Hello! My name is Hanniya, and I study Architecture at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge. If I’m completely honest, I was never the type of person who knew what they wanted to study from the age of 3, nor did I grow up with a ✨burning passion✨ for my subject – in fact, I didn’t even consider architecture as an option till I was in sixth form! I was always interested in a wide range of things and could never decide whether my loyalties lay with the STEM subjects or humanities (surely you must pick either one or the other… right??). Spoiler alert – I was wrong. I found that Architecture by its nature is wide-ranging and varied, and is one of the unique subjects in which I could study a variety of modules with elements of both humanities and STEM (although it does admittedly lean more towards the humanities) alongside the more creative elements of the degree.
The course is split between studio work, which forms 60% of your grade, and lecture courses making up the remaining 40%. In the first year, these include two History and Theory modules (pre and post 1800’s), as well as modules in Structural Design (more physics-y but manageable), Construction, and Environmental Design. Most people find studio work to be the most time consuming but also fun aspect of the degree, as we are set design briefs and expected to be as creative as we can, both in our design ideas and how we communicate them.
Much of my time during term is spent preparing drawings, models, and collages which is not something many other Oxbridge courses can boast! A typical week consists of two studio days (usually Mondays and Thursdays), five lectures split between the rest of the days, and at least one weekly supervision. Although the architecture workload is notoriously on the heavier side, it is countered by the fact that this is also one of the most collaborative courses. With people from all years working under one roof in studio, help, advice, or just a friendly face is never too far.
For architecture you have two interviews and an assessment on interview day. Although the format varies somewhat between colleges, one interview is usually more general and wide ranging, while the second is more subject specific. A large part of the second interview is also focused on your portfolio which you are expected to bring with you to the interview and should consist of a variety of work showcasing your creative ability. This can include anything from drawings, models (or pictures of them), videos, paintings, or anything else that you feel best demonstrates your skills. The assessment lasts for an hour, with the first half allocated to answering an essay style question, and the latter half consisting of a drawing task. Looking back, I remember being most intimidated by the prospect of the assessment however, one thing I wish I could go back and tell myself is that the interviewers are looking for *potential* not perfection. You don’t need to produce the perfect drawing or write the most amazing essay – they are just looking for potential that can be honed by studying this course!
Architecture is also unique in the sense that it is not a subject that can be studied at school, and so everyone comes to it with different knowledge, skills, and experiences. This can make it daunting at first, however it’s important to remember that you’re not expected to know everything about architecture before you apply! You’re just expected to demonstrate that you are interested enough to have gone out of your way to engage with aspects that intrigue you and are willing to explore and learn further. So watch documentaries, read books and articles, and listen to podcasts, etc. to find aspects of architecture that interest you and then read around these. Even simple things like following architecture accounts on Instagram (Dezeen, Archdaily, and RIBA are a good start) can be a good way to stay aware of what is going on in the world of architecture. Keeping a small sketchbook and frequently sketching your surroundings from observation is also super helpful. Also keep an eye out for summer schools, architecture taster days, open lectures or workshops put on by various universities and organisations which can also be great ways to gain a deeper insight and engage with the subject.
Finally, if there is one thing you take away from this article, it’s that there is no ‘ideal’ candidate. At Cambridge, there are no specific A-level subject requirements for Architecture (double check with your college though!) and people come from a range of backgrounds, so don’t feel put off if you don’t do a certain subject or feel like you won’t know enough about architecture. If you’re passionate, willing to learn, and enjoy learning about the built environment then this could be the course for you!