RENZO DIAZ — Reference library
IB Requirements for Architecture: UK and European Universities (2027 Entry)
2 min readBy Renzo DiazLast reviewed October 8, 2026
Architecture asks less of IB Mathematics than engineering does, and more of the applicant's own work. UCL asks for 36 points with 17 at Higher Level and a portfolio by invitation; Cambridge for 41–42 points with 776 at HL, artwork, an interview and a 30-minute assessment; Bath for 36 points with 7, 6, 6 at HL including a 6 in Physics or HL Mathematics, and no portfolio; Edinburgh's recent offers ran from 37 to 34 points, with Mathematics at 6 at SL. In continental Europe the teaching language decides first: ETH teaches in German, EPFL in French and TU Delft in Dutch, while Politecnico di Milano has an architecture bachelor taught in English, ranked by its own test.
This page gathers what four UK architecture degrees and four continental universities ask of an IB Diploma student, from each university's own pages, read on 8 October 2026. Where a university has not yet published its 2027 rules, the table says which year it shows.
Architecture sits between two kinds of offer. Some universities read it as a design subject and look for a portfolio; others read it as an engineering-adjacent one and look for Mathematics and Physics. Which kind your shortlist leans to decides how much the two subjects matter in the Diploma.
For architecture, the portfolio and the Physics grade can matter as much as the total.
Key takeaways
- Mathematics is not always required: UCL and Cambridge do not require it; Bath and Edinburgh do.
- Your own work weighs at the top: UCL asks for a portfolio by invitation, Cambridge for artwork, an interview and a College assessment.
- Physics opens doors: Bath accepts a 6 in Physics in place of HL Mathematics, and EPFL and TU Delft require Physics at HL.
- Language first in Europe: ETH teaches architecture in German, EPFL in French, TU Delft in Dutch.
- At Politecnico di Milano the test ranks: the ARCHED test score and the applicant's preferences decide the ranking, not IB grades.
Four UK architecture degrees, side by side
The IB requirement, the Mathematics and other subject conditions, the A-level offer for comparison, and what each course asks beyond grades, as the course page states them for 2027 entry.
| University | Programme | IB requirement | Mathematics | Other subjects | A-level offer | Beyond grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCL | Architecture BSc | 36 points; 17 at HL, no HL subject below 5 | Not required | None required | AAB | Portfolio by invitation; online interview if shortlisted |
| Cambridge | Architecture BA (Hons) and MArch | 41–42 points, 776 at HL | Recommended, not required | Art and Design and Physics recommended; some Colleges set subjects | A*AA | Artwork, interview and a 30-minute College assessment |
| Bath | Architecture BSc | 36 points; 7, 6, 6 at HL including a 6 in Physics or HL Mathematics | HL AA or AI; or 7 in SL AA (SL AI only with Physics) | Physics can replace Mathematics | A*AA, an A in Maths or Physics | No portfolio; decided on the application |
| Edinburgh | Architecture MA (Hons) | Recent offers 37 (666) to 34 (655) | 6 at SL; course not named | English 5 at SL; evidence of artistic ability, such as Visual Arts | A*A*A to AAA | Decided on the application |
Sources: each university's course page for 2027 entry, read 8 October 2026, with UCL's page on tests, tasks and interviews and Cambridge's page on College admission assessments. Edinburgh publishes the range of recent offers, not a fixed offer. Contextual offers are left out.
What the UK courses look at beyond grades
At UCL the portfolio comes only by invitation, after the grades are checked: a digital portfolio of creative work, of up to 10 pages and 5 MB, with a two-week deadline, followed for shortlisted applicants by an online interview between mid-November and late April. Applicants to both of UCL's architecture degrees send one portfolio.
At Cambridge, applicants send artwork before interview, as a PDF of up to six A4 pages, and bring a portfolio to the interview. Every College sets the same 30-minute admission assessment of graphic and spatial ability, on 18 November 2026, with no advance registration. The course page adds that most IB students it admitted had at least 43 points, and that around 90% of its students took Art and Design together with Mathematics, Physics or both.
Bath and Edinburgh decide on the UCAS application itself. Bath states that it does not consider portfolios; Edinburgh's entry requirements ask for evidence of artistic ability in the subjects taken.
