When I first started studying Architecture at MSA, I remember feeling both excited and overwhelmed. Starting architecture can feel like jumping into the deep end without really knowing how to swim. Everyone says, “Trust the process,” and at first you’re like… what process? But over time, you really do figure it out. So here are a few things I’ve learned so far that have helped me enjoy my degree the most.

Ask. So. Many. Questions.

Your tutors are genuinely there to help you. They want to hear from you, and they don’t expect you to know everything, you are here to learn.
If you feel stuck (and trust me, there will be a lot of moments where you feel stuck), the worst thing you can do is sit quietly and spiral. Just ask. Even if the question feels small or silly or like “everyone else already knows this.” They don’t. Everyone else is also figuring it out.
I learned quickly that asking questions doesn’t make you look inexperienced, but it shows you’re engaged. So ask in tutorials, ask in studio, send that follow-up email, and talk things through. It makes everything feel lighter.

…And Make Friends in Studio.

Your studio course mates are the people who really understand what you’re going through, the late nights, the crit nerves, the “why won’t this render work?” breakdowns. Don’t isolate yourself. Talk to people, share ideas, ask to see someone’s work, work side-by-side, help each other cut card or draw your iterations. Some of the best things I’ve learned have come from conversations at random moments in studio, not formal teaching. Studio is a community and being part of it makes the whole degree feels way more fun.

Use the Facilities.

Being at MSA means you get the best of both universities, University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan. That means double the libraries, workshops, lecture series, study spaces, and societies. Take advantage of it. Go exploring. Try new equipment. Ask technicians to show you how something works. Sometimes the thing you think will take hours can be done in 10 minutes if you simply take advantage of the facilities.

The People You Get to Learn From Are Amazing.

The B.15 Modelmaking Workshop is honestly one of my favourite parts of the school. The technicians there are so helpful and they want you to experiment, even if your first attempt looks like a badly cut bread roll. Making physical models helps you understand your ideas in a completely different way. There are also digital fabrication labs where you can laser cut, 3D print, CNC mill, and more. Don’t wait until a deadline to learn how to use them, go early, play, mess up a little, figure things out.
MSA invites so many amazing speakers, architects, researchers, designers, and yes, sometimes even Norman Foster comes in. Go to those talks. You’ll always leave with something new in how you think.

Architecture is not about having the perfect final answer. It’s about exploring, questioning, trying, messing up, and trying again. There will be days where you love your work and days where you feel completely lost, both are part of the journey.

Be curious. Be open. Ask questions. Look around you. And let yourself grow.

Written by Georgia Gavriel current BA Architecture student in Manchester School of Architecture 

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