Subject Benchmark Statements describe the nature of study and the academic standards expected of graduates in specific subject areas. They show what graduates might reasonably be expected to know, do and understand at the end of their studies.
Below you will find the full Subject Benchmark Statement for Architecture. Alongside it, we have also published a summary designed to provide a short and accessible overview of the main Statement for students, employers and academics.
Publication date: 13 Apr 2026
Publication date: 13 Apr 2026
The new 2026 Statement comes at a time when there is great change in architectural practice and architecture education. We have used this rewrite as an opportunity to describe both the expanded field of architecture as well as areas of specialisation. The intention is to capture the essence, dynamics and diversity of architectural education. This concludes in a benchmark statement of 12 overlapping knowledge areas - literacies - for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. These literacies allow for curricula to be developed that support a holistic view of architecture education and prioritise design thinking. The literacies do not need to have equal weighting. Each provider can use them to design courses that reflect their own uniqueness and expertise. We hope this revised Subject Benchmark Statement will be a valuable resource and reference point for a range of audiences and will support future enhancement and innovation in response to a fast-changing built environment.
Visit our Subject Benchmark page to find all of our Subject Benchmark Statements, covering a wide range of subjects and discipline areas.
