OBU in TAIWAN: Cohort Dual BA in Architecture and Urban Design

Professional Class & Certification Overview

Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU, Taiwan) and Oxford Brookes University (OBU, UK) have jointly established the Dual Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Architecture and Urban Design, officially approved by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. The programme welcomed its first cohort of students in 2023. During the first two years at CYCU, students follow OBU’s Year-1 architecture curriculum taught entirely in English by both Taiwanese and British lecturers. The first year focuses on the Architecture Pathway, developing fundamental design and spatial reasoning skills; the second year introduces the Urban Design Pathway, linking architectural education with urban and social contexts.

In the following two years at OBU in Oxford, students select one professional pathway—either Architecture or Urban Design—to complete their degree. Through advanced design studios, theory seminars, and research projects, they strengthen their academic and professional capabilities within the chosen field. Upon completion of the four-year programme, graduates receive dual qualifications from both CYCU and OBU. They obtain a Bachelor’s degree from CYCU—recognised by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Examination for eligibility to apply for the national architect examination—and simultaneously earn the BA (Hons) Architecture or BA (Hons) Urban Design degree from OBU. This fulfils the academic requirements for either RIBA Part 1 (Royal Institute of British Architects) or RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) accreditation, depending on the student’s selected pathway at OBU.