Bachelor of Architecture

UTS course code: C08001
Testamur title: Bachelor of Architecture
Abbreviation: BArch
Course fee: HECS (local); $8,250 per semester (international)
Total credit points: 96

Bachelor of Architecture (Honours)

UTS course code: C09041
Testamur title: Bachelor of Architecture (Honours)
Abbreviation: BArch(Hons)
Course fee: HECS (local); $8,250 per semester (international)
Total credit points: 96

Admission requirements
Course duration
Course structure
Course program
Honours

The Bachelor of Architecture is the second of a two-tier degree structure. It requires the completion of two years of full-time study (or equivalent). The BArch is a specifically focused, professional degree that seeks to equip students for practice in the architectural profession. It is a qualification accepted for candidates seeking to take the professional examination of the Board of Architects and Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA), as a prerequisite to registration under the provision of the Architects Act administered by the Board of Architects of NSW; and to professional membership of the Institute. The Bachelor of Architecture may be undertaken only after the successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree (or equivalent), a degree that by itself does not lead to professional recognition.

An Honours degree in the Bachelor of Architecture was introduced in 2003.

All information regarding registration with the Board of Architects and membership of the NSW Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects may be obtained from:

The Registrar
Board of Architects of NSW
'Tusculum'
3 Manning Street
Potts Point NSW 2011
telephone (02) 9356 4900

Admission requirements

The Bachelor of Architecture program may be undertaken only after the successful completion of either the Pass or Honours degree of Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, or the equivalent from another institution as judged by the Faculty.

All students who have successfully completed the BA in Architecture or BA(Hons) in Architecture degree at UTS may proceed into the Bachelor of Architecture program as continuing students, provided that they enrol in the Bachelor of Architecture in the next academic year after award of the degree, or seek leave of absence for no longer than one academic year after the award.

Students applying with suitable qualifications from other institutions, or UTS BA in Architecture graduates who have not proceeded directly to the Bachelor of Architecture course, are 'external' students and should apply through the NSW and ACT Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) in the normal way. 'External' applicants constitute new students and entry places are limited, depending on quotas.

Course duration

The Bachelor of Architecture is a two-year full-time (or equivalent) degree.

Course structure

The course comprises 96 credit points. The normal full-time load is 24 credit points per semester. The Bachelor of Architecture cannot be taken as a stand-alone degree, and therefore this 96 credit points follows the successful completion of the 144-credit-point BA or 168-credit-point BA(Hons) degrees, or other suitable prior learning.

Yearly progression

All subjects in both years of the BArch are considered to exist within one level and therefore there are no prerequisites, and no fixed order for completion of the subjects, with one exception: the subject 11262 Architectural Research must be successfully completed before a student may proceed to 11264 Architectural Design – Design Dissertation. The order of subjects presented in the course program is not prescriptive, but illustrates the recommended pattern. A student who fails any subject must repeat it successfully before being eligible to graduate, however such a subject can be repeated at any time.

Course program

Spring semester
11264 Architectural Design – Design Dissertation 12cp
11256 Professional Practice – Office Administration and Building Contract Control 6cp
xxxxx Elective 6cp

Sub-majors

BArch students may be offered a sub-major if they undertake 24 credit points of electives in a specific, common area with electives drawn from the BArch program.

Electives

There are four subjects, a total of 24 credit points, dedicated to electives in the BArch. In keeping with the professional nature of the BArch degree, these electives can only be taken from within the BArch program. Elective subjects offered within the Architecture program may vary from year to year depending on staff availability. Students are advised of any changes/additions at the beginning of the academic year.

Design Dissertation

All students in the BArch undertake 11264 Architectural Design – Design Dissertation. This is a combination research and design project, initiated by the student on a topic of his or her choice, and refined during the subject 11262 Architectural Research. The relative proportion can be either 70 per cent design and 30 per cent research, or 30 per cent design and 70 per cent research. The definition of 'research' in the Design Dissertation is broad, and encompasses the conventional written thesis, as well as various other forms. The key criteria for the research component is that it serves to substantiate the design, and represents in-depth work in a focus area. This may take the form of a well-researched and justified design project, or as the exploration of the design implications of a largely written thesis, or another approved form. The dissertation is undertaken under the supervision of a single academic staff member, and examined by a panel of three, with the possibility of external academics and practitioners acting in an advisory role.

Honours

There is no additional time or credit (above that of the base degree) required for the BArch(Hons). The level of Honours granted will be determined by the average mark in three subjects (a total of 24 credit points): 11262 Architectural Research (6 credit points), 11264 Architectural Design – Design Dissertation (12 credit points), and one related elective subject (6 credit points) (note that base degree BArch students also undertake Architectural Research and Design Dissertation). It is recommended that the related elective subject be taken either concurrently with, or prior to, the Design Dissertation. The combination of these three subjects represents the research component that is generally accepted to be an essential constituent of an Honours degree.

Admission requirements

The Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) runs in a manner identical to the base degree Bachelor of Architecture, up until the point where eligible BArch students are invited to enter the Honours program. To be eligible, students must have successfully completed, and achieved an average mark of at least 65 per cent in, any eight subjects in the BArch degree. These can be any eight subjects except 11262 Architectural Research and 11264 Architectural Design – Design Dissertation. The honours-weighted elective can also be included in these eight if it is taken prior to Architectural Research.

Assessment

The class of Honours to be awarded is determined as follows, subject to Faculty Board approval.

• First Class Honours – average mark of 75 or above in subjects 11262 Architectural Research, 11264 Architectural Design – Design Dissertation, and one related elective subject
• Second Class Honours Division 1 – average mark of 70–74 in subjects as above
• Second Class Honours Division 2 – average mark of 65–69 in subjects as above.

Students who do not meet the above criteria but who pass all subjects in Years 4 and 5 are awarded the Pass degree of the Bachelor of Architecture. In addition, students who at any stage record a Fail grade in any subject(s) in Years 4 and 5 are awarded the Pass degree once all subjects have been successfully completed.