICT is a better AS or Alevel than graphics or photography. also, they might sound good as choices because they r new, but u dont know your going to like them because u havent tried them before - if u end up not liking more than 1 thats really difficult for u because u can't give up more than 1 at AS.
I think graphics is more helpful as it has more hi-tech drawings and uses computers/ICT alot! I did graphics at GCSE's, it's not a new subject, it's quite a popular subject. As for psychology, I'm interested in that anyway and I know I'll like it along with Photography. I wouldn't take them if I knew I wasn't going to like them. That's why I didn't take history, geography or any of those.
What did you take for A Levels to get into Architecture?
For AS I've done History, History of Art, Fine Art and English. I enjoy all my subjects, which is obviously the most important thing, but if I'd known that I was going to do Architecture I would have done Physics. I think it would have been helpful for me to do a science, cos unis say they prefer a balance of subjects. I would also have done maths if I enjoyed it cos I think it would be really helpful for me, but I don't like it so there was no point.
Lol, is this not the architecture forum? USually I'd advise the OP to go straight to the subject forum but for some eason I always thought this was in architecture.
Anyway, Newcastle give some advice about what they expect their prospective students to show in a portfolio: -
"As part of the selection process, we may require candidates to demonstrate evidence of creativity and design through the production of a portfolio, which might include examples or combinations of any of the following: artwork, line drawings, life drawing, photography, model making, demonstration of colour awareness, sculpture or any other artefact that demonstrates creativity"
Things such as CAD may also be worthwhile, although I'm no expert.
Hiii, I've got my results and did well in them, I got accepted into 6thform and I'm taking Graphics, Photography, Psychology, Philosophy and Critical Thinking(enrichment). I'm planning todo Graphic Design in uni. I'm happy!
Hiii, I've got my results and did well in them, I got accepted into 6thform and I'm taking Graphics, Photography, Psychology, Philosophy and Critical Thinking(enrichment). I'm planning todo Graphic Design in uni. I'm happy!
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