Architecture
Architecture is a combination of creativity and engineering. Basically it is considered as an engineering branch. But the curriculum designed for architecture gives more importance to creativity and design. So sometimes it is considered as a designing branch. It includes the designing, planning and construction of complex buildings, towns, ports ,islands etc. by considering the environment related to it and in a most beautiful way. It teaches the students all related to organisational and artistic aspects of construction.
If you are a creative person and having skills in drawing, architecture is one of the best options as your career. After graduation, the students can either opt for higher studies like M.Arch or take up a job offered by leading infrastructure companies which includes government and private companies in India and abroad.
The career growth of architects is good owing to various factors like low- stress, higher salary, upward mobility, creativity etc. They can work as Landscape Architect, Construction Manager, Town Planner, Interior Designer, Building Surveyor and as a Consultant by starting their own firm.
Courses
There are multiple levels of courses available in the field of Architecture and some important graduate, post-graduate, diploma, other programs offered are given below
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch): A a 5 year course in undergraduate level in which the students learn a lot of things about buildings and construction along with their design.
Master of Architecture (M.Arch): A 2 year course after B.Arch graduation with specializations like:
- M.Arch – Architectural Conservation
- M.Arch – Building Engineering & Management
- M.Arch – Environmental Planning
- M.Arch – Housing
- M.Arch – Industrial Design
- M.Arch – Landscape Architecture
- M.Arch – Regional Planning
- M.Arch – Town and Country Planning
- M.Arch – Transport Planning
- M.Arch – Urban Design
PhD in Architecture: PhD is possible after M.arch. The duration of PhD is between 3 to 5 years.
Diploma in Architecture (D.Arch): A three year diploma course available in architecture.
Architecture Assistant (ITI/ITC): A vocational trade certificate course available in ITI/ITC with a duration of 2 years.
Required Skills
The skills required for Architecture courses include:
- Adapt to change
- Creativity
- Drawing Skill
- Imagination and Graphical visualisation
- Interest in art, cultures, traditions and other disciplines
- Logical Reasoning
- Space Relations Aptitude/ Spatial Intelligence
Eligibility Criteria
It is required for a science background to pursue a course in Architecture.
Bachelor of Architecture: The basic eligibility criteria for admissions to B.Arch other than NITs, CFITs and IITs is that the candidates should be passed 10+2 level examination with at least 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics (PCM) and also at least 50% marks in aggregate of the 10+2 level examination or passed 10+3 Diploma in Engineering Examination with Mathematics as compulsory subject with at least 50% marks in aggregate.There will be 5% relaxation for OBC candidates and 10% relaxation for SC/ST candidates.
For B.Arch admissions into NITs, CFTIs and IITs applicants must have obtained a 75% aggregate with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are optional subjects or be amongst the top 20 percentile of their respective boards. Also the candidates are eligible who passed 10+3 Diploma in Engineering Examination with Mathematics as compulsory subject with at least 75% marks in aggregate. At least 65% of marks are required for SC/ST category candidates.
Master of Architecture: The eligibility criteria for M.Arch admissions is that the candidate should pass Bachelor of Architecture from a recognized university with an aggregate of 50%. The percentage may vary depending on some institutions/universities.
PhD in Architecture: The applicant for admission to Ph.D. programme in Architecture shall possess the following qualification:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture or equivalent and Master’s degree in architecture/allied specialization or equivalent from any recognized institution.
- Bachelor’s Degree in architecture or equivalent in first class with ten years experience in teaching/research/professional practice
Diploma in Architecture: The eligibility criteria for Diploma in Architecture is 10th standard pass or equivalent.
Architecture Assistant: The eligibility criteria for Diploma in Architecture is 10th standard pass or equivalent.
Entrance Examination
Bachelor of Architecture
The Following are some of the entrance examinations for BArch.
JEE Main Paper 2 is the entrance examination for the admission of B.Arch for NITs and CFTIs.The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is conducted twice every year, usually during the months of January and April.The exam pattern of B.Arch contains 3 sections.
- PART 1 – Mathematics
- PART 2 – Aptitude Test
- PART 3 – Drawing Test
AAT (Architecture Aptitude Test) is the entrance examination for B.Arch in IITs.The candidate who qualified in JEE Advanced is eligible to write AAT. Both JEE Advanced and AAT will be conducted by different IITs every year.
For getting admissions in state universities, central universities and deemed universities, the candidate should apply for respective entrance examinations with NATA score. NATA (National Aptitude Test for Architecture) entrance examination conducted by Council of Architecture (COA) for the admission of B.Arch courses all over India except for IITs , NITs and CFTIs. NATA is conducted twice every year, usually during the months of April and May. It is a 3 hour examination with 60 questions with 2 sections with a total mark of 200.
