Architecture Degrees Online

This course is offered full time over one year or part-time over two or three years. Students interested in working as a drafter, CAD operator or building designer should consider undertaking this course.

It is offered internally at the Casuarina Campus of CDU. There are no external units, full time students would be expected to attend classes four days per week. This allows for part time employment in the industry, which is highly recommended. Suitable part time options are also available. Part time students would be expected to complete the course within four years.

Career Opportunities
There is currently a nation-wide shortage of suitably qualified drafters, CAD operators and building designers. Graduates can expect to readily gain employment, either full time, part time, casual, sub-contract or self employed. It is possible to work from home or a remote office. Graduates may find employment with a drafting office, an architect, a builder or manufacturer, and their position and remuneration will depend on their interset, expertise and experience. Students who continue their studies and complete the Diploma of Building Design and Technology will work on larger projects, have more responsibility, less supervision, and will receive greater remuneration.

Entry Requirements
All candidates wishing to sit for the professional practice examination are required to have successfully completed the School’s examinations at degree and diploma level in Architecture (or their equivalent), which give exemption from Parts I and II respectively of RIBA’s own examination.

In addition, and in accordance with RIBA’s practical training requirements, all candidates are required to have completed a minimum of 24 months full-time professional practice experience and development before being permitted to sit for the final examination.

By studying at a Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) accredited Centre of Excellence, this popular programme will give you the tools to create realistic and achievable building designs responding to the needs of clients and users alike.

You will benefit from:
CIAT accreditation.
CIOB Accreditation.
Association of Building Engineers (ABE) accreditation.
Opportunity to move between related course areas during Level 4.
Ability to switch between part-time and full-time study at suitable points.
Partnerships with industry providing work experience and job opportunities.

Professional Recognition And Further Study Opportunities

The course is recognised by ARB and RIBA for exemption from the Part II Examination for those who have passed, or been exempted from, RIBA Part I. Students without RIBA Part 1 exemption are not eligible for the course, but may be eligible for the MA Architectural Studies programme which is specifically designed for students in this situation.

Attendance
The course lasts for two years in full-time mode (excluding the Diploma 1 year out) and is three years in part-time mode. The part-time mode requires all students to be employed in a suitable design practice, and this experience supplements for attendance, thus resulting in an attendance pattern of one full day per week. Consistent weekly attendance is mandatory in this mode. For full-time students, two formal days of studio teaching are provided along with a third day, in which students visit local architectural practices for tuition.

Entry Requirements
Normally students are expected to have a first or second class degree in Architecture along with RIBA Part 1 exemption. Evidence of satisfactory completion of at least nine months of practical training is normally required for acceptance on the full-time course or, exceptionally, evidence of considerable previous experience in the industry. In the part-time mode practical training experience may be counted during the first year of attendance depending on their employment.

Applications and visits
You are welcome to visit the School and discuss the relevance of the course to your own situation with the course director. After application you will be invited to an interview at which a portfolio of your work should demonstrate design invention, maturity and breadth of thinking.

Overseas applicants are asked to send examples of their work suitably reduced in scale, with an appropriate description to the International Office. Applications will not be considered without such examples of work.

2008–2009 Tuition and Fees

Item - Cost
Tuition (per semester) 12,361
Room and Board (per semester) $4,516
Technology Fee (per semester) $306
University Health Services (use of Clinic and Infirmary) $212
Student Activity Fee (per semester) $153
Medical Insurance (full-time students only, estimated cost) $945
Uniform (Corps students only, per semester) $775
Security Deposit (freshmen only, refundable upon graduation) $200

In 2009, most of Northumbria’s full-time undergraduate courses will cost £3,225 per year. However, if you unable to pay the full fee upfront, you can take out a non-means tested student loan for fees and defer the loan re-payment until you graduate, which means you don’t have to commence loan re-payment instalments until you’re earning an annual salary of over £15,000.

You don’t have to worry if you have to stop working, or your salary drops below £15,000. A student loan is different to a bank loan, although it attracts interest, the interest rate is based on inflation, so the amount you repay will be broadly the same in real terms as the amount you borrowed.

Repayments are made at 9% of any amount that is earned above the threshold of £15,000. For example, on an annual salary of £17,000 the repayments would be £15.00 per month and those on a salary of £20,000 would repay £37.50. This is taken from your salary like tax and National Insurance.

There is also graduate choice over loan repayments. Students will have the option once they complete their degree to take a repayment break of 1-5 years when they face significant outlay, i.e. buying a house, etc.

Loans are cancelled after 25 years.

Loans are different to Northumbria Scholarships as the scholarship award is a fixed amount depending on the course you study which does not have to be repaid and can be used for any purpose.

Entrance Requirements

Normally a Master’s degree in an appropriate discipline or an international equivalent. Candidates with no research experience will be asked to register in the first instance for an MPhil. Applicants whose first language is not English require IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 90 (Internet-based) or 577 (paper-based) or equivalent. Applicants whose IELTS score is between 6.0 and 6.5, or equivalent, at the time of application must complete a pre-sessional course at the University before the programme begins.

INTO Newcastle University can provide extra tuition to help you meet our English language requirements.

Typical Funding

UK/EU students - ESRC; private sector financing. International students – own government; University scholarships.

See also: Funding and Finance.

Fees
Fees per academic year 2009-10
UK/EU: full time £4,195 part time £2,100
International: full time £10,215 part time fees
Please refer to our Tuition Fees section for information about changes to fees and fee discounts.

The School of Architecture and Design also enjoys an international reputation for its summer abroad programs. Under the direction of one or more full-time faculty members, as many as three diverse programs are offered during the summer, depending upon interested students, and faculty availability. NYIT has offered programs in China, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Greece, and Turkey, where students and faculty come in contact with foreign students and architects while living in another culture, enabling them to understand first-hand the range, diversity, and power of living architecture as individual buildings or as entire cities and spaces. Summer study abroad course credit can be applied to a student’s specific curriculum and field of study. The summer programs are open to students enrolled in any degree program offered by the School of Architecture and Design.

Candidates for the Degree of Master of Architectural Science must obtain the permission of the Faculty before entering on the course.

A candidate who is a holder of the Degree of Bachelor of Architecture or an equivalent qualification in Architecture, or a degree in a related discipline shall be eligible to obtain the Degree of Master of Architectural Science by Mode I or Mode II on the following conditions:

Mode I
must attend a full-time postgraduate course in the University for at least three terms after obtaining the primary degree;
must present a dissertation prepared during such course; and
must pass an examination on the subject matter of the dissertation if the examiners so decide.

Mode II
must attend a full-time postgraduate course for at least three terms after obtaining the primary degree;
must pass an examination on the course; and
may be required to submit an essay or dissertation as part of the qualifications for the Master’s Degree.
University Regulations
Candidates for the Degree of MArchSc must have obtained Honours in the BArch Degree Examination. Graduates in Architecture who are not graduates of this University may be accepted subject to such examinations or tests as the Faculty may decide.
Candidates must have the permission of the Faculty to enter a course for the MArchSc Degree.
Candidates will not be permitted to attend courses for any University degree or diploma whilst in attendance for the MArchSc Degree.
A Pass graduate who desires to take a course for the Degree of Master of Architectural Science should in the first instance apply to the Head of the School of Architecture who may recommend that the graduate be permitted to take as a test, a subject, to be decided by the Faculty, in which he/she must attain Honours marks; this examination to be taken not less than one year after the degree examination. The application of such a candidate may be submitted then to the Faculty.