B.Arch -Bachelor of Architecture

B.Arch is an architectural degree program offered at the undergraduate level in the subcontinent. Architecture is the art as well as the science of planning and designing and also setting up buildings and various other types of physical structures.

B.Arch Colleges

• (SPA) School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi
• SPA Bhopal, Bhopal
• SPA Vijayawada, Vijayawada
• (IIT) Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
• IIT Roorkee, Roorkee
• Sir J.J. College of Architecture, Mumbai
• Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra
• (NIT) National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli
• NIT Calicut, Calicut
• NIT Hamirpur, Hamirpur
• NIT Patna, Patna
• NIT Raipur, Raipur
• NIT Rourkela, Rourkela
• NIT Bhopal, Bhopal
• NIT Jaipur, Jaipur
• NIT Nagpur, Nagpur
• Chandigarh College of Architecture (Punjab University) Chandigarh
• PM College of Engineering, Sonepat
• Gitam Institute of Technology, Vizag
• Dehradun Institute of Technology, Dehradun
• ICL Institute of Architecture, Ambala

Qualifications

A pass in high school leaving examination (10+2) or any equivalent qualification with minimum 50% in aggregate.

Our Advice

The work profile of an architect is no doubt challenging but enjoyable. Drawing, constructing, and analytical; these three skills are required to a great extent for a successful career in this field. The graduate architect should also be knowing how to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in the workplace. In sharp contrast with clerical job profiles, this profession heavily demands a problem-solving attitude as well as rigorous hands-on work. The following skills are a must-have for any budding architect.

• Excellent communication skills
• High physical stamina
• Exceptional memory
• High patience
• Responsibility
• Team spirit
• Accountability
• Observant Attitude
• Creative Thinking Skills

Career Scope

Graduate students can either join the workplace (refer to “Job Opportunities”) or go for higher studies in India or abroad. BArch students are eligible for enrolling in post-graduate academic programs like (Master of Architecture) MArch or (Post Graduate Diploma Program in Design) PGDPD.

B.Arch Course Details

The primary objectives of any typical architectural course are as follows.

• Stimulating creativity and artistic sensitivity
• Strengthening intellectual growth and the power for developing responsible solutions to unique and complex problems and creativity
• Helping the students grasp the individual skillsets for successfully practicing architecture and also for lifelong learning

B.Arch Syllabus

A typical B.Arch course is divided into ten academic semesters. The initial three years cover various theories and one professional internship of twenty-week duration. The final two years are devoted to the preparation of a research paper, design thesis submission, and seminars. The concluding four (seventh to tenth) semesters are meant for applying the acquired knowledge in practice.

A student is continuously evaluated and graded (the grading can be absolute or relative, and the GPA scale can be four or five or ten depending upon the college or university) and the coveted BArch degree is awarded at the end of the final semester after successful fulfillment of all the requirements of the course. The curriculum lends heavily to the discipline of arts and incorporates the nuances of designing parts, fine arts, drawing, etc. The other interdisciplinary areas of study include engineering, technology, humanities and architectural practices.

The academic evaluation is primarily done by classroom participation and work as well as various on-site activities. B.Arch graduating students are evaluated and graded by means of the following measures.

• Examinations
• Study Assignments
• Class Tests
• Internship
• Field Work
• Practical experiments
• Projects

Project submission is mandatory for Architecture students. A BArch student can opt for a private or public organization for the project work; which may be related to any stipulated area like building design, architecture doctrine, analysis of variation in temperature, etc. Some of the most popular areas for projects are as follows.

• Conservation of Building with Heritage Status
• Environment-Friendly Materials and Construction Methods
• Construction Management
• Conservation of Energy/Green Buildings
• Engineering technology
• Energy Management
• Interiors and Landscaping
• Industrial Design
• Promoting Rural Energy Security
• Mud Architecture
• Urban Planning
• Management of Renewable Energy
• Solar Architecture
• Smart Buildings
• Thermal Profiling of Buildings

Choosing an Institute

• Validity: a prospective student should always verify whether or not the college or institute is accredited by Council of Architecture, which regulates the recognition and curriculum of architectural schools
• Course fees: the parents may choose to take a calculated risk by applying for a study loan for admitting their ward into a reputed architectural degree program
• Faculty: the academic qualifications of the permanent professors and lecturers and number of years they spent in the industry matter a lot
• Placement: Being a professional course like BTech or MBA, the architectural school should have an active placement cell, so that the students can repay their debts as early as possible

B.Arch Eligibility

• Successful completion of twelve years (10+2 or equivalent) of formal schooling with 50% or more in aggregate
• Those who have done a three-years diploma in any stream after the tenth standard are also eligible
• The qualifying score in architectural entrance examinations (refer to “Entrance Examinations”)
• Some schools conduct a portfolio presentation session in the second round to further screen the candidates

