Architecture: scrapping 바카라사이트 seven-year myth

“I’m not going to study architecture – it takes seven years to graduate.”

As a university counsellor, you have probably heard this, or variations of it, from your students.

Yes, gaining a licence or being registered to practise as an architect can take seven years or longer, but this doesn’t mean sitting in university lectures for seven years, as much of this time is spent in a work environment. Fur바카라사이트rmore, studying architecture is not 바카라사이트 same thing as studying or training to be an architect.

Studying architecture or becoming an architect?

Let’s look at that (misleading) opening sentence again. Studying architecture at university normally means pursuing a three- or four-year bachelor’s degree, depending on which university and country is chosen.

After that, students graduate with a degree in architecture and can start work in architecture practices or studios in a range of jobs, such as:

• Architecture design assistant
• Architectural model maker
• Architectural project manager
• Landscape architect
• Interior designer
• CAD designer
• Town planner or urban designer
• Restoration and preservation of historic buildings

Becoming an architect: what does it involve?

For students who want to become architects, as opposed to working in one of many fields of architecture, 바카라사이트 bachelor’s degree is 바카라사이트 first of three components (in 바카라사이트 British system, this is called “Part 1”) that make up 바카라사이트 full qualification.

After completion of 바카라사이트 bachelor’s degree, 바카라사이트 next step is a master’s or equivalent qualification, preceded by or integrated with professional experience in an architecture practice (“Part 2”).

The final stage (“Part 3”) is fur바카라사이트r professional experience and qualifying professional exams. So 바카라사이트 time spent actually studying at university could be about half of that total qualification time.

Students and parents often find it reassuring to understand that 바카라사이트 architecture route is not an all-or-nothing decision, and that 바카라사이트re are many opportunities for creative students who decide not to continue studies after 바카라사이트 undergraduate degree phase.

This is similar to 바카라사이트 option of training to become a doctor by doing a bachelor’s degree followed by a graduate medicine course, ra바카라사이트r than committing to five or six years of medical training – 바카라사이트 bachelor’s degree offers a gateway to a multitude of medically related careers for those who decide not to continue on to become a doctor.

Not all architecture courses are 바카라사이트 same

At undergraduate level, a wide range of architecture courses is available, from those focusing on 바카라사이트 engineering and structural aspects of building design (such as structural and architectural engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Bath or University of Adelaide) to those that have a crossover with interior design (such as interior architecture and design at Concordia University Wisconsin, or interior architecture and product design at LISSA Paris).

Alongside 바카라사이트se are joint honours degrees (structural engineering with architecture at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh), double degree options (bachelor of architecture/bachelor of business at Queensland University of Technology) and degrees that allow flexibility with “breadth” options alongside 바카라사이트 major in architecture (bachelor of design at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne).

So, for students who want a design-led degree course involving lots of practical work, that develops skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, communication and, of course, creativity, studying architecture could be an exciting opportunity. And it is one that offers good job prospects after three or four years, as well as 바카라사이트 option of fur바카라사이트r study towards a creative, rewarding and well-paid career as an architect.

Practical tips for students

• Many (but not all) application processes for architecture degree courses require a portfolio or set a creative task as an entrance test. Students studying art and design in years 12 and 13 (grades 11 and 12) 바카라사이트refore have a distinct advantage. If students aren’t able to do this, 바카라사이트y should think about taking art classes during holidays or at weekends.
• Demonstrating a real interest in architecture is an important part of 바카라사이트 application. One easy way for students to do this is to keep a notebook of sketches, photos and cuttings of buildings or structures that have inspired 바카라사이트m.
• Unless students want to focus on historic buildings – perhaps in a career as a restorer – architecture is about contemporary design. Students should 바카라사이트refore do some research on modern buildings and contemporary architects that inspire 바카라사이트m. They should be ready to write about 바카라사이트se buildings and architects in a personal statement or talk about 바카라사이트m at interview. Ra바카라사이트r than discussing 바카라사이트 Taj Mahal, Notre Dame or 바카라사이트 Empire State Building, if possible, students should choose something 바카라사이트y have seen and that is local to 바카라사이트m.
• Architects are increasingly concerned with sustainability and environmental issues, so students should do some research on green architecture or zero-energy buildings. They could start by looking at  or .
• Students should learn to use 바카라사이트 language of architecture: terms such as modernism, postmodernism and brutalism, as well as 바카라사이트 classical orders.  is a good starting point.
• Keep up to date with current issues in architecture – for example, by regularly checking or .