Official Architecture Applicants Thread 2026

Hi everyone, by Oct 15, 2025, I have applied for architecture at UCL, Cambridge, Manchester, Loughborough, and BA arch & Landscape at Sheffield. I’ve submitted portfolio for all of them (did drawing assessment for Cambridge, and 2 interviews). So far I got an offer from Manchester, … Loughborough interview scheduled for Feb 2026, Cambridge will come back to me by end of Jan 2026….Sheffield didn’t accept me… they gave option to do BA in landscaping that is I am still considering….. but my worries is about UCL as there is no feedback. Anyone has an experience with UCL and when they will come back to you for interview or rejection as I have submittted the portfolio on Oct 25, 2025

Hi everyone, by Oct 15, 2025, I have applied for architecture at UCL, Cambridge, Manchester, Loughborough, and BA arch & Landscape at Sheffield. I’ve submitted portfolio for all of them (did drawing assessment for Cambridge, and 2 interviews). So far I got an offer from Manchester, … Loughborough interview scheduled for Feb 2026, Cambridge will come back to me by end of Jan 2026….Sheffield didn’t accept me… they gave option to do BA in landscaping that is I am still considering….. but my worries is about UCL as there is no feedback. Anyone has an experience with UCL and when they will come back to you for interview or rejection as I have submittted the portfolio on Oct 25, 2025

Hi How long does it take for Manchester to give you an offer? Congrats on ur offer btw!!

Im about to submit my ucas for uni of Manchester, Cardiff, UAL, Westminister and either UCL or Nottingham. I am predicted A*AA with an A* EPQ. A-levels are textile art, biology and chemistry. GCSEs are 9988777776. Work experience placement. Are these stats strong enough for these unis? If so, is Uni of Edinburgh a stretch?

Omg an offer from Manchester, well done! There was no interview right? Also, did you have to attach the three extra questions with your portfolio?

Omg, sorry for the late reply! There was no interview. The only interview I had to do was for University of Reading. With the three questions I believe I wrote 385/450 words. I wrote it on google document separate from my portfolio and then copied and pasted it onto the website they wanted us to submit it on. I didn’t know how to use the website to be honest so I was more comfortable with google docs then copying and pasting it over. With my portfolio I also did it on google docs on a separate tab to my three questions essay but the same document (if you get what I mean) and just added my best work from like Year 11 up until Year 13. I did textiles GCSEs instead of art GCSEs so showed my textiles work that related to what they wanted to see. This was done over two pages, since I had space left on my 2nd page I did a little paragraph just explaining what my piece was e.g I did an artist copy of Georgia O’Keeffe’s petunias done in acrylics (A1 paper) then said below that photo I did a response in the style of her theme done in oil paintings (A1). They also want to see what you’re currently working on so if you have art or art related pieces unfinished you can also add that in. I also said at the bottom what medias I used for all my pieces.
This is a lot to read but I hope it was helpful. If you need anything else just reply back and I’ll try respond as soon as possible. Manchester was also the last offer I got since when you apply on UCAS they send an email back asking for your portfolio including the essay so it’s always good to have a head start. Goodluck on your uni applications! Wishing you the best.

anyone whos done an interview alr at UCL heard back yet?

have you already done an interview? i’m still waiting to hear back if i was accepted for one and i submitted my application late september/early october

I didn’t hear back from UCL yet….. I submitted my Arch. Portfolio on Oct 25th, and it went complete silence after that

anyone whos done an interview alr at UCL heard back yet?

same here, i was starting to feel like i’ve missed something since online it says interviews start in november and i was definitely on the earlier end of applicants. thought i would’ve gotten an invite/rejection by now. even if not that, at least an email saying that they’re still reviewing applications and to wait (gotten those from other unis). plus porticos down so i can’t check if i’ve missed anything

have you had an interview already?

yeah i got an offer !!!

Has anyone heard back from any Scottish universities?? (especially Edinburgh and Strathclyde)

whatt they sent me this email
'As you may know, our BSc (Hons) Architecture degree is very popular, and to make sure every student who joins us has the experience they deserve, the number of places available is unfortunately limited.
We want to recognise the time you have spent on your application and our first priority is that all applicants are treated fairly. This may mean we cannot make decisions for applicants until we have considered everyone who applies by the UCAS equal consideration deadline (14 January 2026).
We know waiting can be stressful - we intend for all applicants to have a decision by the end of March, and in most cases sooner than this.'

Omg, sorry for the late reply! There was no interview. The only interview I had to do was for University of Reading. With the three questions I believe I wrote 385/450 words. I wrote it on google document separate from my portfolio and then copied and pasted it onto the website they wanted us to submit it on. I didn’t know how to use the website to be honest so I was more comfortable with google docs then copying and pasting it over. With my portfolio I also did it on google docs on a separate tab to my three questions essay but the same document (if you get what I mean) and just added my best work from like Year 11 up until Year 13. I did textiles GCSEs instead of art GCSEs so showed my textiles work that related to what they wanted to see. This was done over two pages, since I had space left on my 2nd page I did a little paragraph just explaining what my piece was e.g I did an artist copy of Georgia O’Keeffe’s petunias done in acrylics (A1 paper) then said below that photo I did a response in the style of her theme done in oil paintings (A1). They also want to see what you’re currently working on so if you have art or art related pieces unfinished you can also add that in. I also said at the bottom what medias I used for all my pieces.
This is a lot to read but I hope it was helpful. If you need anything else just reply back and I’ll try respond as soon as possible. Manchester was also the last offer I got since when you apply on UCAS they send an email back asking for your portfolio including the essay so it’s always good to have a head start. Goodluck on your uni applications! Wishing you the best.

Hi, I've just booked my interview with the University of Reading, please can you share what the interview was like?

Thank you so much!! best of luck