BENG ARCHITECTURE

Architecture

Overview

The programme provides you with a comprehensive foundation in architecture. Our curriculum is aligned with the latest advancements in the field, positioning us at the forefront of academic and technological innovation. It integrates cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, into our teaching practices. Our design and teaching methodology also incorporates the humanistic dimensions of architecture. We reflect on the human body and the spaces of everyday life in the context of the artificial intelligence era. By doing so, we equip our students with advanced thinking and proficiency in intelligent technology, thereby empowering them to approach architectural challenges with a holistic perspective.

The curriculum is centred on a series of articulated design studios, where students are confronted with progressive scales of design, from small buildings to the urban dimension, and with the challenges of sustainability in all its facets and implications. These are complemented each semester by lecture-based modules ranging from theory of architecture and philosophy of arts, to materials, construction and environmental design, from urban studies to professional practice. The curriculum integrates the histories of both Asian and Western architecture, enriching your learning experience. This integration provides a solid foundation for understanding the past, which is essential for envisaging and building the future in the field of architecture.

This is the first Bachelor of Architecture at a Chinese university to receive validation from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). In their last accreditation report, the RIBA board commended the ambitious vision of the Department and the University, the dedication of the staff and the provision of “exceptional workshop facilities, studios and resources”, as well as the diversity and richness of the design briefs. In previous visits the department was also praised for “creating a distinctive environment in which students learn from an international and Chinese context with an ambition to produce a new type of graduate, with an emphasis on human-centred architecture, for the emerging global context”, and for promoting an “alternative model for Chinese architecture education, challenging both Western and Chinese educational paradigms for architecture and design”.

The Bachelor of Architecture is a rigorously accredited programme designed to prepare students for a professional career in architecture and design. It also offers the flexibility for students to carve out their own unique path within the broader design field. The curriculum not only provides comprehensive teaching content for all students but also offers them the opportunity to explore specific areas such as exhibition design, computational design, and heritage restoration under the guidance of individual tutors.

Why should I study Architecture at XJTLU?

  • Graduate from a programme accredited by RIBA and receive Part 1 validation, with the possibility to register for a Part 2-validated Master through the “Global Professional Architect Track”.
  • Enjoy field trips, internships and study opportunities in China and abroad, including the chance to complete your education at the University of Liverpool or to spend Year Three at Politecnico di Torino in Italy.
  • Participate in local and international workshops with world-famous architects, as well as guest lectures, exhibitions, competitions and conferences.
  • Learn from award-winning international academics and highly-engaged practitioners.
  • Study in world-class facilities including dedicated design studios open 24/7, and fabrication and printing workshops equipped with the most advanced printers, laser cutters, robotic arms and 3D printers.
  • Enjoy the opportunity to be published in the XJTLU Architecture Yearbook or to be featured in one of the exhibitions organised by the department every year.
  • Experience an architecturally outstanding location in Suzhou, famous for its classical UNESCO World Heritage gardens and architecture and 30 minutes by train from Shanghai.
  • Earn two degrees: an XJTLU degree from the Chinese Ministry of Education and a globally recognised degree from the University of Liverpool, a member of the Russell Group of leading UK universities.
  • Students who graduate with at least an upper second class degree from the XJTLU BEng or the UoL Architecture BA (Hons) programmes will be granted with a seat in the M/Arch programme without the need of going through the standard application process.

RIBA Validation

The BEng Architecture programme has become the first programme of its kind at a Chinese university to receive validation by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), thus demonstrating XJTLU’s commitment to providing world-class, internationally recognised education to students from China and abroad.

Qualification,XJTLU,BEng Architecture,University of Liverpool,BA Architecture

Knowledge and skills

By the time you graduate from the BEng Architecture Programme, you will have:

  • Fluency in the productive use of analogue and digital design tools and media.
  • An understanding of processes that form and transform urban space, principles of structure and construction, environmental control, and professional practice, as well as knowledge of conventional and innovative materials, processes and techniques related to architectural design and construction.
  • The ability to generate competitive, creative and critical design proposals and the skills and media methods to communicate these proposals clearly and effectively.
  • Knowledge of architectural history and theory in both the Chinese and international context, as well as an understanding of the role of the architect in society and built environment.
  • The ability to evaluate evidence, arguments and assumptions in order to make and present sound judgments both within architectural design discourse and beyond.
  • The skills and knowledge to practice in a variety of international settings. This includes working in international firms based in China, global enterprises, and firms operating in emerging markets.
  • The ability to work across various design disciplines, including exhibition design, computational design, adaptive reuse of built heritage and other specialised areas within the field.

Yearbook 2023-2024

The yearbook of the Department of Architecture presents student works created during the academic year 2023-2024. The yearbook exemplifies the model for architectural education, for which the department was commended by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The yearbook is a showcase of the creative culture that has guided our students in taking their first steps as responsible and creative architectural designers in both Chinese and international contexts.

As a programme with accreditation from the Royal Institute of British Architects, the unique learning experience of our students will be enriched with a blend of humanistic and technologically advanced thinking. Our curriculum is designed to equip students with an international perspective and the skills necessary to thrive in a global context as global citizens, architects, and designers, particularly in emerging markets and fields.

Dr Jiawen Han

Programme Director

The great thing about Architecture at XJTLU is how innovative ideas are encouraged. We explore architectural design as a cross-discipline perspective and pursue our beliefs with maximum support. We work hard, stay positive and develop our creativity - these are great qualities that will benefit us for the rest of our life.

Chenjia Ren

Student, BEng Architecture

Careers

Graduates from this programme find excellent opportunities for employment and further education in architecture and its related disciplines, including other creative industries. Most of the graduates continue their studies in international postgraduate programmes. Our alumni have gone on to study at some of the universities ranked at the very top in the field, including the Bartlett at University College London, McGill University, the National University of Singapore, Politecnico di Milano, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Sydney. Our graduates have also secured employment in acclaimed international and Chinese practices such as Arata Isozaki, Arup, David Chipperfield, Farrells, Neri&Hu, and Tong Ming Studio. With a dual degree, RIBA validation, and strong communication skills developed through English language support and Chinese courses for international students, opportunities for postgraduate studies and professional careers in China and internationally are endless. Additionally, XJTLU offers its students a direct path to becoming a global professional architect by allowing them to register directly for the Master in Architectural Design during the first year of their studies*. The students can then bypass the application process upon graduation and become professional architects earlier in their careers. *Final registration and progression depends on completing all the necessary courses requirements and fulfilment of progression criteria

Careers
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