Study Experience
The Graduate School at CAT offers a unique and immersive educational environment focused on sustainability and environmental solutions. Located in the picturesque surroundings of Powys, Mid Wales, CAT provides a blend of academic learning and practical experimentation providing the skills needed to build a more sustainable future.
Diverse Learning Community
CAT attracts a diverse range of students from the UK and across the world, with a wide variety of different backgrounds and experiences. Our students have qualifications and experience in lots of different disciplines, from physics to farming and from construction to commerce. They also bring different levels of prior knowledge, whether that is in academic studies or in their professional field.
The resulting mixing pot of ideas, skills, knowledge and inspiration creates a unique environment where students learn from each other as well as from tutors, lecturers and guest speakers. These interactions add additional richness to the learning experience, with conversations continuing well after the formal teaching sessions have ended.
Flexible Study Options
We know that many students have jobs, families and other commitments alongside their passion for sustainability. This is why we offer flexible learning options to enable you to build your knowledge and skills without sacrificing other areas of your life.
“Studying at CAT is not like studying at any other university. My studies have been positively impacted by the absence of competition and unnecessary pettiness which often occurs in architecture schools. CAT has been a home, a family and the greatest experience I have undertaken up to this moment in time.“
Intensive Learning Modules
On taught modules you’ll learn through lectures, small group seminars and discussion forums, group work tasks, tutorials and written and visual learning resources, alongside some hands-on sessions during residential visits.
“The pattern of week-long intensive lecture and studio time in a residential setting is a great incubator for the in-depth discussion, sharing of information and experiences, and peer-to-peer learning that makes CAT quite unique.” CAT student
Expert Insights
You’ll benefit from the in-depth understanding provided by our experienced academic staff, and gain expert insights on specific topics from more than 60 specialist guest lecturers drawn from both academia and industry.
Recent guest lecturers have included world-renowned climate scientist Professor Kevin Anderson, award-winning writer and systems thinker Sarah Woods, food policy expert Professor Tim Lang and award-winning architect Professor Pat Borer.
Study in the heart of Mid-Wales
Mid-Wales is home to a rich tapestry of Welsh culture, language and tradition, and CAT’s location and surroundings offer learners a truly unique student experience.
Machynlleth was the first town to declare a climate emergency, and local groups and events are in abundance. CAT students enjoy joining and contributing towards a vibrant wider community.
Supportive Environment
Whether you study remotely or on-site, you’ll have access to a robust support network of academic staff, programme and student support staff, alongside a vast network of fellow students and CAT graduates.
We are also QAA Assured. We are reviewed as a recognised Higher Education Provider by the QAA on our teaching and learning standards and quality. You can read more here.
“As a student on the Sustainability and Adaptation course I was able to use the buildings on site as real case studies, including undertaking air pressure testing and thermal imaging on the Self Build house, undertaking experiments with green roofs, using the workshop for straw bale construction and building a prototype timber frame disaster shelter on site. Being able to witness the load testing of the world’s first rammed earth arch, made by a fellow architecture student, was quite amazing.“
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