Key Info
Bachelor of Architecture
If you are a person that combines creative imagination and analytical rigour; if you are a good observer; and if you are inspired by the prospect of changing the world we live in, then UL’s problem-oriented approach to architecture may just be right for you. Architecture requires a lot of dedication, and is a very hands-on course that relies on constructional understanding, based on lots of model making and material experiments.
Why study Architecture at UL?
The School of Architecture offers a 5-year undergraduate degree in architecture. The objective of the School is to educate architects with a strong set of integrated skills, balanced with a clear understanding of the environment - built, existing and imagined - and vital to professional practice. The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has awarded full accreditation to the architecture programme at UL. Studying architecture in an accredited programme is the first step towards becoming a registered professional architect.
The School of Architecture embraces all parts of an architect’s education; it is a place where the study of architecture is undertaken with passion and inventiveness, open and transparent society of mobile thinkers. The School of Architecture teaches an architecture that is integrated with Environmental and Structural engineering, as disciplines that set us free from the limitations of our own knowledge and help us to achieve a balance with the environment by focusing human abilities.
Learn more about our courses and upcoming events
What you will study
Training as an architect is engaging in a process of ‘learning by doing’ with the course curriculum structured around the design studio. The design studio is a creative laboratory where learning is developed through experimentation and reflection. Woven into the design studio will be courses of study in structures (structural engineering), environmental science (environmental engineering), history (of architecture, society, technology), and philosophy, sociology, law and management (professional practice).
The course is designed to equip you with a broad range of skills fundamental to becoming an architect. These skills include hand drawing, sketching, model-making, photography, computer-aided drawing, audiovisual and verbal presentation, as well as core skills including conceptualising and designing, problem-solving and working with other people.
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Year 1 |
Semester 1 |
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Semester 2 |
Summer |
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AR4001 |
Design Studio 1a |
AR4002 |
Design Studio 1b |
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AR4011 |
Gravity & Reaction 1 |
AR4012 |
Gravity & Reaction 2 |
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AR4021 |
Representation / Drawing 1 |
AR4022 |
Representation / Drawing 2 |
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AR4031 |
History & Theory of Architecture 1 |
AR4032 |
History & Theory of Architecture 2 |
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AR4041 |
Assembly & Techniques 1 |
AR4042 |
Assembly & Techniques 2 |
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AR4051 |
Environmental Systems and Forces 1 |
AR4052 |
Environmental Systems and Forces 2 |
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Year 2 |
Semester 3 |
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Semester 4 |
Summer |
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AR4073 |
Design Studio 2a |
AR4004 |
Design Studio 2b |
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AR4013 |
Gravity & Reaction 3 |
AR4014 |
Gravity & Reaction 4 |
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AR4023 |
Representation / Drawing 3 |
AR4024 |
Representation / Drawing 4 |
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AR4033 |
History & Theory of Architecture 3 |
AR4034 |
History & Theory of Architecture 4 |
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AR4043 |
Assembly and Techniques 3 |
AR4044 |
Materials 1 |
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AR4053 |
Environmental Systems and Forces 3 |
AR4054 |
Environmental Systems and Forces 4 |
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Year 3 |
Semester 5 |
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Semester 6 |
Summer |
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AR4005 |
Design Studio 3a |
AR4006 |
Design Studio 3b |
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AR4015 |
Gravity & Reaction 5 |
AR4016 |
Gravity & Reaction 6 |
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AR4025 |
Representation / Drawing 5 |
AR4026 |
Representation / Drawing 6 |
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AR4035 |
History & Theory of Architecture 5 |
AR4036 |
History & Theory of Architecture 6 |
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AR4045 |
Assembly & Techniques 4 |
AR4046 |
Assembly & Techniques 5 |
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AR4056 |
Environmental Systems and Forces 5 |
AR4055 |
Visual Culture 1 |
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Year 4 |
Semester 7 |
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Semester 8 |
Summer |
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AR4007 |
Design Studio 4a |
AR4008 |
Design Studio 4b |
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AR4019 |
Professional Practice - Contracts |
AR4058 |
Profession & Society |
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AR4317 |
Advanced Construction 1 |
AR4068 |
Advanced Construction 2 |
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Elective |
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Elective |
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Year 5 |
Semester 9 |
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Semester 10 |
Summer |
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AR4099 |
Design Studio 5a |
AR4010 |
Design Studio 5b - Thesis |
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AR4319 |
Advanced Construction 3 |
AR4310 |
Advanced Construction 4 |
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Elective |
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Elective |
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Entry requirements
| CAO points history |
521*
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|---|---|
| Minimum grades |
Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. |
| Subject requirements |
Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English. Note: Grade F6 in Foundation Mathematics also satisfies the minimum entry requirements. Foundation Maths is not reckonable for scoring purposes.
