Have you ever found yourself looking at a building and wondering what the history behind it was? Or maybe you are someone who admires built environments and interior designs! An Architecture degree at UQ may just be perfect for you.
So we’ll be walking you through the different subjects you’ll study, how your assessments work, what the uni culture is like, and more.
Let’s dive right into it!
What is a Bachelor of Architectural Design at UQ?
Core Units for this Degree
How to Get into a Bachelor of Architectural Design at UQ
What’s the Teaching Format?
What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?
What is a Bachelor of Architectural Design at UQ?
UQ’s Bachelor of Architectural Design teaches you practical and creative learning through their on-campus design studios, providing opportunities to complete constructions on multiple scales using more complex materials and forms as you progress.
It provides students with an understanding of international cultures and helps to develop skills in communication, teamwork and leadership. You’ll learn about built environments, communities, construction documentation, people and places, alongside environmental factors.
Due to the strict structure of a Bachelor of Architectural Design, it cannot be studied as a double degree. However, students who complete their undergraduate may progress to a two-year Master of Architecture.
Career Paths
In order to be recognised as an Architect in Australia, you would have to continue your studies by completing a Master of Architecture.
Additionally, you need to be registered on a state or territory board where you will first have to complete a Masters, have two years of professional experience and pass the Architectural Practice Exam. Accreditation is jointly conducted by the Board of Architects of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Architects.
However, here are some other career pathways you can look into after completing a Bachelor of Architectural Design at UQ:
- Interior Designer
- Environmental Graphic Designer
- Urban Designer
- Property Developer
- Change Manager
- Product Designer
Ranging from design professions, private offices, government departments or research organisations there is sure to be a place that aligns with your career goals and values!
Core Units for this Degree
Students will have to complete 44 units from their Bachelor of Architectural Design Core courses, making up the bulk of their degree. They may then choose up to four units from the Elective Courses in Architecture or undertake two general elective courses where they can choose units from other faculties.
As there is no option for specialisation or double degrees in a Bachelor of Architectural Design, students will generally follow the study plan provided by the University of Queensland.
What are the Core Units?
Core units in a Bachelor of Architectural Design at UQ introduce you to a range of theory, practical and technical skills which include using software or sketching. Students will learn about designing spaces and masterplanning, while developing their own style and creativity.
In their first year, students will take Architectural Design: Form and Space which introduces you to the foundations of architectural design through exercises that engage with issues of space and form in relation to human scale, movement and inhabitation. This is also where students will first be introduced to physical and digital modelling and drawing, developing skills in observation, visualisation and representation.
Buildings in History & Culture is a theoretical course that introduces students to architecture from a global, cross-cultural, historical analysis of significant buildings and their place in culture. By studying historic and modern architecture, students learn how to analyse buildings and texts and communicate through presentation and written communication.
Lastly, Architectural Communication provides an introduction to concepts and techniques of architectural representation. Students will develop their technical skills in architectural drawing conventions, two-dimensional drawing, digital image capture and manipulation, and three-dimensional modelling.
Students will learn about freehand, measured, presentation and technical drawing, expressive drawing, photographic techniques, digital manipulation and the use of colour.
Are there any Specialisations?
There are no specialisations for a Bachelor of Architectural Design at UQ, however students do have the option of taking two elective units from other faculties as part of their course if they choose to do so.
Internship Opportunities
Unfortunately, there are no internship opportunities that are in-built into the Bachelor of Architectural Design at UQ.
“After you finish your Bachelor’s, they do encourage you to take a year out between classes to do an internship. So it is encouraged, but they don’t provide any support or connections to get that. The structure makes it pretty difficult to be working in an office with the amount of hours of work you’re expected to do.” — Sionnan Gresham
How to Get into Architecture at UQ
To get into a Bachelor of Architectural Design at UQ, students need to achieve an ATAR of 88.00. Students must have completed a General English subject for their QCE.
However, if you have not met the ATAR requirement, don’t fret! UQ offers a variety of admission schemes for students as well and these are awarded based on a range of factors. These include, your background and personal circumstance, where you live and subjects you studied in school.
The Educational Access Scheme provides support to students who have experienced difficult financial or personal circumstances that negatively affect their studies. If students fall into the financial hardship category, they may be able to access financial assistance through scholarships or bursaries as well.
Additionally, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admission Pathway can assist Indigenous students in being admitted into their preferred program. It considers a range of factors like employment history, academic abilities, personal interests and references. If able to demonstrate their suitability, UQ may even waive specific program requirements!
Scholarships
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Scholarship
- Clem Jones Sporting Scholarships
- Liveris Academy Merit Scholarship Scheme
- Tertiary Access Payment
Check out all scholarships here!
Additional costs
Students should also be aware of additional costs like:
- Books, technical notes etc (approx $150)
- Consumables, paper, pens etc (approx $100-$200)
- Drawing board and equipment (approx $600-$700)
What’s the Teaching Format?
UQ runs two semesters per year with students taking eight units per semester. For Architecture, this would usually translate to three subjects where one is worth four units, and the other two subjects are worth two units each.
