Architectural Studies - 3261

The Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree provides academic education in the practice and theory of architecture. It requires full time attendance for three years. In combination with the Master of Architecture, it is designed to deliver an architectural education appropriate to contemporary multidisciplinary professional practice. Graduates will be eligible to apply for entry into the Master of Architecture program at UNSW.

Progression through the program is by stages, each comprising two semester-long design studios and their corresponding supporting courses. Admission to each stage is subject to the successful completion of the design courses of the preceding stages, except where approval has been given by the Program Head.

The Program provides students with a grounding in architectural design and related technical and academic knowledge. It prepares students to work in architecture and other design-based industries. It also prepares students to undertake the Master of Architecture Program, a two year accredited degree required by students intending to undertake the professional examinations within their state or territory in order to become registered Architects. Lectures and practical sessions cover the following areas:

1. Architectural Design
2. Architectural Communications
3. Architectural History and Theory
4. Architectural Technology
5. Architectural Practice

Opportunity for alternate off-campus Exchange Program with the approval of the Program Director.

*Note: The 12UOC of Interdisciplinary Learning Courses can be undertaken at any stage from the end of Year 2 to the end of Year 4 including summer terms.

Additionally, students are not required to undertake the other elective and general education requirments in the exact order as indicated in the above program structure. This structure provides a suggested order for the completion of these elective and general education requirements, however a student can choose to do them in a different sequence. For example, a student may choose to complete a second general education course in S1 of Yr 2 and undertake the 6 UOC of open elective in S2 of Yr 2.

A list of 2014 Interdisciplinary Learning Courses is below:

Summer Semester

Semester 1

Semester 2

Students are required to choose 2 courses from the suite of Built Environment Interdisciplinary courses to complete a minimum of 12 UoC of BEIL courses.

Students wishing to undertake the optional research based Honours year (48 units of credit) will need to have achieved a credit average (WAM 65+) in their Bachelor of Architectural Studies and demonstrate strong performance in their proposed area of research.

The Honours degree is awarded in two classes (Class 1 and Class 2 in two Divisions). Students who fail to obtain one of these classes may proceed to graduate with the Pass degree.

Students completing the 3 year Bachelor of Architectural Studies program, who will not proceeding to the Honours year may graduate with Distinction if they achieve an overall WAM of 75.

1. The degree of Bachelor of Architectural Studies is awarded after the successful completion of a minimum of 144 units of credit.

2. To fulfil these requirements, students must complete:

3. The degree of Bachelor of Architectural Studies is awarded at Honours level after the successful completion of a minimum of 192 units of credit including 48 units in an approved Honours program.

4. The standard duration of the program is 3 years consisting of 6 semesters of full-time study (24 units of credit per semester). This is extended by 1 year (or 2 semesters), if the Honours program is attempted. Students taking less than the standard full-time load will be extending the duration their program and will need to note that many courses are only offered in one of the two main semesters.

5. General Education courses may not be taken before a student enters Year 2 of the Program.

6. Students are not able to enrol in two design studios concurrently.

Refer to General Education

Open electives can be chosen from any courses offered by any Faculty at UNSW for which the student meets prerequisite or other enrolment requirments. The exceptions are those specific General Education GEN prefix courses which cannot be counted as open electives. Open electives do not need to be taken outside the Faculty, students can choose FBE electives as open electives.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Architectural Studies program (3261) are eligible to become Student Members of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. Graduates of Architectural Studies are eligible to apply for the Master of Architecture degree. It is this degree which will be accredited by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) and the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) for the purpose of registration, subject to the prescribed professional experience and examination requirements.