Bachelor of Arts (Architecture)

The Bachelor of Arts (Architecture) at the University of Notre Dame Australia is a three-year degree that introduces you to how buildings get designed, documented and built. You study architectural history and theory, drawing and representation, materials and construction, and the environmental factors that shape a site. Studio units sit at the centre of the degree, where you work on design projects and present them for critique. You also learn the digital tools architects use, including CAD and modelling software.

How the degree is structured

As an Australian bachelor degree, it runs for three years of full-time study and sits at Level 7 of the Australian Qualifications Framework. The academic year is split into semesters, and you enrol in units of study that carry credit points. You need to pass a set number of credit points to graduate, usually 24 units across the three years, with core architecture units plus electives you can choose from other areas of the university. Assessment is a mix of studio projects, essays, exams and presentations. Notre Dame is known for its small classes and its mentoring style, so studio feedback tends to be direct and personal.

Skills you build

You finish with a portfolio of design work and the ability to read a site, sketch an idea, develop it in drawings and models, and explain it to a client or a review panel. You learn to research a brief, apply building regulations in principle, and work with the technical language of construction. Group projects build the collaboration skills that architectural practice relies on, since architects work alongside engineers, planners, builders and clients.

Who it suits

This degree suits school leavers and career changers who are curious about the built environment and want a broad arts-based start rather than a technical drafting course. If you enjoy drawing, making, writing and arguing about how cities and buildings should work, it is a good fit. Note that in Australia, becoming a registered architect normally requires an accredited master's degree after the bachelor, plus supervised practical experience and the Architectural Practice Examination. This bachelor degree is a stepping stone, not the final qualification. Confirm the current structure, unit lists and credit points on the official university page.

• Architectural assistant or draftsperson in architecture and design practices
• Graduate roles in urban planning, heritage or building surveying teams
• Project support in construction, property development or facilities management
• Design and documentation work for interior and landscape practices
• Local government planning and building departments
• Further study: accredited master's degree in architecture, leading to registration

Australian employers in these fields include private architecture firms, engineering and construction companies, developers, and state and local government. Graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, and international students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying. Check current visa rules with the Department of Home Affairs.