Over the years, the options in architecture study have increased rapidly, both in India and abroad. Students have to prepare for entrance exams for architecture, TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, depending on the course and country. 

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Architecture and Urban Design, Photo Credits Julian Martiz ©www.uni-hannover.de

It’s almost that time of the year again, where many students have to decide on selecting a master’s degree they want to pursue in 2021. After going through 5-years of sleepless nights many students want to study further and specialize in Architectural fields, like Conservation and Heritage, Landscape Architecture City Planning, etc. A postgraduate degree is a 2-year program divided into 4 semesters.  Thinking about a master’s degree and selecting a college is the first step while preparing for it is the second step, so what to do and how to do it.

*The following information is based on the current procedure the colleges and universities have adapted to because of the ongoing pandemic in the world. (2020)

Study opportunities for Master in Architecture– India | Entrance Exams for Architecture

An overview for master in architecture:

Duration: 2 years [4 semesters]
Fee Structure: INR 50,000 to 2 Lakhs- per year
Admission process: Entrance exams, merit at graduation level

1. IIT Roorkee

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Department of Architecture – IIT Roorkee ©www.skilloutlook.com

Location: Roorkee
Fee Structure: INR 1.5 Lakh to 2 Lakh (per annum)
Website: ar.iitr.ac.in
Course: Master of Architecture, Master of Urban and Rural Planning
Selection criteria: Admission depends on the GATE scores and bachelor’s degree scores.
30% based on Merit
70% based on GATE score

The department of architecture and planning in Roorkee is known for its high-quality education. The institute offers a variety of facilities like a climatology lab, computer lab, library, etc. which helps the students grow and conduct high-level research in various areas of architecture and planning.

2. School of Planning and Architecture (SPA)

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School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi ©www.careerworldedu.org

Location: Delhi
Website: spa.ac.in
Fee Structure: INR 1 Lakh to 1.5 Lakh (per annum)

Established in 1941, the institute offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral. The college focuses on the research, innovation, and learning of a student while the college tries to connect them to the cultural aspects of architecture.

Selection Criteria: The mode of application is online (2020)

The student is selected based on the following:

  •       Performance in the bachelor’s degree
  •       Portfolio of work (academic and professional)
  •       Letter of recommendation from faculty or employer
  •       Personal statement- reasons for selecting the following course.  

Master in Architecture: | Entrance Exams for Architecture

1. Master of Urban Design

Eligibility: 55% aggregate marks in Bachelor in Architecture/Bachelor in Engineering, Bachelor in Design/Fine Arts, or equivalent CEED score.

2. Master of Design- Industrial Design

Eligibility: 55% aggregate marks in Bachelor in Architecture or Bachelor in Planning

3. Master of Landscape Architecture

Eligibility: 55% aggregate marks in Bachelor in Architecture/Landscape Architecture/Planning

4. Master of Planning

Eligibility: 55% aggregate marks in Bachelor in Architecture/Bachelor in Engineering/Bachelor in Architectural Engineering/Civil/Environmental Engineering.

SPA also offers a Master of Building Engineering and Management (MBEM), for which a candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree in Building/Civil/Architectural/Building Science/Architecture or a 5-year diploma in construction technology.

3. Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, CEPT | Entrance Exams for Architecture

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CEPT University ©www.dnaindia.com

Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Website: cept.ac.in
Fee Structure: INR 3.5 Lakh to 4 Lakh (per annum)

One of the biggest architectural and design campuses in India, CEPT, offers 5 faculties students can select from.

  • ·   Faculty of Architecture  
  • ·   Faculty of Planning 
  • ·   Faculty of Technology   
  • ·   Faculty of Design
  • ·   Faculty of Management

The university focuses on providing students an in-depth understanding of designing, planning, constructing, and managing. The university not only helps students develop skills but also helps them pursue them through different centres like the CEPT Research & Development Foundation (CRDF), Design Innovation & Craft Resource Center (DICRC), Center for Excellence in Urban Transport (CoE), Center for Urban Equity (CUE), and Center for Advanced Research in Building Science & Energy (CARBSE).

i. Master in Architectural Design | Entrance Exam for Architecture

The course trains students for the upcoming challenges, explore the field, experiment, and reimagine design. The program offers students to gain in-depth knowledge about architecture through studio practice, theatrical debates, and historical knowledge.

