Bachelor of Architectural Design

3 years full-time

Learning and teaching

RMIT offers a variety of learning and teaching approaches including lectures, seminars, studios, workshops, presentations, group discussions and syndicate work. These are primarily in English.

You will have access to the Learning Hub and other online and digital resources through the myRMIT student portal.

Ongoing assessment throughout the semester includes examinations, essays, reports, oral classes, presentations, group projects, research projects, laboratory projects and practical assignments.

Program structure

Design studio typically makes up half the program each semester and is taught in small groups. You will focus on a particular project and theme each semester. After the first semester, you will be able to select which design studio you wish to follow from approximately 20 on offer.

Supporting courses such as technology, communication and history comprise the remainder of your program and give you an understanding of the social and physical contexts of the built environment, as well as teaching you drawing skills.

You will complete a design studio each semester during the course of your studies.

In your first semester, you will complete a structured, foundational design and communications course. Subsequent semesters include four lower pool design studios. In the final semester of study, you will move into upper pool and complete an upper pool design studio working with Master of Architecture students. Study in the master degree consists of three additional upper pool design studios and supporting courses such as professional practice and general elective courses.

Lower and upper pool studios are vertically integrated, i.e. grouped with students from various year levels.

The following program structure(s) is an example of what students are currently studying in this program.

RMIT architecture is well known for its strong, long standing links with industry. You will have the option of selecting from numerous design studios each semester that are run by leading practitioners.

In the design studio context you will also have the opportunity to work on real world projects with local and international community and industry partners. In addition there are often many guest lectures by leading local and international architects.

Graduates will be employed by architecture, design and building practices in the private and public domain.

In small to medium-sized practices, graduates will be engaged in a broad range of practice activities, from design to project management. Large architectural firms often encompass a number of disciplines and have offices or projects occurring overseas.

Professional recognition and accreditation

Graduates may be employed in an architectural practice or a related design field, but in order to be professionally recognised as an architect graduates are required to complete the Master of Architecture. Completion of the Master of Architecture will allow you, following two years professional experience, to sit the Architects Registration Board examination and register as an architect in Australia.

Architecture has a huge range of international exchange agreements with universities in the USA, Europe and Asia. You will also have the opportunity to choose design studios that travel overseas to work with students from international universities.

One such recent collaborative design studio, run with the University of Innsbruck in Austria, was called Matchpoint, Innsbruck. The studio had a four week residency in Innsbruck with a focus on sport, leisure and urbanism in the contemporary city.

Other recent design studios have included collaborations with students in Berlin, Germany and architecture practices in Shanghai, China.

You must meet the University entry requirements for this type of program.

Program entry requirements

Successful completion of an Australian Year 12 or equivalent senior secondary school studies, or RMIT Foundation Studies program, or a recognised post secondary diploma or certificate in a relevant discipline. Applicants with post secondary work experience in this field will also be considered.

Prerequisites

Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 30 in English (ESL) or at least 25 in any other English.

Selection tasks

Semester 1

Pre-selection kit: Applicants must obtain a 2013 RMIT University Architecture pre-selection kit available at Open Day or online. Applicants must submit a completed kit prior to 5.00 pm, 16 November. Applicants must note that late submissions will not be considered.

Applicants who have completed at least one year of tertiary study in architecture, interior design, industrial design, or landscape architecture or completed an Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) or Diploma of Drafting/Building Design will be considered Advanced Level Applicants.

Advanced Level applicants are not required to submit a pre-selection kit but instead must submit a folio, CV, academic transcript and letter outlining their reason for applying prior to 5.00 pm, 19 October to the Selection Officer, RMIT Architecture, School of Architecture and Design, RMIT University. Applicants unsure if they are Advanced Level should contact the Selection Officer via email to bp250selection@rmit.edu.au prior to 5.00 pm, 12 October to confirm.

Applicants must include their full name and VTAC application number in all documentation and correspondence.

Interview (short-listed applicants only): Short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview during an allotted time between 5 and 7 December. Details of interview date and time will be provided to short-listed applicants only in writing by 30 November.

Semester 2

Midyear entry is for advanced standing applicants only. This means you must have completed at least one year of undergraduate study in architecture, interior design, industrial design, or landscape architecture, or a related design discipline, or completed an Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) or Diploma of Drafting/Building Design to allow you to enter into Semester 2.

Advanced level: In addition to the RMIT direct application, you must submit the following in hard copy:

• folio (see folio requirements below)
• academic transcript - a transcript of your academic results from previous or current studies.
• A letter explaining your motivation for applying for this Program of study

These are to be mailed to the Bachelor of Architectural Design program, School of Architecture and Design, RMIT University, PO Box 2476, Melbourne VIC 3001 by 5pm, 31 May 2013.

Short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview. If you have questions in regard to advanced standing or folio requirements, please email the Architecture Administration at bp250selection@rmit.edu.au

Folio requirements: It is important to demonstrate in your folio how you have engaged in the creative process and how these efforts respond to the constraints and issues inherent in the project. The folio will demonstrate your development of creative ideas in a logical sequence.

You are also encouraged to include photographs of 3D models and mock-ups and to ensure that all electronic materials are in print form. Due to time constraints, no folios will be viewed in electronic format, only hard copy folios will be considered.

Other folio requirements:

• The folio should be organised and clearly presented.
• The folio dimensions should be minimum size A4, maximum size A3.
• Projects can include work from previous study, as well as personal or work-related design project experience. Include any projects that demonstrate your potential to follow a design process. Projects that demonstrate an ability to realise a 3D outcome are encouraged. Consideration of sustainability and appreciation of the needs of the user are also relevant.
• Include between 3 and 5 projects in your folio.
• Each project may have up to 4 pages dedicated to it (no more than 20 pages for the entire folio). Project description pages will need to include:
• A brief description of the project intent
• Some developmental work (drawings, models, renderings, sketches etc)
• A series of images of the final outcome.

1. Check program entry requirements and confirm you're eligible.

2. Check and complete the selection tasks (if applicable) by the relevant closing date - these tasks are listed in the program entry requirements.

3. Check the table below for how to apply.

4. Apply using the appropriate method by the closing date.

Application method

Equity access

If circumstances have interrupted or disadvantaged your access to education, RMIT offers equity access schemes that allow selection officers to give applicants extra consideration, which may improve your prospects of studying at RMIT.

Tuition fees vary according to program and are adjusted annually.

In a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) your tuition fee is shared between you and the Commonwealth Government - if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Fee assistance

As a Commonwealth supported student, you may be able to either:

• pay all or part of your student contribution up front and receive a 10% discount, or
• defer your tuition fees through the HECS-HELP loan scheme.

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds. Learn more about RMIT Scholarships.

Other fees

In addition to tuition fees you will also pay the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF). You may be able to defer the fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme.

There may be other additional expenses and administrative fees associated with your studies.

Graduates of the Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) may be eligible to apply for exemptions of up to one-and-a-half years (three semesters).

A grade point average (GPA) of 4 (80-100/HD) or greater achieved in final year will guarantee a place in the Bachelor of Architectural Design, while those students with a GPA of less than 4 will be granted an interview.

The Bachelor of Architectural Design provides a pathway into the Master of Architecture, and is also portable into professional programs in architecture with a similar structure agreement.

A grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or greater will guarantee a place in the Master of Architecture, while those students with a GPA of less than 2.5 may apply for a place.

Learn more about pathways or if you are eligible for credit transfer and recognition of prior learning

Architecture & Design

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