2 July – 7 September 2012
Duration: 10 weeks
The Bartlett School of Architecture is one of the leading universities in the field of architecture in the world. It has been consistently in the AJ100 top table for Architecture Schools, and every year the BSc course attracts nearly 2000 applications for 90 places on the BSc programme.
Our main entry requirement for our BSc Architecture programme is to have a full two-year A-level in Art. But currently the art curriculum at school does not always nurture a creative thinking process and often favours a very prescribed approach to art. There is a significant lack of sensibility and understanding of a critical, creative and reflective personal design process.
In order to better prepare students for their future academic career, the Bartlett School of Architecture offers a Summer Foundation, which runs from the first week of July until early September. The programme starts with a basic skill-based exercise during the first three weeks, before taking the students into the field of architectural design through a series of group and individual explorations. It offers prospective applicants a unique opportunity to get a flavour of what architectural education is like at the Bartlett. At the same time if presents a fantastic chance for incoming students to prepare themselves their architectural studies.
The Summer Foundation attracts a whole variety of applicants:
- School leavers who want to prepare themselves for a university level tuition; it helps them in the difficult transition between two very different educational environments; high-school and university.
- People with a career change in mind; they use it as a test bed to see if they are suited to a university degree in architecture.
- International students who would like to get a booster before they enter the demanding environment of the Bartlett Year 1 course.
The foundation course provides a very useful practical and theoretical introduction to architecture, design and the visual arts. Basic concepts of a creative process are explored, questioned and developed. The result is the creation of a very personal approach to a given task. In the end each student has a very personal understanding of what architecture is for him/her. In addition to the taught projects students are encouraged to explore London, to read widely, to visit galleries, exhibitions, concerts, to listen to lectures, etc. This opens their eyes and widens their understanding of architecture.
Proposed course structure
The programme is structured in three parts. The first part (3 weeks) is about learning skills and approaches to creative problems. In the second part (2 weeks) students work with colleagues of the Bartlett Summer School on a common theme towards a big group installation in/around Wates House or the UCL campus. After completing this stage, students work for the remaining 4 weeks on a personal project with a tutor. This stage is about personal development and realisation, as well as learning to be aware of the general architectural context of London.
There is a one-day event/exhibition at the end of the course to celebrate the work that each student has achieved.
Cost
£2975 + £50 for Materials= £3,025
There will be a deposit of £550 payable at the application.
Accommodation
Participants have to find their own accommodation.
Applications
To apply for the Bartlett Summer Foundation please send an email to:
Michelle Bush m.bush@ucl.ac.uk