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Jagpreet
21 June, 2024
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Are you looking for an undergraduate programme to make the right career move? Well, If you are someone who has a science background and is interested in drawing, creative arts and problem-solving then, a Bachelor of Architecture and Planning can be the right programme for you.
Although the B.Arch programme takes 5 years to complete (unlike general degree programmes that span over 3 – 4 years), students still prefer this career stream for its diverse and respectable job roles, global opportunities, high pay scale and long-term growth.
Wanna know more about the B.Arch programme? Let’s dive in and know every detail of the course: from eligibility and top colleges to syllabus and career prospects.
The full form of B.Arch is Bachelor of Architecture. It is a 5-year undergraduate degree programme that falls under the domain of Architecture and planning. Any student who has passed class 12, or equivalent in the science stream can apply for this programme. This is one of the most sought-after career streams after engineering and medicine disciplines. This is also a brilliant course for candidates who are outstanding at drawing and designing.
Architecture courses are offered by a few IITs, NITs and a few state-run private colleges. To pursue a B.Arch programme, one has to fulfil the required eligibility criteria by universities and pass the necessary entrance exam to get admission. National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) is mandatory for all students preparing for B. Arch admission in India except in IITs, NITs, and SPAs.
Candidates pursue B.Arch course due to several reasons namely:
It is best suited to students with a science background and a knack for creative arts.
B.Arch is the 3rd most popular career field in India after B.Tech and MBBS. This offers a variety of job roles to professionals such as architects, building contractors, interior designers, retail designers, etc.
The job market for B.Arch is very high. Along with private corporations, even the Indian government gives massive job opportunities for B.Arch student career building.
It is a technical degree with a lot of scope in India and abroad. It has a high pay scale and global prospects.
A candidate seeking to pursue a B.Arch programme is typically required to fulfil certain B.Arch eligibility criteria to secure seats for admission. The candidate must complete higher secondary education or equivalent with a minimum of 50% marks and pass entrance exams like NATA or JEE Mains to enrol into a BArch programme.
The complete list for B.Arch eligibility is given below:
| Program Particulars | Details |
| B.Arch Academic Qualifications Criteria | • The candidates must have passed class 12 with a Science background, which means they studied Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects. OR • They should have completed Class 10 and a 3-year Diploma. They should also have studied Mathematics as a compulsory subject. |
| B.Arch Marks Criteria | The candidates must secure a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate. |
| B.Arch Age Criteria | No Prescribed Age for Applying |
| B.Arch Year of Completion Criteria | For JEE Main appearing candidates who are/have: • Appearing for the Class 12 board exam in the present year • Passed Class 12 last year • Passed Class 12 two years ago For NATA-appearing candidates: There are no such criteria. |
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranks colleges on the basis of several parameters such as teaching, learning resources, placement outcomes, campus, outreach and inclusivity. Some of the top-ranking B.Arch colleges as per NIRF ranking are as follows:
| Name of the B.Arch College | NIRF Ranking | B.Arch Fees |
| Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee | 1 | INR 1,00,000/- |
| National Institute of Technology, Calicut | 2 | INR 1,25,000 /- (for candidates with annual income INR 5 Lakhs) || INR 41,667 /- (for candidates with annual income between INR 1 Lakh to 5 Lakh) |
| Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur | 3 | INR 1,20,000/- |
| National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli | 4 | INR 6,25,000/- |
| School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi | 5 | INR 4,88,000/- |
| University of Jamia Milia Islamia | 6 | INR 74,690/- |
The B.Arch curriculum is thoughtfully designed to have a good blend of theory and practical skills. The course spans over 5 years, including core subjects like architectural design, structural systems, estimation and material costing.
