Birmingham City University RIBA Part II MArch Course

The first interview for my Part II study in September 2015 was at Birmingham City University.

I learned about its RIBA Part II program that it provides a dynamic learning experience that address students' individual ambitions and career path. This is supported by links to diverse industry professionals, such as engineers, who come in to help out in terms of the technology and detailing required to make creative architectural ideas realistically possible.

As well as being inspired by Natasha Welford's video describing her experience on the course, what also caught my eye about Birmingham City University is its emphasis on freedom to be creative. I have been seeking to create my own individual identity which attempts to break away from the conventional graduate design profile in a view of setting up my own practice with a unique design ethic in the future.

Michael Dring, a member of the ARB since 2003, is the programme director here, as well as an architect and has co-authored a book chapter entitled 'Landscapes of Variance: Working the Gap between Design and Nature' as part of the recently published 'Revising Green Infrastructure: Concepts Between Nature and Design'.

The interview had a nice and natural flow with a lot of positive feedback from Michael regarding not only my Academic work from Ravensbourne as well as my most recent work with Western Design Architects. We engaged in conversation about where I see myself going in the future as well as my background over the last 10 years and his advice was very gratefully received, which was followed by an unconditional offer right then and there.

Whilst I was still waiting on other responses to other applications and the upcoming interview at the University of Cardiff, I could see myself fitting in on this course given it has a lot to offer me in terms of providing me knowledge required to fulfil my future ambitions. To add to that, Birmingham is also a beautiful and cosmopolitan city, which is a different atmosphere to London, which is a place that I am happy to be rid of!

The Parkside Building, where the School of Architecture is situated.