The annual number of students applying to study architecture has jumped by almost 10,000 in the past four years, making architecture degrees more popular than ever.

According to the latest figures from Ucas, 27,681 students applied to architecture schools across Britain in 2007, compared with 24,907 the previous year, while just 18,516 students applied in 2003.

Heads of schools joined the RIBA in celebrating the increase in popularity, putting it down to higher exposure for the subject, as well as climate change bringing sustainability issues to the fore.

But other observers said it would increasingly lead to a “factory farming” style of teaching if resources such as teaching staff numbers were not increased accordingly. The Guardian’s latest university guide shows the staff to student ratio is as high as 1:35 in some schools.
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