- Part A: Physics, Chemistry and Maths :15 Questions (1.5 marks for each)
- General aptitude & Logical Reasoning: 35 Questions (1.5 marks for each)
Total 75 Marks
- Part B – Cognitive skill test – 10 Questions.
- (PTQ) 1 Question X 17 marks (12 min)
- (PTQ) 3 Questions X 16 marks each (12 min each)
- (MCQ) 6 Questions X 10 marks each (4 min each)
Total 125 Marks.
Master of Architecture: GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering) is the entrance examination for M.Arch for getting admissions in IITs ,NITs, CFTIs, Central Universities and State Universities.
PhD in Architecture: For PhD admissions in IITs, NITs, CFTIs, Central Universities and State Universities separate entrance tests and interviews will be conducted twice in a year.
State level entrance exams:
- Amity University
- Andhra Pradesh – APEAMCET
- Hindustan University – HITSEEE
- Jamia Millia Islamia Delhi
- Karnataka Common Entrance Test – KCET
- Kerala Engineering Agriculture and Medicine – KEAM
- Manipal University – MET
- SRM University – SRMJEEE
- Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination – TNPCEE
- Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Examination – UPSEE
- VIT Vellore – VITEEE
State Level Engineering College admission is based on state level entrance exams. For most state level entrance examinations, 50% weightage is given for the score of specific subjects in Board Exams.
Job Profiles
The following are some of the job profiles for Architecture graduates:
- Architectural Draftsman
- Architectural Engineer
- Architectural Historian
- Architectural Technician
- Architecture Designer
- Art Director
- Assistant Professor
- Building Designer
- Building Information modeller
- Building Information Modelling Specialist
- Building Surveyor
- CAD Technician
- Construction Manager
- Landscape Architect
- Project Manager
- Sales/Business Development Manager
- Staff Consultant
- Technical Assistant
Top Recruiters
Architects can work in both Government as well as private sectors. They can enter a wide range of challenging and rewarding careers in areas like Government Urban Housing Boards, City or Town Planning Department, PWD, Architecture Agencies, Construction Firms Consultancies etc. Also can work as a private practitioner. Followings are some of the firms where jobs for architect experts are available:
- 42mm Architecture
- Abha Narain Lambah Associates
- Abhimanyu Dalal Architects
- Abin Design Studio
- Aecom
- Architect Hafeez Contractor
- Architecture Brio
- C.P. Kukreja Associates
- Callison RTKL
- Christopher Charles Beginner Architects
- Dimensions India
- Gensler
- Grid Architecture Interiors Pvt. Ltd
- HDR Architecture
- HLL Infratech Services Ltd.
- HOK
- Kembhavi Architecture Foundation
- Manchanda Associates
- Manchanda Associates
- Mistubushi Jisho Sekkei
- Networks India Pvt.Ltd
- Nikken Sekkei
- Oscar & Ponni Architects
- Parkins & Will
- Quarks Technosoft
- RSP Architects
- Samoo Architects and Engineers
- Shilpa Architects
- Stantee
- Talati & Panthaky Associated
- WAPCOS
Institutions
AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) and CoA (Council of Architecture) are the governing bodies of Architecture courses in India. After the successful completion of B.Arch course a candidate should register in CoA . Also the colleges in respective states are affiliated to state technological universities. IITs, NITs, CFTIs, Central Universities and Deemed Universities are different from this and work as autonomous institutes under the supervision of selected governing bodies.
National level institutions for Architecture courses
Institutions in Kerala offering Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)
Institutions in Kerala offering Diploma in Architecture (D.Arch)
| Name of the institution | City |
|---|---|
| Cochin Technical College - Kaloor | Ernakulam |
| J.D.T. Islam Poly Technic College | Kozhikode |
| KMCT PolyTechnic College | Kozhikode |
| Vidyodaya Institute of Engineering and Technology - Thamarassery | Kozhikode |
| Ma’din PolyTechnic | Malappuram |
| NIET College of Engineering | Palakkad |
Questions & Answers
Q) What is the difference between Civil Engineering and Architecture ?
A) Both are different in many aspects.Architecture is a creative/ design job. Civil Engineering is developed based on calculations in statistics. But from a subject point of view some subjects are common for both Civil and Architecture.
Q) Is B.Arch and B.Planning are the same course?
A) There are many differences between B.Arch and B.Planning and each program has its own distinctive features. The main difference between the duration of the course. For B.Arch is a 5 year course and B.Planning is a four year course. For Eligibility criteria, syllabus and work profile are also different.
Q) Arch vs B.Des : Which is better ?
A) The courses of B.Arch and B.Des are quite different from each other. Key differences are there in duration of the course, eligibility criteria and in specialisations for higher studies.
Q) Which is the best option between NATA and JEE main paper 2?
A) Both are entrance examinations for B.Arch and B.Planning. JEE main paper 2 is for NITs and CFTIs and is better for getting admission to these premier institutes. But the number of seats are less compared to NATA.