Selection Criteria: The mode of application is online

The student is selected based on the following:

Stage 1:

  •       Performance in the bachelor’s degree
  •       Portfolio of work (academic and professional)
  •       List of references
  •       Statement of purpose
  •       Curriculum Vitae

Stage 2:

Stage 2 is a combination of marks obtained in stage 1 (weightage- 20%) and grading based on the quality of communication, representation, and sensibility along with questions based on their work.

Stage 3:

– Online Interview.

– Multiple choice questions from the subject specialists.

Eligibility:

– 55% aggregate marks in Bachelor in Architecture

ii. Master’s in Architectural in Conservation and Regeneration

The two-year program specializes in educating students in the theory and practice of building conservation and conservation led to urban regeneration. The program focuses on the context of the World Heritage Site of the Historic City of Ahmedabad while giving students the practical knowledge of approaching and engaging with the community to explore the relationship between conservation practice and urban regeneration.

The course helps students develop a critical understanding of new and evolving practices in conservation, an opportunity to learn practically from experienced practitioners and experts in the art laboratory, and learn the application of scientific assessment tools, participatory processes, design, and policy thinking through evaluation and transform historic built environments.

Stage 1:

  •       Performance in the bachelor’s degree
  •       Portfolio of work (academic and professional)
  •       List of references
  •       Statement of purpose
  •       Curriculum Vitae

Stage 2:

– Marks obtained in stage 1

– Online test- 30 multiple choice questions and a long answer question.

– Online Interview

Eligibility:

– For earning a Master of Architecture in Conservation and Regeneration degree minimum of 55% aggregate marks in Bachelor in Architecture is needed.

– For earning a Master of Arts in Conservation and Regeneration minimum of 55% aggregate marks is needed in Bachelor in Technology (Structural, Civil), B.A in Archaeology, Bachelors in Interior Design, Bachelors in Urban Design or Planning.

iii. Master’s in Architectural History & Theory | Entrance Exams for Architecture

The program trains students to critically examine and research through means of visuals and written material on how architecture is produced, inhabited, symbolized, and represented in both global and South Asian contexts. The course opens opportunities for students wanting to pursue architecture through publishing, curatorial platforms, emerging heritage concerns, and highlighting the necessity for a new group of critical-creative architectural historians and theoreticians.

Stage 1:

  • Performance in the bachelor’s degree
  • List of references
  • Academic or Professional experience certificates
  • Written Portfolio- Related to the program.

A statement of purpose- 500 words

Description of a place- 1000 words, with 2 visuals (photographs, drawing, collages, etc)

Review of a book- 500 words

  • Curriculum Vitae

Stage 2:

– Marks obtained in stage 1

– Online test

– Online interview

Eligibility:

– Earning a Master’s in Architectural History & Theory degree minimum of 55% aggregate marks in Bachelor in Architecture is needed.

– While earning a Master’s in Architectural History & Theory minimum of 55% aggregate marks in Bachelor in Technology (Structural, Civil), B.A. in Archaeology, Bachelors in Interior Design, Bachelors in Urban Design or Planning, Bachelor in Design.

iv. Master’s in Landscape Architecture

Over the years, the scope of landscape architecture has rapidly increased in India. The course offers students to gain knowledge through studios, lectures, and cross-disciplinary electives while exploring different techniques and tools needed for the development and conservation of natural sustainable ecosystems.

Stage 1:

  •       Performance in the bachelor’s degree
  •       Portfolio of work (academic and professional)
  •       List of references
  •       Statement of purpose
  •       Curriculum Vitae

Stage 2:

– Marks obtained in stage 1

– Online test- 30 multiple choice questions and a long answer question.

– Online Interview

4. Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy College of Architecture, University of Mumbai | Entrance Exams for Architecture

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Sir J J School of Architecture ©www.architecturaldigest.in

Location: Mumbai
Fee Structure: INR 8,000 to INR 12,000 (per annum)
Website: www.sirjjarchitecture.org

The college offers post-graduation through the means of research and partly by papers.

