Structural Design Foundation Programme

A twelve-week studio and calculation programme for learners ready to size members, read drawings, and present a small building frame with confidence.

Who it is for

Career changers, construction technicians, and graduates seeking a disciplined first step into structural design

What you work toward

By the final Saturday you present a small commercial frame: load path sketch, member sizing notes, and a drawing markup that a tutor can mark against studio criteria. The result is a portfolio piece and a clearer sense of how structural decisions are argued on paper.

Scope

Included

Load path workshops on a small commercial frame
Hand calculations alongside spreadsheet checks
Drawing interpretation and marking-up practice
One site visit to a live Birmingham project
Final portfolio review with a chartered tutor

Outside this programme

Professional indemnity cover or employer placements
Full Eurocode mastery beyond introductory scope
Accommodation or travel to the campus

How enrolment works

Submit an enquiry with your background and preferred start month
Attend a short readiness call covering maths comfort and drawing literacy
Confirm your place with a deposit; receive the reading list
Join studio sessions, complete weekly assignments, finish with a framed design submission

Preparation & constraints

GCSE-level maths or equivalent comfort with algebra; no prior structural software required

Maximum 14 learners per cohort to keep tutor feedback personal