Bachelor of Design in Architecture

The Bachelor of Design in Architectureprovides the foundation for a career in broad fields of design and creative practice, with a specialisation in the discipline of architecture.

The Bachelor of Design in Architecture provides a broad design education in a creative studio-based environment focusing heavily upon learning to design through hands-on making and the use of state-of-the-art digital tools.

Learning in a design studio comprises the majority of coursework and is project-based.

This features projects focused upon real-world scenarios, collaborating with students and external guests from interdisciplinary fields of expertise to develop solutions for a range of stakeholders and end-users.

In addition to practical skills and disciplinary knowledge learned through studio and seminar-based studies in design, communications, technology, history, theory, and professional studies, students acquire ‘soft skills’ in collaboration, teamwork, time management, interpersonal communication, self-critique, and overall, spatial intelligence which is unique to an architectural education.

Through the program offerings at the Abedian School of Architecture, issues of pressing international and national concern form the core content of the studio curriculum.

Among the most prominent of these are the challenges posed by our contemporary condition globally, one characterised by rapid urbanisation, environmental change, technological emergence, and increasing socioeconomic inequity.

The B Des Arch aims to prepare students for globally-relevant employment by immersion into a program that provides broad yet focused experiences in synthesising diverse information in the resolution of complex creative-design challenges.

Established as a highly-flexible and student-focused degree program, studentswill study for 2 years full time but may also choose to study part-time.

Studies include content from the disciplines of architecture, digital media, construction, urban planning, film, and university electives.

Key highlights of the program include an annual all-school “charrette”, several off-campus study tours (including international study opportunities), a monthly international guest-lecture series, study with distinguished guest faculty and Architects-In-Residence, a bi-annual student exhibition and publication, and an internationally and nationally recognised academic staff of scholars and practitioner-teachers.

Students willundertake a brief period of work-integrated learning to provide relevant industry experience prior to graduation.

Students undertake the Bachelor of Design in Architecture in a unique setting:

the national and international award-winning Abedian School of Architecture.

This facility and its associated Fabrication and Robotics Lab are dedicated for student use, creating an environment to support creative activity that is accessible 24/7 throughout the year.

Students enjoy their own studio-based desk in the School provided for the duration of their studies, which becomes the point of personalised contact with program staff for an individualised, highly supported education.

The limited student cohort size of the School is maintained to ensure all students have unique access to workshop facilities and program staff that is unparalleled almost anywhere globally.

The Bachelor of Design in Architectureis a standard degree pathway leading toward a Master of Architecture, which is the terminal award allowing graduates to gain registration as an Architect in Australia and other jurisdictions that recognise the award.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Design in Architectureprogram may progress to the Master of Architecture upon application and review of undergraduate performance.However, entry to the Master of Architecture is not automatic.

View the Bachelor of Design in Architecture - Program Structure and Sequencing

This program is sequentially structured to prepare you with the necessary knowledge and expertise to continually develop and apply your skills in a variety of contexts.

University core subjects (3)

• CORE11-001 Critical Thinking and Communication (CORE 1)
• CORE11-002 Collaboration, Teams and Leadership  (CORE 2)
• CORE11-003 Responsibility, Integrity and Civic Discourse  (CORE 3)

Plus

• Orientation/Safety InductionA compulsory orientation and workshop induction is held during O week for all new students. Attendance is mandatory.
• Beyond Bond: Professional Development and Community Engagement*

* Students will complete Beyond Bond during their degree. This subject is worth 0 Credit Points.

Integrated Studio Subjects (6)        

• ARCH11-140              Creative Design Studio: Atmosphere                
• ARCH11-133              Creative Design Studio: Landscape                 
• ARCH11-132              Creative Design Studio: Material                   
• ARCH13-128              Design Futures Studio: Australasian Cities                        
• ARCH13-129              Design Futures Studio: Global Cities               
• ARCH13-130              Design Futures Studio: City Lab                    

Foundation Subjects (16)         

• ARCH10-123              Design Thinking Through Drawing           
• ARCH10-138              Digital Design + Prototyping                           
• ARCH11-114              World Architecture + Urbanism  
• ARCH10-126              Designing for Sustainable Futures                  
• ARCH10-124              Cities: People + Place                  
• ARCH11-135              Architecture + Urbanism of Asia Pacific            
• ARCH10-140              Subtractive Fabrication Lab           
• DIGM11-101              Graphic Design                          
• ARCH11-125              Materials + Methods    
• ARCH10-137              Designing for Climate                   
• SSUD13-311              Introduction to Structures         
• ARCH10-127              BIM + Documentation                 
• ARCH13-134              Urban Futures + Parametric Cities   
• ARCH13-131              Design Ethics + Design Detailing   
• DIGM12-201              Modelling for Animation 
• ARCH11-136              Additive Fabrication Lab 

General Electives (2)   

Students may choose two (2) elective s subjects from the University’s list of undergraduate subjects.

Students wishing to select an Elective more closely related to their degree may wish to select from the following:

• FITV11-102                Designing Cinema: Architecture + Production Design in Film
• ARCH11-139              Digital Design + Intelligent Construction            

Academic requirements

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the past two years)

Entry score for 2021 entry

Visit our student profile if you are interested in the profile of all students who commenced undergraduate study at the Faculty in the January semester 2020.

Applicants must meet the University's general minimum admission criteria.

Other applicants may be considered for admission on provision of the following: A portfolio of creative work - A4 format submitted electronically as single PDF document not exceeding 10MB. The portfolio should contain a variety of examples chosen from mediums such as drawing (freehand or mechanical), computer-aided design, painting, graphics, photography, sculpture, digital media, design technology, or crafts. The assessors are looking for creativity, imagination and skill so the portfolio should include evidence that illustrates your ability to think and communicate visually, as well as demonstrating any experience you have with a range of media and techniques. The subject matter does not need to be architecture-related. Images should be accompanied with text to explain what is shown and when it was made, and clarify if any of the work is not your own (for example, produced by you as a member of a group). A cover page should be included.

2021 Year 12 Entry

To ensure students are not disadvantaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, current Year 12 students can be assessed now for a guaranteed offer for 2021 entry conditional on the completion of Year 12. Applications will be assessed based on their first semester Year 12 results and meeting any subject prerequisite requirements for their program. Find out more.

The vision of the architect is responsible for the creation of the smallest of dwellings through to complex megacities. As such, architecture requires comprehensive skills relating to design, planning, construction, technology and communication. The architectural process can vary in complexity and scale, enabling architects to undertake a variety of projects from exhibitions, interior refurbishments and residential dwellings through to public buildings, large scale infrastructure and urban design.