The curriculum has a well-rounded B.Arch syllabus that has all the topics to boost creativity, develop problem-solving abilities and understand real-world problems. The full B.Arch syllabus is discussed below:
| B Arch Subjects- Semester 1 |
| Introduction to Architecture History of Architecture – I Building Materials Basic Design – I Programming and Data Structures Descriptive Geometry – I Environmental Science English for Communication Basic Engineering Mechanics |
| B Arch Subjects- Semester 2 |
| Basic Design -II Descriptive Geometry – II Graphics and Visual Communication Programming and Data Structures Laboratory Extra Academic Activity- II Engineering Laboratory Electrical Technology Linear Algebra, Numerical and Complex Analysis |
| B Arch Subjects- Semester 3 |
| History of Architecture – II Advanced Building Materials and Composites Building Construction Climatology and Solar Architecture Architectural Design I Computer-Aided Design and Simulation Building Construction Sessional I Extra Academic Activity III |
| B Arch Subjects- Semester 4 |
| Water Supply and Sanitation Architectural Design II Indigenous Technologies and Innovations Workshop Field Trip I Material Testing Laboratory Building Construction Sessional II Elementary Structural Analysis Surveying Practice Extra Academic Activity-IV |
| B Arch Subjects- Semester 5 |
| Development of Contemporary Architecture I Working Drawing I Specification, Estimation and Costing Illumination and Electrical Services Design of RC Structure Building Acoustics Architectural Design III |
| B Arch Subjects- Semester 6 |
| Field Trip II Development of Contemporary Architecture II Working Drawing II Housing and Community Planning Design of Steel Structures Building Energy Systems and Auditing Architectural Design IV |
| B Arch Subjects- Semester 7 |
| Real Estate Valuation and Economics Architectural Design V Landscape Design and Site Planning Air Conditioning Breadth Elective II Depth Elective II Depth Elective III |
| B Arch Subjects- Semester 8 |
| Office Training Critical Appraisal Documentation of Innovative Details Field Observation Site Supervision |
| B Arch Subjects- Semester 9 |
| Society, Cultural Systems and Built Forms Principles of Town Planning and Urban Design Construction Project Management Architectural Design VI Depth Elective IV Depth Elective V |
| B Arch Subjects- Semester 10 |
| Professional Practice and Building Byelaws Seminar Depth Elective VI Depth Elective VII |
Graduates with B.Arch degrees have a wide variety of job opportunities in diverse government and private sectors. B.Arch degree has a wide scope across the globe in varying fields. Some of the popular B.Arch job profiles are construction and site engineers, architects, construction managers, project managers, and interior designers.
Some of the popular job roles and B.Arch salary is discussed below:
| B.Arch Job Profiles | Average Salary |
| Construction & Site Engineer | INR 1.3L/yr – 12L/yr |
| Architectural Consulting | INR 4.1L/yr – 6.2L/yr |
| Project Manager | INR 3.4L/yr – 5.4L/yr |
| Interior Designer | INR 1.5L/yr – 8L/yr |
Pursuing a B.Arch programme after the 12th is a life-changing decision that can lead you to a rewarding career. However, just having a professional degree is not enough, you must hone your skills to become fit for various B.Arch job profiles.
A candidate must understand that architecture is not just about building structures or designing spaces, it requires you to have good creative, analytical and problem-solving skills. One should build aesthetically pleasing structures as well as ensure that they are functional, safe and sustainable. So, If you think you have studied and understood the key highlights of taking architecture as a career avenue then enrol for the B.Arch programme and embark on an exciting career journey.
Yes, we can join B.Arch without NATA, if you have a good JEE Score. Remember NATA is mandatory for B.Arch admission in India except in IITs, NITs and SPAs. Candidates aspiring to join IIT, NIT and SPA will have to pass the JEE Main Paper 2.
B.Arch is a 5-year programme with fees ranging from 2.5 LPA to 8 LPA, which makes it a little for costlier than other undergraduate programmes in India.
B.Arch is a rewarding programme with respectable job roles and high-paying salaries. The average salary of a B.Arch candidate is around 3 LPA, which easily increases up to 10 LPA, depending upon your experience.
