Over the next year we’ll be publishing a series of articles explaining how you can put together a perfect application for Oxford or Cambridge in various subjects. As applications increase in difficulty there is an ever-more important drive towards perfection – anything less than this might see a really good candidate just fall short of the necessary standard. By reading this series you’ll understand what it takes and, hopefully, put it into motion yourself!

Architecture

“Buildings are shaped by human hand, reflecting our needs, dreams and desires; and yet in return it is those same buildings that shape our behaviours and govern the interactions between people and place. Beyond the physical, I am drawn to the power of architecture to contribute to one’s spiritual experience as discussed in Juhani Pallasma’s book ‘The eyes of the skin’. In this way, architecture opens emotions and the imagination, whilst developing a connection to past civilisations.”

One of my recent students described architecture in this way to me, and I couldn’t put it better myself. Architecture truly is an interdisciplinary subject that blends the artistic eye with an appreciation for engineering and design. It sits at the cross-section of so many different skills and practices it is no wonder it is such an aspirational subject, and one of the hardest to win a place at university.

Before applying make sure you check out some learning modules online that give you an example of how universities teach this subject. The best place to find this is through an online MOOC. Here’s a link to some good examples.

https://www.mooc-list.com/tags/architecture

https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=architecture

 Grades and Subject Choices

The right subject choices depend on which your final choice of major, but getting the right selection is vital. Here are some of our top tips:

Projects

There are a limited number of essay competitions and design prizes available for students in their final years of high school studies. Many of the competitions you will see are actually aimed at students in their university studies or perhaps even doing their masters. The best competition for students in High School is the Fitzwilliam Essay Prize. For many years now Fitzwilliam College at the University of Cambridge has tasked students with the challenge of designing and describing a new building in their limited college space. Full instructions are on their website.

Check out our website for more!

Admissions Tests

Whilst applicants will not have to sit admissions tests in advance of their interviews there are nevertheless a lot of extra steps in the process of application. You’ll firstly be required to submit a portfolio alongside your predicted grades and your PS. This needs to be a blend of design, fine art and sketches.

At your interview you’ll be asked to take two tests, each lasting for 30 minutes in length. One will be writing and the second a drawing task. Whilst both vary widely, in the drawing task you’ll normally be asked to draw something that you can see. It might be the room you’re sitting in, the view from the window or even just a single item in the room.

Interviews

In the interview, you’ll need to know a great deal about the principles and history of architecture. At this point, being good at drawing isn’t enough. You’ll have to have a wide appreciation for the architectural movements through the centuries and the key architects of each movement.

As well as this general knowledge, you want to bring some gold dust to the discussion. Choose one area and make sure you’re an expert on it. If you do this you stand a fighting chance! Here are some questions previous applicants have faced…

1. How would you reduce crime through architecture?

2. Define negative space.

3. How does the environment influence a building?