Course Structure

The Bachelor of Design in Architecture along with its streams Allied Arts in Architecture, Digital Architecture and Urban Design and Planning is focused on learning about design in the built environment. The program is structured around a required set of core units of study, with a choice of streams and a range of elective units of study within and outside the faculty.

By selecting the appropriate stream, students in this program can graduate after three years with a:

• Bachelor of Design in Architecture or
• Bachelor of Design in Architecture (Allied Arts in Architecture) or
• Bachelor of Design in Architecture (Digital Architecture) or
• Bachelor of Design in Architecture (Urban Design and Planning)

The program is designed to provide you with maximum flexibility to allow you to pursue particular interests while participating in the core of the program with its focus on design in the built environment. Possible pathways and areas of interest include the three streams, particular areas of specialisation offered within the Architecture, Design and Planning electives and other specialised areas offered as electives within the faculty. Opportunities also exist for you to take units of study in other Faculties within the University. Students of the first degree complete core units in the following areas – Studio, History-Theory, Communications, Technologies and Art Workshops.

Bachelor of Design in Architecture course structure

To become a registered architect

If you are interested in becoming a professional architecture, you can apply to continue to the Master of Architecture, you must take a specific set of electives, commencing in third year, that are prerequisites for entry to that program, have a credit average in your undergraduate degree and complete your Architectural Experience Requirement:

1. Completing the Bachelor of Design in Architecture with Honours;
2. Completing professional work experience as an employee in architecture (minimum of 630 hours recorded in the Architects’ Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) log book or signed letter from supervising architect detailing duties and number of hours worked);
3. Completing professional work experience in a related industry (minimum of 630 hours appropriately recorded, e.g. signed letter from supervising staff member detailing hours worked and duties performed). To count towards the AER the work undertaken should be relevant to architectural practice (e.g. experience in construction project management);
4. Completing field study in relation to architecture (local and/or international), appropriately documented to the satisfaction of the faculty. The study should be relevant to architectural practice (e.g. an investigation of the specific construction innovations of a project, a comparative study of space planning in a number of new school buildings). Various research methods may be used (e.g. interviews, detailed comparative analysis of drawings). The final study should be produced as an illustrated report of approximately 20 A4 pages (this may take the form of a diary or logbook);
5. Undertaking an approved University of Sydney international exchange in the first semester of enrolment;
6. Completing a postgraduate qualification in a related discipline.