Mode of Study

Full-time

Start Date

24th Aug 2026, 1 year

Location

City Campus

Applications from International Students Welcome

Overview

HNC Computer Aided Architectural Design and Technology is a one-year design-led architecture course that helps students prepare a portfolio of architectural design projects to prepare for access to Architecture School or direct employment as a technician.

To mark the upcoming tenth anniversary of the course we have been proudly welcoming back alumni to share their experiences of how the HNC course at City of Glasgow College helped them progress to study and thrive at Scottish architecture schools to become Architects, including the Mackintosh School of Architecture and University of Strathclyde, and to share their exciting experiences of international study at The Bauhaus and the University of Singapore.

Since the Herald newspaper article “taking the college route into architecture” was written by BDP architects about the course, soon after its launch, we have welcomed 50+ guest speakers and have enjoyed growing and evolving the course by reflecting on student, alumni and industry feedback to ensure the students are given the best start in their exciting journey into the profession.

Highlights from this decade of the HNC have included awarding the Scotland & Venice, Venice Architecture Biennale PDP Fellowship to a student, collaborating to enter The Davidson Prize “Somewhere to call home”, featuring student written articles on Glasgow architecture in the Herald Newspaper and the Alexander Thomson Journal and exhibiting student work at the “Imagine Glasgow” New Glasgow Society bi-annual exhibitions including at the COP26 edition, and an HNC student winning “Best Project Voted by the Public” for his “People’s Pad” project tackling homelessness in Glasgow at the 2025 exhibition.

Follow the HNC course @architecturaldesigncogc on Instagram.

Find the course portfolios here to see the exciting design project work you will undertake during the HNC year studying HNC Computer Aided Architectural Design and Technology at City of Glasgow College.

The course is placed on the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework at Level 7.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements

• Two Highers at Grade C or above in appropriate subjects such as Art, Graphics, Product Design, English, Maths or a Science subject; OR
• National Certificate at SCQF level 6 in a relevant subject area; OR
• Other equivalent qualifications or experience.

Additional selection requirements

• You'll be invited for a group and/or individual interview where you can find out more about the course and tell us why you're interested in this subject area.

ESOL entry requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 5 or equivalent for NC/NQ courses and ESOL Higher or equivalent for HNC/D courses.

What you study

HNC units:-

• Architecture: Form, Order and Composition. 
• Architectural CADT: Principles and Practice.
• Architectural CADT: Residential Design.
• Architectural Professional Practice: Design Management.
• Architectural CADT: Construction Detailing.
• CAD: Visualisation, Rendering and Presentation.
• CAD User Systems.
• HNC Computer Aided Architectural Design and Technology Graded Unit.
• Model Making.
• History of Architecture. 
• Building Information Modelling (BIM): Principles.
• Statutory Control of Buildings.

After the course

Careers

The course provides a pathway to becoming an architect and further studying at Architecture School. Alternatively, students can move directly into employment in roles such as Architectural, BIM or Sustainability Technician after completing the HNC.

Continuing Study 

• Post HNC entry to Architectural School RIBA Part 1 studies to become an Architect, BSc (Hons) Architectural Studies at University or BArch at Art School.
• The HNC provides progression into year 2 of the HND Computer Aided Architectural Design and Technology at City of Glasgow College.
• Post HNC/HND entry to Architectural Technology year 2 or 3 at University to become an Architectural Technologist.
• Post HNC/HND entry to year 2/3 to Teaching Qualification in Technological Education at University to become a Technical Teacher.