Doesn’t beautiful buildings around us make us happy? Isn’t living in a sophisticated society, a personal goal for all of us? So is the goal for people who design such sophisticated structures – the Architects.

Architecture, as a career, is all about planning and executing the process of designing and constructing buildings and structures. Architects therefore:

A career in Architecture blends creativity, technical skill, and problem-solving to design functional, aesthetic spaces. Architects plan buildings, consider safety and sustainability, collaborate with clients and engineers, and shape environments that improve living, working, and community experiences.– A career in Architecture

Architects also need to make these projects safe and economical. A career in Architecture isn’t only about designing and constructing buildings and structures but of course is a lot more. It takes into account the historical and cultural diversity which often is a symbol of a country’s cultural symbols. India, being so diverse in terms of topography and climatic conditions, designing any physical structure requires knowledge as well as an understanding which Architecture as a career stream takes care of.

Eligibility Criteria

Students wanting to pursue Architecture as a career are required to hold a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate at 10+2 level or equivalent with Mathematics as one of the subjects at 10+2 level. In case of diploma, 10+3 years Diploma in any stream with 50% marks in aggregate recognized by Central/State government. Apart from this, students should have a valid (NATA) score obtained in National Aptitude Test in Architecture conducted by Council of Architecture.

Skills Required

A few basic skills may be required if one opts for a career in the field of Architecture which would help in creating a strong foundation for the students. These are enlisted below:

The course program which is spread over a period of 5 years shall majorly comprise of the following subjects:

Career Options open for an Architect are:

Colleges/Institutions offering Architecture as part of their undergraduate program with a rating of 7 and above are:

The above mentioned also include colleges providing Masters in Architecture with a credible rating of 7 and above. The information can be found on the official websites of the respective colleges.

Entrance Examinations for Architecture:

NATA score which is National Aptitude Test in Architecture conducted by Council of Architecture is widely accepted by most of the colleges having Architecture as a part of their undergraduate program. Apart from this, JEE Main which is an entrance examination for admissions in engineering colleges is also accepted by some of the colleges.

Internship Prospects:

Before beginning to work as a professional, it is necessary to have a bit of work experience under the guidance of a professional as an intern or apprentice. This is necessary as well as beneficial because Architecture as a part of academics only provides a theoretical aspect. To work in today’s competitive world, one needs to have a first-hand experience of the practical side as well as of the rules and regulations of the outside world. As a result, it is mandatory for students to work as interns before the conclusion of the program. Working as an intern not only gives an exposure to the student, it also helps them understand their abilities and weakness. This helps them in the journey of their employment because a company would rather prefer a candidate with some experience rather than fresher with no experience. Websites such as Internshala.com, Letsintern.com, Internships.com are some of the sources from where students can seek internships opportunities.

Further Studies in Architecture:

A lot of students who pursue Architecture opt for higher studies in the area. The options available for students are as follows:

Emerging Trends

Architecture these days isn’t only about building, structures or offices. The emerging trends involve new areas such as Interior architecture, Landscape architecture, Naval architecture, Software architecture and System architecture. Interior Architecture deals with designing of a space created by structures and it’s interaction with humans. Landscape Architecture talks about designing of public parks, landmarks, etc. to achieve aesthetic outcomes. Software and System architecture deals with designing of the software systems or for that matter only systems that define structures, behaviours and interaction. Naval architecture, on the other hand, deals with design, development and evaluation of marine vessels and structures. With such new emerging trends, Architecture is a very lucrative career option.

Thus, on a concluding note, Architecture is a very lucrative career option as the need and demand for a sophisticated living would never go out of trend and with developments in technologies and need for sustainable development, the optimal answer can only be found out by an Architect!