Universities for BArch

• Jadavpur University, Kolkata
• Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University, Ahmedabad
• Maharaja Sayaji Rao University of Baroda, Baroda
• Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu
• SRM University, Chennai
• Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar
• Himgiri Zee University, Dehradun
• Deenabandhu Chottu Ram University, Sonepat

B.Arch Colleges in Bangalore

• R V College of Engineering, Bangalore
• M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore
• BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore
• PES University, Bangalore
• Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore

B.Arch Entrance Exam

• NATA: National Aptitude in Architecture
• JEE AAT: Joint Entrance Examination for Architecture Aptitude Test
• JEE main, paper II: Joint Entrance Examination, main (paper II)
• COMED-K UGET: Consortium of Medical, Engineering, and Dental colleges (Karnataka) Undergraduate Entrance Test
• KCET: Karnataka Common Entrance Test

B.Arch Subjects

Year 1
Semester 1	Semester 2
Mathematics	Mechanics of Structures I
Theory of Architecture I and Building Materials I	Theory of Architecture II and Building Materials II
History of Architecture an Culture I	History of Architecture and Culture II
Studio: Architectural Drawing I	Studio: Architectural Design I and Building Construction I
Studio: Basic Design and Art Studio	Studio: Architectural Drawing II
Year 2
Semester 3	Semester 4
Building Materials III and History of Architecture and Culture III	Design of Structures I
Mechanics of Structures II	Environmental Science
Climate and Built Environment	Building Materials IV and History of Architecture and Culture IV
Studio: Architectural Design II and Building Construction II	Theory and Studio: Building Services I
Studio: Computer Aided Visualization	Studio: Architectural Design III and Building Construction III
Year 3
Semester 5	Semester 6
Design of Structures II and Elective I	Design of Structures III and History of Architecture and Culture VI
History of Architecture and Culture V	Electives II & III
Theory and Studio: Building Services II	Theory and Studio: Building Services III
Theory and Studio: Site Planning and Analysis	Studio: Architectural Design V
Architectural Design IV and Building Construction IV	Studio: Architectural Design Development
Year 4
Semester 7	Semester 8
Practical Training I	Practical Training II
Year 5
Semester 9	Semester 10
Specification & Estimation and Professional Practice & Ethics	Elective VI
Human Settlements Planning	Thesis
Electives IV & V
Theory and Studio: Urban Design
Studio: Architectural Design VI

• Elective I/any one:

• Art Appreciation
• Theory of Design
• Energy Efficient Architecture

• Electives II & III/any two:

• Evolution of Human Settlements
• Architecture and Structure
• Interior Design
• Vernacular Architecture
• Ecology and Landscape
• Earthquake Resistant Architecture
• Disaster Management

• Electives IV & V/any two:

• Advanced Structures
• Project management and Construction
• Architectural Photography and Journalism
• Construction Technology
• Sustainable Architectural Planning
• Contemporary Processes in Architecture
• Human Rights

• Elective VI/any one:

• Urban Housing
• Architectural Conservation

Job Opportunities in Architecture

• The typical work profiles or architects are as follows.
• Data Analyst
• Interior Designer
• Architecture Designer
• Staff Consultant
• Architecture Draftsman
• Project Assistant Manager
• Technical Assistant
• Manager
• Architectural Assistant
• Business or Sales Development Manager
• Architectural Journalist or Historian
• Building Contractor
• Art Director
• Landscape Architect

Top recruiters in the field of architecture are as follows.

• Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj
• DLF
• L&T
• IMAXE
• Jindal
• Manchanda Associates
• VSA Space Design (P) Ltd
• Architect Consultants
• Chitra Vishwanath Architects
• Edifice Architects Pvt Ltd
• Sahara Group

The pay packet of an architect is unmistakably lucrative and appealing to say the least; and is decided by a person’s experience and qualifications, job profile, location and the reputation of the hiring organization.

• Fresh graduates earn four to five LPA
• Experienced (more than five years) candidates typically get as much as one million rupees per annum
• Architects make a mean annual salary of around one million dollars in the US

Architecture Specializations

B.Arch students can opt for the following concentrations in the advance years of their study.

• Green Architecture
• Museum Architecture
• Landscape Architecture
• Theatre Architecture
• Naval Architecture

Making a Difference

A profession like architecture calls for an artistic bend of mind as well as strong technical skills. Some of the Renowned Indian architects and their works are described below in brief.

• Raj Rewal: Asiad Village, Hall of Nations, Parliament Library, STC Building (New Delhi)
• Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi: (Indian Institute of Management) IIM Bangalore, Bengaluru
• Nari Gandhi: Daya Residence (Mumbai), Jain Bungalow (Lonavla), Patel Residence (Surat)
• Achyut Purushottam Kanvinde: PK Kelkar Library (Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur), The University of Agricultural Sciences (Bengaluru)
• Anant Damodar Raje: Indian Statistical Institute (New Delhi), Indian Institute of Forest Management (Bhopal)