tetrishead

A friend of mine has asked me about this, but I have absolutely no clue about architecture. She has a very strong background in physics (BS from Caltech) and after traveling abroad she's had a "revelation" about architecture. She's extremely interested in the connection between people and places, interior spaces/ambient lighting + the use of interior lighting and environmental sustainability. She says she's more interested in large projects than she is individual homes, for what it's worth.

I'm trying to get guidance on this issue from a more US-centric viewpoint, so I was wondering how these schools are looked at and if anyone here has any experience they'd care to share with them.

UCL (The Barlett) looks very good, and I know AA is well-regarded. I have absolutely no idea about the programs at Cambridge or Edinburgh.

Considering her interest in design of the interior as well as the overall design of buildings I'm wondering if she's not better off in a more "artistic" program (it sounds to me like she's interested in ergonomics and environmental psychology, but that's probably not for me to judge), but I have no idea how that all works.

If anyone could give me any thoughts on these schools and how they'd be looked at in the context of coming to work in the US I'd appreciate it.

so_ein_quatsch

From the little info about those UK schools that I know, The Bartlett had been (not sure if this still holds true) often compared to the Sci-ARC -produces very talented people with an avant garde mindset, but their ideas tend to only exist on paper (w/ lots of videos and glitsy graphics) Also, the Bartlett is a fantastic school for getting a PhD/teaching. Good faculty too (CJ Lim, Rendell etc) The AA will give you a solid design skillset, and fosters indivisualism, but isn't AA REALLY expensive?? Also, AA's facilities are smaller than Bartlett's.
Is your friend going for a Diploma at these UK schools?

tetrishead

I suspect she'll have to go for a diploma since she has no background experience in architecture besides doing some very basic work in structural engineering as a consultant. From what I see AA isn't all that expensive when you consider that she'd receive no government aid from the UK at UCL, Edinburgh or Cambridge because she's a US citizen.

If you don't mind me asking (since I personally have no clue), what's the deal with the UK system v. the US system? A diploma in England is what, 2-3 years? And then you go into an MArch? Is that because of various governing credential bodies or something? I've noticed in the US that you can go straight into an MArch with no background in architecture at all (while all the architecture programs I've seen in Britain require a bachelors in architecture or an equivalent), so I'm wondering what/why that difference is.

phoenician

I applied to the AA, I got invited for an interview.. but I'm not going to be going to it. Their program is very art and design centered, too much art.. I'd reccomend it for graduate studies. The Bartlett is really good, I didn't do my A-Level so I didn't apply [ again too much art, not technical ]...

Cardiff and Bath are very popular in their architecture program, let her check em out

tetrishead

I appreciate the recommendations. It's interesting to me that the only 5* A rated school in architecture (built environment) is Salford, which I didn't even know existed, and Ulster is the only other 5 A. Then again I don't know how accurate the RAE is, especially when they're doing a new one now and it's 7 years old.

This whole British system is confusing as hell to me though. The diploma (offered at a few places) is for people who have a bachelors and don't want another, and it lasts 2-3 years (which is the same length as the bachelors anyway?) and then... you get a masters in another 2-4 years? It seems like the UK process is much longer (and convoluted), as opposed to most US MArch programs which seem to let people in with some background in physics/mechanics, or engineering.

phoenician

Oh yah , its way longer. I got offers from UCL, Cardiff and Bath this year, but I doubt I'm going to be heading to the UK. I'm lost between Mcgill, University of Miami and maybe Syracuse for getting my BArch. Thing is in the UK, you do first your BSc in Arch. which is 3 years , this way you complete part 1. [ not prof. degree, so you are not recognized yet as an architect]. Later you should do one year of work experience, then you come back to school to do 2 more years, then you do this exam in the end . you pass you are done with part 2........[ still not an officially licensed architect]. Now that you are done with the education part, you do a year of work experience , then after that you do this exam called part 3 !!!!!!!! ... onc you pass you become an official architect and a member of the british architects, or smthin like that .. !!! . so to sum up... its a long procedure .. you must do all part1,2,3 of the RIBA exams .. Good Luck !