BA Architecture
University of Bath
“After a long internship - where I had little chance to work on the design process - Thomas provided a tailor-made short program to help me to get into the design process again. Thomas quickly identified the gaps in my knowledge and provided fantastic guidance and feedback. As Thomas is an enthusiastic and engaging teacher, I was able to enjoy the lessons and felt confident to start my final year at Uni."
MArch
Newcastle University
"I had the privilege of learning from an exceptional teacher and tutor, Thomas Kern, who not only demonstrated extensive expertise in his subjects of architectural design and architectural history, but also demonstrated a deep empathy for the needs of students. His unwavering support and dedication ensured that I felt confident. No matter the challenge, the university experience was truly first class and provided me with an enriching environment in which I could thrive academically and personally.
I am deeply grateful for the invaluable teaching and guidance I received."
BA Architecture
Newcastle University
“I had the privilege of having Thomas as a lecturer and seminar leader for the history and culture module in my first year. He brings his wealth of professional experience from different countries into his teaching, making his teaching stimulating and exciting. Even a short conversation with Thomas is very insightful and his passion for the topic is very inspiring.”
BA Architecture
University of Strathclyde Glasgow
“My online studying with Thomas was one of the most comfortable and enriching learning experiences I’ve had.
His individual courses are tailored to suit students with varying levels of prior knowledge, making them accessible and highly effective. In my case, I had already applied to university and was looking to deepen my skills and understanding, and Thomas perfectly aligned the course to meet those goals.
Thomas is an exceptional teacher. From the very beginning, he took the time to discuss my goals in detail and provided continuous support, guidance, and feedback throughout the entire process.
One of the greatest advantages of this personalised approach was that he crafted a 4-week (or longer) syllabus based on my own experiences and ambitions. This course didn’t just teach technical skills but offered a holistic learning journey.
Thomas is deeply invested in the process; he strives to understand your perspective and engages in meaningful discussions on topics like architecture and urban planning. He went above and beyond by dedicating his time to finding additional resources—articles, videos, and books—all handpicked to match my specific field of interest.
This course beautifully combines both practical and technical learning, with thoughtful feedback and the space to refine your projects. In the end of course, Thomas offered guidance on how to advance your studies and develop your portfolio further by yourself.
After each of our Zoom meetings, I felt a sense of clarity, as though I’d just finished a therapy session. I had my thoughts organised, understood my direction for the next week or month, and felt reassured that I was on the right path. I hope everyone gets the chance to experience such an extraordinary learning journey."
BA Architecture
Newcastle University
“I had the pleasure of studying under Thomas' guidance during my first year in architecture at INTO Newcastle University.
Thomas is a very attentive teacher with an individual approach to each student. On many occasions his tutorials and comments on ongoing projects led me to important
conclusions that positively impacted my learning process.
He takes a keen interest in the background of each student, making the communication process in the class particularly engaging and allowing students to learn from each other and share their experiences regarding
approaches to the creative process from different parts of the world.
I especially enjoyed the lectures on the history and theory of architecture since Thomas always complemented the lecture material with his extensive life experience and knowledge of the details and nuances of architecture from various historical and stylistic eras. In addition to his
deep theoretical knowledge, Thomas has long practical experience both in the field of
architecture and in teaching. Moreover, he continues to develop and challenges both his
students and himself, demonstrating many practical tasks and encouraging variability in
approaches and students’ individuality.
In conclusion, Thomas' teaching and tutoring had a major impact on my professional development beyond the first year, and will have in the years to come."
Assistant Professor in Architecture
Northumbria University
"Thomas Kern is a passionate and caring educator, sensitive to the diverse learning preferences and needs found amongst architecture students.
The transition from high school to university can be large, and arguably larger for those choosing to study architecture than many other disciplines. Despite increasingly stringent entry requirements at university-level, the portfolio remains the most useful diagnostic to architecture schools. Not just in terms of initial entry but likelihood of success.
The fact that all the offered courses, whether four, nine or ten days, look to develop a portfolio is a distinct advantage to any aspiring architect at the start of their journey.
At a time of educational reforms characterised by increasingly demanding technical criteria, it is refreshing to see such course programmes aimed at coupling individual creativity with an understanding of the humanities.”
Architect, Design Tutor in Architecture
INTO Newcastle University
"Thomas excels in encouraging and developing the manual techniques of an architect. The course focus to build these fundamental skills means students can practice exploring ideas and communicating them to others, whilst simultaneously producing a strong portfolio that evidences core skills for entry into further architectural studies."
Architect, Lecturer and Researcher
Newcastle University
"Thomas Kern is a natural educator.
Not only does he care deeply about every student that enters his classroom, but he knows how to connect with them personally and draw out their individual talents.
His teaching is practical, focused on harnessing the sensory lessons that only physical sketching, drawing, and model-making can provide; but the underlying philosophy supporting these practical approaches is rooted in a poetic understanding of architecture as atmospheric environment.
From my personal experience teaching alongside Thomas for several years, I can’t imagine a better person to guide a student’s first steps in architectural studies."