Architecture blends art, science, engineering, and social responsibility. Architects design functional, aesthetic spaces—ranging from buildings to urban environments—considering sustainability, safety, and community impact. The role involves concept design, technical detailing, compliance, project coordination, and construction oversight.
Students having:
Creative design & spatial thinking
Strong visual communication (drawing, modeling, rendering)
Technical aptitude (physics, materials, building systems)
Attention to detail and problem-solving
Collaboration and empathy, to align design with user needs
Interest in sustainability and cultural contexts
In India:
Educational prerequisites: 10+2 exam with Mathematics + Physics & Chemistry, at least 50% aggregate (45% for reserved)
Alternative route: 10+3 Diploma (with Maths) + 50%
Entrance tests required: NATA or JEE Main Paper 2
Abroad:
Varies by country/university: typically requires high school diploma with art/design subjects; may include studio portfolio; English proficiency tests (IELTS/TOEFL)
In India:
NATA (Council of Architecture) – drawing + aptitude, required for most schools
JEE Main Paper 2 (Architecture) – Math, aptitude, drawing for NITs, IIITs, GFTIs
JEE Advanced + AAT – for IITs (Roorkee, Kharagpur)
State and university exams: KIITEE, COMEDK UGET, AMUEEE, LPUNEST
Abroad:
Portfolio and interviews (e.g., Bartlett, MIT, ETH Zurich)
Design aptitude tests (varies)—no single global exam
IIT Roorkee (#1 NIRF 2024), IIT Kharagpur, NIT Calicut
SPA Delhi, CEPT Ahmedabad, IIEST Shibpur, Jamia Millia Islamia, Sir J.J. College of Architecture (Mumbai)
Other notable ones: Chandigarh College of Architecture, BMS College, Manipal SOAP
Duration: 5 years including thesis
Subjects: Design studios, history/theory, structures, building tech, environmental systems, professional practice, electives
Components: Studio projects, technical classes, field trips, portfolio development; internships often in final year
M.Arch (various specializations)
M.Plan/Urban Planning
Sustainable Design/Masters in Sustainable Architecture
Masters in Heritage Conservation, Landscape Architecture
MBA (e.g., construction/project management)
Design thinking & visual representation
Technical drawing and digital modeling (CAD, BIM)
Understanding of structures, materials, building science
Project management and communication skills
Collaboration and drafting professional documents
Architect / Design Architect
Urban Planner, Landscape Architect
Interior Designer, Heritage Conservationist, Industrial Design
Design Technologist, Computational Designer, Building Performance Analyst / Consultant
Roles in project management, sustainable/building certification
Graphic Design
Architectural Visualization
AutoCAD, Revit (BIM)
SketchUp, Rhino + Grasshopper (parametric modeling)
ArchiCAD, 3ds Max, Lumion/V-Ray/Enscape for rendering
GIS tools (QGIS/ArcGIS) for urban planning roles