Spring Semester programme – AA Visiting Schools

Spring Semester Programme

Cartagena, Naval District

Monday 12 January – Friday 24 April 2015

The Semester Programme is a full-time 15-week studio-based course open to undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. The programme is integrated with the AA’s undergraduate history and theory seminars and media studies courses, and is designed to allow transferable study credits and the AA School awards a Certificate of Completion.

The city of Cartagena or Cartagena de Indias is a major naval base located on the northern coast of Colombia, South America.” Reinventing and relocating the historic naval centre will be at the core of this unit’s agenda, a base which has been previously shaped by rigid planning constraints and legislation.

The naval site is situated in a key location within the city, in the bay of Cartagena between the historical centre and the new tourist district of Bocagrande.
Students will consider functional, visual, pedestrian and landscape connectivity and the potential of opening up the inward-looking site to accommodate a more flexible programme. Design proposals will deal with the current waterfront line that acts as the threshold between the water and city.
The unit will explore the historic context through 3D abstract data readings to more sophisticated strategies for programmatic use and aesthetic presence. The development of the naval district will be part of an urban transition, defining the character of the bay and setting a new urban precedent for the future of Cartagena.

Applications

1) Please see the entrance requirements and English language requirements below.

2) If you meet the requirements you can apply to the programme by submitting the following:

• Completed  PDF application form.
• A4 Portfolio consisting of 20 sheets that demonstrates your range of skills.
• Academic transcripts in English.
• Letter of reference.
• Certificate showing proficiency of English Language. Refer to English language requirements below. If you do not have the certificate and are planning to take an English Language test, you can still make an application with the above documents and submit your resutls when you receive them.

You can submit all the documents digitally to visitingschool@aaschool.ac.uk via email, dropbox or other file transfer methods – however, original documents or certified true copies of certificates are required prior to enrolment in September.

Deadline for application is 10 December 2014 and the oustanding fee has to be paid by 15 December 2014.

Applicants will be notified of results by e-mail within two weeks of the deadline. If applications are received before the deadline, applicants will be notified of their results sooner. Applications received after the official deadlines will be accepted at the discretion of the school.

Please do not use the online payment form until you have had an offer of a place based on the completed application form and portfolio.

Fees

The tuition fee is £9,441 which includes AA Visiting Membership. The deposit is £3,752 made payable after acceptance onto the programme.

Entrance Requirements
The AA Semester Programme is open to qualified students of undergraduate and graduate standing currently enrolled in architecture school. A minimum of two years of study in architecture or urban design is required. Students should submit a portfolio consisting of 20 sheets (A4) that demonstrates their range of abilities. The portfolio can be submitted as a digital copy. After submitting the application form, please send original academic transcripts in English, certificates and a letter of reference. All candidates are required to show proficiency in the English language.

English Language
Qualifications accepted: IELTS 6.5 (academic) www.ielts.org, Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English, Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English grade C or above, Standard Level grade 5 or Higher Level grade 4 IB English. Please note we do not accept TOEFL. We can accept successful completion of a qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelor degree or above, taught in English in the UK, Australia, New Zealand or the USA (not Canada). We can accept if you are a national of a majority English speaking country, for example Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US. We can also accept if you successfully completed a course of study in the UK when you were under 18 (and a Tier 4 Child visa holder). This course has to be over 6 months in length, and have taken place no more than 2 years ago. A recognised English Language qualification is required prior to entry to the School.