Architecture in continental Europe
In continental Europe the IB rule is usually the university's general rule for every bachelor's programme, and the teaching language is the first filter. Only Politecnico di Milano, of the four, teaches an architecture bachelor in English.
| University | Programme | IB condition | Teaching language | Selection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETH Zurich | Architecture BSc | 38 of 42 without bonus; Maths (AA or AI), a science and a Language A at HL | German, C1 certificate | Admission on the IB rule; otherwise a reduced entrance exam |
| EPFL | Architecture bachelor | 38 of 42; Maths and Physics at HL with at least 6; chemistry, biology or computer science at HL | French, B2 required | Places capped, ranked by IB points |
| TU Delft | Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | AA at HL and Physics at HL | Dutch | Selection: school grades 25%, a hand-drawn design and writing assignment 75% |
| Politecnico di Milano | Architectural Design (Progettazione dell'Architettura), English track | Italian rule: the Diploma with 24 points, 12 at HL | English | The ARCHED test; ranking on the test score and preferences |
Sources: ETH's country list for 2026/27 and its dates for autumn 2027, EPFL's current bachelor admission criteria, TU Delft's diploma requirements and its 2026–27 selection procedure, Politecnico di Milano's architecture admission pages and the Italian ministry's circular; read 8 October 2026. ETH, EPFL, TU Delft and Politecnico di Milano had not yet published their 2027/28 rules.
In Milan
Politecnico di Milano's English-taught architecture
The English-taught bachelor in Architectural Design runs in Milan (Leonardo campus) and Piacenza, with 100 and 50 places in 2026/27. Admission is by the ARCHED test, sat in English for the English track: reading comprehension, history and art history, general knowledge and logical reasoning, drawing and representation, and Mathematics and Physics, scored out of 50 with a quarter of a point off for each wrong answer. In 2026 it was held in late July; the 2027/28 dates were not yet published.
How to plan the IB for architecture
Four decisions to make early
Decide between a design-led and an engineering-led shortlist
UCL and Cambridge weigh your own work; Bath, EPFL and TU Delft weigh Mathematics and Physics. Most shortlists mix both, which argues for keeping both open.
Keep Mathematics or Physics at Higher Level
Bath asks for a 6 in Physics or HL Mathematics, EPFL for 6 in both at HL, and TU Delft for AA HL and Physics HL; the full comparison of AA and AI is in IB Math AA or AI: what universities require.
Build the portfolio across the two years
UCL gives two weeks once it asks, and Cambridge wants artwork before interview: neither leaves time to start from nothing. Visual Arts is one route, not the only one.
Check the teaching language
For ETH, EPFL and TU Delft, the certificate in German, French or Dutch is part of the admission; for Politecnico di Milano's English track, the ARCHED test is.
Terms used in this article
- Portfolio
- A selection of the applicant's own creative work, such as drawings, models or photographs, sent when the university asks for it.
- ARCHED
- The admission test for architecture at Politecnico di Milano, sat in English or in Italian depending on the programme.
- Numerus clausus
- A fixed number of places with its own selection procedure, as at TU Delft.
- 776 at HL
- Grades of 7, 7 and 6 in three Higher Level subjects, the form in which Cambridge sets its IB offers.
Questions about IB requirements for architecture
Do you need IB Maths HL for architecture?
Not everywhere. UCL and Cambridge do not require Mathematics; Bath asks for a 6 in Physics or HL Mathematics; EPFL requires Mathematics and Physics at HL with at least 6, and TU Delft AA at HL with Physics at HL.
What IB score do you need for architecture at UCL?
36 points, with 17 at Higher Level and no HL subject below 5, for 2027 entry, plus a portfolio if UCL invites you to send one.
What does Cambridge ask for architecture?
41–42 points with 776 at Higher Level, artwork before interview and a 30-minute College assessment of graphic and spatial ability, on 18 November 2026 for 2027 entry.
Do you need Visual Arts for architecture?
It helps, but none of these courses requires it by name. Cambridge recommends Art and Design with Mathematics or Physics, and Edinburgh asks for evidence of artistic ability, for example Visual Arts.
Can you study architecture in English in Milan?
Yes, at Politecnico di Milano. Its bachelor in Architectural Design is taught in English in Milan and Piacenza, with admission by the ARCHED test.
Is architecture at TU Delft taught in English?
No. The bachelor in Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences is taught in Dutch, with a selection procedure of school grades and a design assignment.
Written by
Teaching IB since 2016. Seven years of IB reviews you can check on Google — and named results with the documents behind them.
Last reviewed October 8, 2026
Sources
Every requirement comes from the university's own pages, read on 8 October 2026; where a university had not yet published its 2027 rules, the year shown is stated. Contextual offers are left out. Politecnico di Milano's place numbers are for 2026/27.
- UCL — Architecture BSc
- UCL — Tests, tasks and interviews
- University of Cambridge — Architecture, BA (Hons) and MArch
- University of Cambridge — College admission assessments
- University of Bath — Architecture BSc (Hons), 2027 entry
- University of Edinburgh — Architecture, entry requirements
- ETH Zurich — Admission requirements for holders of foreign certificates
- EPFL — Bachelor admission criteria
- TU Delft — Specific diploma requirements
- TU Delft — Selection for Bouwkunde (Architecture)
- Politecnico di Milano — Admission to architecture programmes
- Politecnico di Milano — Available places