Overview
Course summary
Join our Architecture Summer School for students aged 15–18 and experience what it’s like to study architecture at university.
Choose between a five-day introduction or a ten-day extended programme, depending on how deeply you would like to explore your creativity. Through drawing, model-making and photography in our purpose-built studios, you'll experiment with design while developing skills that support future study.
You’ll receive guidance from experienced architecture and interior tutors, visit buildings and exhibitions in London, and have the opportunity to discuss your work with practising architects. The course is designed to give you a realistic insight into studying architecture and help you prepare for your next steps.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for enthusiastic and imaginative 15–18 year olds currently studying at school or college (GCSE, A-level or BTEC).
It is ideal if you:
- Are curious about studying architecture or interior architecture at university.
- Would like support in developing your portfolio.
- Want advice on writing your personal statement.
- Enjoy drawing, making or creative problem-solving.
Some elements of the course involve group work and visits to buildings or exhibitions in London.
The University of Westminster is home to one of the UK’s leading Schools of Architecture and Cities, based in the heart of London. Our studios, workshops and Fabrication Lab provide an inspiring environment in which to explore design.
Course outcomes
By the end of the Summer School you will have a better understanding of:
- What it’s like to be an architecture student.
- How to choose the right university course for you.
- How to put together an impacting portfolio and personal statement.
- The skills involved in studying architecture and interior architecture.
Based on attending at least 80% of the course, a certificate of attendance will be issued to you. This is something you might like to include in your CV as clear evidence of motivation, aspiration, and extracurricular activity.
Course aims
During the Summer School, you will:
- Begin building skills relevant to studying architecture.
- Explore key ideas through short lectures and design activities.
- Receive feedback to help strengthen your portfolio.
- Gain insight into sustainability and its role in contemporary architectural practice.
- Experience our Fabrication Lab and create 3D elements for your project.
Course structure
Over five days, you will work through the stages of a university-style design brief. As a group, you will explore a topical project, receive tutor feedback and develop your ideas through drawing, modelling and photography.
You will:
- Respond to a design brief
- Explore and record a site
- Study architectural precedents through building and exhibition visits
- Experiment with design development through model-making and drawing
- Document your work through photography
- Create a portfolio layout
- Present your work in a group exhibition
Five-day schedule
Introductions, site visit and collaborative drawing/collage. End-of-day review.
Fabrication of viewing devices and 3D modelling.
Exhibition visit, sketch studies and continued design development.
Architect lecture and photography session in the Fabrication Lab.
Portfolio layout workshop, personal statement guidance and final group exhibition.
Ten-day option
For students who would like to extend their learning, the ten-day option includes an additional week of studio exploration.
During this extended programme, you will:
- Refine and develop your design proposal further.
- Experiment with additional model-making and digital tools.
- Receive more one-to-one tutor feedback.
- Expand your portfolio work.
- Strengthen your personal statement.
- Take part in additional visits and talks.
This option offers more time to build confidence, deepen your creativity and produce a more substantial body of work.
How to apply
Parent/guardian consent form
As this course is for students aged 15–18, a parent or guardian consent form must be completed before your place is confirmed. After booking, you'll receive a link to the form.
If the form is not completed, you'll not be able to attend the Summer School.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us.
Portfolio and interview guidance
Watch our portfolio and interview guidance video for applicants to our undergraduate architecture and interiors courses.
Booking
Thank you for your interest in this course. We expect the course to run again in 2026 - fill in our enquiry form to find out when bookings reopen.
If you have questions about the course in the meantime, please contact us.
Testimonials
Many of our Summer School students have gone on to win university places in architecture and interior architecture courses. The following are feedback from previous Summer School attendees:
Attending the summer school was definitely one of my best decisions as it opened my eyes to the world of Architecture and I gained lots of inspiration and knowledge.
I am definitely going to apply to university next year to take architecture - all aspects of the course confirmed this. It was a great taster for what uni will be like.
I thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable course with a huge range of media used. I found the visits to Regent’s Park and the Royal Academy were also very interesting and helped to bring the project alive.
I really enjoyed the modelling throughout the course alongside the inspiring site visits, as the modelling was quite freeing and I had to think quite creatively to incorporate allocated materials.
