If you are a creative person who enjoys drawing and design, mixed with problem solving and IT skills, then architectural technology is the course for you.
Edinburgh Napier's undergraduate degree in Architectural Technology covers a range of modules that will help you develop your hand-sketching skills, working with specialist software for modelling using computer-aided design. You’ll also get access to exciting equipment including laser scanners, drones and virtual reality kits to bring your ideas to life.
Throughout your studies, you will be able to enhance your team working and project management skills through interdisciplinary design projects working with other construction and surveying students. This course connects you with practitioners through our strong links with the industry. We offer our students the opportunity to apply their learning to real projects through external visits to iconic buildings and construction sites.
The part-time route of the programme is delivered over 6 years. We try to do the part-time route on a day-release basis where possible (a full day, 6-8 hours a week) but this will depend on the modules the student is doing and timetabling. The days may also vary from one level to another.
In year one, you'll learn building design and technology, which is construction of small-scale buildings like individual housing units.
Year two will build on this and you’ll learn more about architectural representation, building engineering, management and detailing.
In year three, you'll learn about modern methods of construction, building information modelling and modern methods of construction.
In year four, you will be involved in the design and refurbishment of existing buildings; you'll learn more about fire safety and the business of architectural practice, focusing on design procedures and management.
Year five will focus on recent research and developments and what the future of construction may look like. Additionally, you'll learn more about building services and sustainable development.
The knowledge gained from first to fifth year is all brought together in sixth year in an interdisciplinary project as well as your final year design project and technical report.
When you study design, you will work on designing spaces for living by focusing on the following active verbs:
- Live, design a living space for a client, paying attention to their specific needs.
- Learn, design a learning environment such as a kindergarten.
- Work, design an office where you have to pay attention to details such as access, parking and meeting rooms.
- Play, this is usually recreational like galleries and museums.
On the technology side, you start off with an introduction on Computer Aided Drafting along with property and construction business law. You also cover building engineering, 3D drawing and look at contractual issues, building control, fire engineering and construction management.