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| Additional considerations |
Applications are particularly welcome from mature candidates (at least 23 years of age on the 1st of January of year of registration). All mature candidates must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) – www.cao.ie. For details please refer to the www.ul.ie/admissions website and the separate SAUL application guidelines. Mature applicants are required to attend for interview and to bring material to support their application to that interview. Mature student information can be found here (PDF). Please note that a portfolio is not required for applicants to academic year 2023/24 |
| Non-EU Entry Requirements |
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How to apply
| Where are you applying from? | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. |
| The UK | Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| The EU | EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| Non-EU country | If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here. |
Fees and funding
Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.
A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.
An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.
EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| SUSI pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €7,362 |
EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €7,362 |
Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €7,362 |
Non-EU Students
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €20,900 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €21,000 |
Student course fees are comprised of the following components:
Student Contribution
Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.
Student Levy
All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.
Tuition Fees
These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.
Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows
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Residency
- You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
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Citizenship
- You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
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Course Requirements
(all must be met)
- You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
- You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
- You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)
Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -
- Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
- EU Fee Status: You satisfy both the citizenship and residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees.
- Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.
More information about fees can be found on the Finance website
These scholarships are available for this course
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| Arup Access Scholarship | €1,500 a year for 4 years | 1 |
| Johnson and Johnson WiSTEM2D Programme | ||
| The Critchley Prize | 1 |
These scholarships are available for all courses
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus | €6,750 | 125 |
| Brad Duffy Access Scholarship | €5,000 for one year | 1 |
| Bursary for my Future Scholarship | €2,750 one off payment | 4 |
| Cooperative Education Award | 1 medal per faculty | |
| Elaine Fagan Scholarship | €1,500 | |
| Financial Aid Fund | ||
| Hegarty Family Access Scholarships | €5,000 for one year | 2 |
| Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants | ||
| Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship | €2,500 | |
| Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme | ||
| Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme | €750 | |
| Stuart Mangan Scholarship | ||
| The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship | Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value | |
| UL Sports Scholarships | Varies depending on level of Scholarship | Multiple |
Your future career
Employability skills from this degree
- Problem-solving in an analytical, logical way
- Decision-making
- Working effectively in multinational teams
- Using creativity to establish innovative solutions
- Managing the design process and evaluating outcomes
- Meeting the changing needs of customers
- Numeracy, design and drawing
- IT skills (e.g. CAD)
- Project management
- Teamwork
- Written and verbal communication
- Research
- Flexibility in dealing with unexpected situations
- Self-reflection and continued professional development
Job titles for graduates
Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on Graduate Outcomes Surveys by graduates approximately one year after graduation:
- Architect
- Architect Part II
- Architect Technician
- Architectural Assistant
- Architectural Graduate
- Architectural Research Assistant
- Consultant
- Junior Architect
- Project Architect
- Teaching Assistant
- Technical Support Agent
- Architecture Tutor
Student profiles
Aisling Duffy
Aisling graduated from University of Limerick with a BArch in 2021. During her time in college she developed an interest in sustainability and biodiversity and based on her final year thesis on architecture influenced by nature and the environment. On her year out from college after 3rd year, she working in Limerick and a 'part 1' architectural assistant and spent time travelling Europe. She has a keen interest in writing and in 2021 was awarded the RIAI Architecture Ireland student writer prize. While in UL, Aisling was involved in various student groups, acting as treasurer on the society of Architecture committee and also as a committee member for the Outdoor Pursuits Club. Her hobbies include rock climbing, hiking and painting. She is currently working for Drake Hourigan Architects in Limerick as an architectural assistant, working towards becoming a registered architect. She is also a part time tutor for first year students in SAUL and hopes to go onto further study in the area of sustainability or conservation.
Martin Lennon
The first day I arrived at our SAUL (School of Architecture UL) studio I sensed I would enjoy my time in Architecture School. The Studio embodies everything that the school and the education stand for. The Architectural education here is not about divulging information individually, rather it is about sharing knowledge, opinion and ideas amongst our colleagues. Within the studio there are always lectures and tutorials taking place, however, the essence of what our education here is about, lies in the conversations and debate (sometimes heated!) that occurs alongside our timetable. All the architecture students, from freshers to 5th year, working in the same space really solidifies the school’s diverse social atmosphere - I find that we learn from each other as much as we do from our lecturers!
I have had an incredibly wholesome experience here and have always felt encouraged to explore and to test things. After the 3rd year, I decided to take a year off from school and gain some experience within a practice. I travelled to Sydney Australia and worked for 6 months as an architectural assistant. Personally, I feel it was really beneficial to pause academically and further my education through a practice and through travel also. The experience away has allowed me to return to SAUL with a fresh vigour and renewed confidence!!