Eligibility:

55% aggregate marks in Bachelor in Architecture

– Valid score in MAH-M.Arch- CET

– Students holding a diploma in architecture are also eligible for admission.

5. Chandigarh College of Architecture

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Chandigarh College of Architecture, Photo Credit- Sanyam Bahga ©en.wikipedia.org

Location: Chandigarh
Website: cca.edu.in
Fee Structure: INR 25,000 to INR 40,000 (per annum)

The college offers a full-time course in architecture with the main focus of training students to design structures more sustainably, under the mentorship of experienced faculty.

Eligibility:

55% aggregate marks in Bachelor in Architecture

Study opportunities for Master in Architecture- Abroad

Many universities offer courses in architecture around the globe, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to Cornell University. Here is an overview of what Architecture must know before applying for Masters Abroad 

Eligibility: 

  • 5.0 GPA or 65% or equivalent in Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Design or any related field
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letter of recommendation
  • English proficiency: IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE/ CAE

1. United States of America: 

Duration of Course: 2 years or more years
English proficiency: IELTS score- 6.5
                                    TOEFL score- 90
Fee Structure: USD 12,000 – USD 55,000
List of Top Architecture Schools in the USA: 2021 Best Colleges for Architecture in America

2. United Kingdom

Duration of Course: 1 or 2 years depending on the course and university
English proficiency: IELTS score- 6.5
                                    PTE score- 70
Fee Structure: USD 16,440 – USD 42,880

The UK also offers both full-time and part-time post-graduation and candidates can also opt to study online. The country also provides international students with an opportunity to work part-time for 20 hours a week.

List of Top Architecture Schools in the United Kingdom: Top 10 UK Universities for Architecture 2021

3. Germany

Duration of Course: 2 years
English proficiency: IELTS score- 6
                                    TOEFL score- 72
Fee Structure: 568 EUR to 6,000 EUR

List of Top Architecture Schools in Germany: 11 Architecture Master’s in Germany

4. Australia 

Duration of Course: 1 or 2 years depending on the course and university
English proficiency: IELTS score- 6.5
                                    TOEFL score- 79
                                     PTE score- 50
Fee Structure: 34,700 AUD to 135,720 AUD

As in the UK, Australia also provides part-time jobs for students which help cover living expenses. 

List of Top Architecture Schools in Australia: 50 Architecture Master’s in Australia

5. Canada | Entrance Exams for Architecture

Duration of Course: 1 or 2 years depending on the course and university
English proficiency: IELTS score- 7.0
                                    TOEFL score- 79
Fee Structure: USD 17,230 – USD 31,414
List of Top Architecture Schools in Australia: 25 Architecture Master’s in Canada

Hope this article helps you find your path. 

Here is a list of articles that might help you decide your career options for the future: 

  1. 10 Masters options for architects interested in Landscape Architecture
  2. Masters options for architects interested in research
  3. 20 Unusual Masters options for Unusual Architects
  4. 8 Masters Options For Aspiring Architectural Journalists
  5. Master of Architecture overseas- List of countries where B. Arch from India is recognized
  6. 20 Best Masters Degree Programs after Architecture
  7. Top Architecture Schools in 2020

References: 

  1. https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/?s=master+degree
  2. https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/study-m-arch-abroad-eligibility-colleges-fees-exams-jobs-articlepage-2561
  3. https://www.masterstudies.com/Masters-Degree/Architecture/Germany/
  4. https://www.mastersportal.com/study-options/271745044/architecture-australia.html
  5. http://www.bestarchitecturemasters.com/ranking-2020/
  6. https://collegedunia.com/germany/architecture-colleges
  7. https://collegedunia.com/canada/article/top-universities-admissions-tuition-fees-scholarships-and-career-prospects#:~:text=Masters%20in%20Architecture%20in%20Canada%20is%20a%201%2D3%20yeards,to%2050%2C000%20CAD%20per%20annum.
Author

Samanata Kumar, is a young interior designer, driven by keen interest for Architectural heritage and culture. Her curiosity includes parameters of architecture and design, photography, travelling, writing, roller skating and air rifle shooting for leisure. Her latest focus includes gaining knowledge in development of housing typologies around the world, space psychology and conspiracies in architecture.