Students also spend a lot of time in the Design Studio developing their practical and technical skills.
Class Structure
Lectures
Generally, lectures tend to be about two hours for Bachelor of Architectural Design students. Lectures will explain theory and content you are covering. For Architecture, this will usually be about history or design concepts to build student’s foundational knowledge.
Tutorials
In tutorials, students will have an opportunity to clarify their understanding of concepts and theories introduced during the lecture. WIth a smaller class size, students are able to engage with their tutor and ask questions or clarify the requirements for an assessment task.
Studios
Studios are longer sessions where students will work in a big urban space with their whole cohort. It enables them to work with other students but also on their own independent project.
“You can walk around and have a look at what everyone’s getting up to. I think it’s good because unlike other courses you actually develop friendships within your degree and I feel really comfortable with all my tutors — I have good discussions with them.” — Sionnan Gresham
How much time do you spend in class?
Despite having up to 17 contact hours each week in a Bachelor of Architectural Design, this can be seen as a benefit.
“If I didn’t have that number of contact hours, I wouldn’t have that same feeling of ease talking to my teachers and peers.” — Sionnan Gresham
What are the assessments like?
A Bachelor of Architectural Design has a really wide range of assessments to ensure they test your theoretical understanding of concepts but also to assess your practical skill development in things like sketching, master planning or using software.
Some of the assessments you can expect include:
- Essays
- Exams
- Portfolios of Drawings
- Group Projects
- Design Plans
While portfolios and group projects may seem very overwhelming as the final submission can be up to a 100 pages in length, there are smaller submission points throughout the semester to ensure that students are on task.
Students often have a chance to present their projects to their cohort and a group of guest architects to critique their work, providing them with valuable insight into what the industry is like as well.
Skills You Refine and Learn
Architectural Design has a balance of both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, thus students studying at UQ can expect to develop a range of skills. These include:
- Creativity
- Leadership
- Group work
- Masterplanning
- Sketching
- Problem Solving
- Adobe Creative Suite and Autodesk
What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?
Faculty
Compared to other faculties, Architecture at UQ has a relatively small cohort with about 100 students in a year, meaning that you get to know both your peers and your teachers really well. Additionally the Architecture building at UQ provides students with beautiful facilities and studio spaces where they can work independently or collaboratively.
Sionnan stated that she has had incredible lecturers and recalls Dr Fred Fialho Leandro Alves Teixeira from her first year unit, Architectural Communications.
She described him as “such a great lecturer and really supportive. I think the difference with him and other lecturers is that he’s really passionate about architecture and he inspires that passion into his students. I think that’s really important”.
Additionally, the tutors are supportive and always happy to help out students with their understanding of content or when they are struggling. As the UQ Architecture School has a wide range of teaching staff with different backgrounds and experiences, students who study there are able to develop their own unique style and creativity by learning from their professors’ and peers’ practices.
Culture
When asking about the culture, Sionnan immediately said, “I think a term that’s thrown around a lot is ‘studio culture’, you’ve got whole years of experience in one space and you are really comfortable talking to everyone — and I think UQ definitely tries to foster that.’
UQ Architecture has a smaller cohort and the set structure means that you are likely to progress through the course with most of your peers.
Additionally, the lengthy studio hours gives students an opportunity to not only know people within their years, but also their seniors and juniors.
There are communal spaces within the Architecture building designed to get students to interact with each other, Sionnan laughed saying, “There’s a collaborative space, which has a kitchen, and they often put out free food there for students to take which is really appreciated.”
At the end of the year, there is also a big end of year exhibition providing students with a chance to showcase their work and for students to see what others have been working on!
Sionnan said that it is a very friendly and supportive environment, “A lot of students who were in second year, third year, even Masters — they reached out to me and were like, ‘Hey if you need any help I’d be happy to.’”
Societies
There are two main societies for Architectural students at UQ, these are the BRUCE Architecture Society and SONA.
BRUCE Architecture Society organises events for Architecture students. They organise various social events to help students get to know each other — these include pub crawls, trivia nights and welcome parties. There is also an annual Architecture Ball which students greatly look forward to!
SONA is the Student Organised Network for Architecture and is the official student body of the Australian Institute of Architects.
The organisation represents students across Australia and organises various national, state and local events for students to collaborate with each other and with professional designers. These include mentoring programs, networking events, exhibitions and design competitions!
Support
While you are studying Architecture at UQ, you know you’ll be well supported and by both your peers and the faculty.
SONA is definitely the place to reach out to if you are seeking support in regards to career — they run a range of programs and workshops, helping students to gain an understanding of the industry and helping them to build up their networks and connections.
UQ also has programs supporting student’s wellbeing and mental health, providing free counselling sessions for students. Lecturers are also very supportive during tough times and willing to help students who reach out to them.
Tiffany Fong is currently completing a double degree in Media and Communications with Law at Macquarie University. She currently contributes to the university zine, Grapeshot where she enjoys writing feature articles, commentary on current affairs or whatever weird interest that has taken over her mind during that month. During her spare time, Tiffany enjoys reading, writing, taking care of her plants or cuddling with her two dogs.
