Bachelor of Architectural Studies

A career in architecture is immensely rewarding, giving you the opportunity to shape and transform the built environment around you.

Taught by a team of highly respected and skilled teachers, you'll learn from educators with real-world experience so that you can develop the critical foundations necessary to shape the sustainable buildings of tomorrow.

Our Bachelor of Architectural Studies is a globally competitive degree with a focus on the relationship between architecture, communication, technology, culture, and the natural and built environments.

Our alumni network spans across the globe, from small boutique practices to leading international architectural practices.

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

Recent secondary education Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent AND

• Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
• Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
• Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points

Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.

Recent secondary education ATAR profile

OR Higher education study

• Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
• Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above

OR Vocational Education and Training (VET)

• Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV or above

OR Work and life experience

• Qualify for Special Entry, or
• Complete a UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
• Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past

Essential requirements for admission

Prerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

Deferment

This degree is available for deferment. This option is made available by responding to your offer during the application process via the SATAC website. Applicants who receive an offer into a midyear degree are eligible to defer for six months.

This bachelor-level degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge to understand design principles and methods; building structures and construction systems; digital design and communication methods; sustainable design strategies; and the social and cultural history that shapes our built environment.

This degree has a strong practical focus – in design studio classes you will design complex projects informed by contemporary architectural practice and construction, as well as undertake research and hands-on learning through industry placements and coursework.

As well as the opportunity to gain practical experience, you will gain the skills needed to design buildings that range in scale and complexity, you will also develop:

• research and methodological skills to integrate theoretical, behavioural, environmental, and ethical issues within architectural practice
• an understanding of the social and political context of architecture
• verbal, written, and graphic communication skills, including traditional drawing methods and computer-based representation skills and knowledge
• cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge in contemporary design culture

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.

Your studies will incorporate assessment through both speculative and practical learning activities that are designed to provide you with professional agility to respond to any challenge your careers in Architecture throw at you, primarily in the form of:

Our courses are supported by an extensive teaching team of over 100 practising architects from industry. Projects in design studios are drawn from industry, developing real-world skills and knowledge that enable students to connect with and lead in the evolution of the design and construction industry.

Additional networks are formed through multi-disciplinary coursework between students across multiple discipline areas, and during national and international field trips where you will learn first-hand what it’s like to work as an architect in other cultures and countries.

You can also expand your networks through industry-leading internship projects and work-experience in South Australian architectural practices while studying your degree. UniSA also offers an extensive range of career-related events and workshops online, on campus, and around Adelaide to develop your skills and increase your knowledge.

Your career

Architects are creative, accurate and problem solvers by nature. They immerse themselves in new design technologies and construction materials, and push boundaries of what is possible. A career in architecture is rewarding – you get the opportunity to shape, and even transform world around you.

Careers to consider:

• Architect: combine creative design with technical knowledge to create sustainable solutions for the built environment
• Urban designer: design at the urban scale and participate in educating civic leaders and the public about the shaping of our cities
• Heritage consultant: develop sustainable practices in design to protect and maintain heritage projects and sites of important ongoing cultural value
• Project or construction manager: involves initiating, planning, and managing a team to deliver projects of varying scales and complexities.

* This degree does not lead to registration as an Architect in any State or Territory in Australia. The Bachelor of Architectural Studies is a pathway program to the Master of Architecture, which is an accredited Australian architecture qualification and provides a pathway to future registration as an architect. Only those practitioners registered with architectural registration boards, including the Architectural Practice Board of South Australia, are entitled to use the title ‘architect’ by law.

Applying to study with us:

• go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
• you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.

Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Our student support services will make your life at university easier. We want you to be successful, and if you need help, we're here to assist. We provide a full range of support services, including:

• academic counselling
• personal counselling
• social support services, including family support and nearby childcare

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.

As an architecture student you will have access to:

• dedicated safe and secure design studios, which are accessible 24/7
• Australia’s only Architecture Museum
• digital and traditional workshops
• specialised computer suites and access to industry-leading software on your own computers