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University of South Australia (UNISA)

Adelaide , South Australia ,Australia

Bachelor of Architectural Studies

Study at an institution that has its degrees ranked in the World Top 150 for Architecture and the Built Environment1.
UniSA has a 5 star rating for student skills development in Architecture and the Built Environment2.
Study with SA's No.1 University for graduate careers in Architecture and Built Environment3.
Be taught by world-class leaders in research – UniSA's research in design is ranked world class4.
Learn in award-winning, purpose-designed facilities, including dedicated design studios and workshops.
Engage in real-life projects through our award-winning student Design and Construct learning experience, the longest running and largest practice-based teaching program of its type in Australia.
Develop traditional and digital technologies for prototyping and construction of complete buildings.
Benefit from our strong relationships with local, national and international industry.
Study in a contemporary and dynamic setting with students from the related fields of contemporary art, design and planning.
UniSA is home to Australia’s only architecture museum filled with over 200,000 items, including records, drawing and photographs.

As well as the opportunity to gain practical experience, you will gain the skills needed to design buildings that range in scale and complexity. You will also develop:

research and methodological skills to integrate theoretical, behavioural, environmental and ethical issues within architectural practice
an understanding of the social and political context of architecture
verbal, written and graphic communication skills, including traditional drawing methods and computer-based representation skills and knowledge
cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge in contemporary design culture

Campus Information

Adelaide- City West

On the edge of Adelaide’s central business district, City West houses studies in business, law, art, architecture, design, Indigenous cultures and Australian society.

Intakes

  • Feb
  • July

Application Processing Time in Days: 15

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Teaching and Research

UniSA has an excellent reputation in teaching and learning and an enviable record of achievement in graduate employability. Our teaching focuses around preparing students to be work-ready through relevant and industry-informed curricula. UniSA ensures its teachers motivate, challenge and stimulate students’ learning, with our research activity informing our teaching across our broad discipline profile.

Teaching and learning excellence are at the centre point of our promotion criteria, performance management practices, and approaches to rewards and recognition for our academic staff.

Research at UniSA is inspired by challenges and opportunities, partnered with industry and communities, and underpinned by excellence. Our academics engage in interdisciplinary teams to translate their research into meaningful outcomes. Contributing to a research environment that is vibrant, responsive and outward-facing are the University’s research themes. The themes link our research strengths and address local and global socio-economic needs:

  • An age friendly world
  • Transforming industries
  • Scarce resources
  • Cancer
  • Healthy futures
  • Transforming societies

Our flagship institutes and strategic alliances include the Future Industries Institute, Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, Sansom Institute for Health Research and the Centre for Cancer Biology. Further information about our enterprising research and research centres and concentrations can be found at our Research page.

Industry Connections

Real solutions don’t happen without great partnerships. We have partnered with local icons and international heavyweights to drive the advancements behind a better society. Across the University, we seek to match our research capability and strengths with the opportunities, challenges and needs of our partners, and maximise the mutual benefits of engagement.

With a growing presence on Adelaide’s cultural calendar and as a partner across arts, culture and sporting events, we’re acting on a social mission to enrich our society. Our campus spaces stimulate and foster creativity and innovation, support new models of learning, support our enterprise researchers and connect with the community.

Professional staff

As a professional staff member you get exposure to the research and teaching at UniSA, and work closely with leading academics who through research and teaching, are shaping the professionals of the future.

Professional staff support both staff and students, and this ranges from career advice services to students, finance, HR, marketing, facilities and management, research support – all of these areas are critical to supporting the day-to-day operations of departments and the university as a whole. There are numerous benefits and opportunities for personal development at UniSA.

Architects are creative, accurate and problem solvers by nature. They immerse themselves in new technologies and materials, and push the boundaries.  A career in architecture is rewarding – you get the opportunity to shape, and even transform, the built environment around you.

Careers to consider:

architects: combine creative design with technical knowledge to create sustainable solutions for the built environment
heritage consultation: develop sustainable practices in design to protect and maintain heritage sites
project manager: involves initiating, planning, executing and controlling a team and their outcomes
This degree does not lead to registration as an architect – to achieve registration you must complete a two-year Master of Architecture degree following successful completion of the Bachelor of Architectural Studies.

PSW Opportunity

Bachelor Degree or Masters by Coursework Degree - 2 years - 3 years (Adelaide)

Masters by Research - 3 years - 4 years (Adelaide)

PhD qualification - 4 years - 5 years (Adelaide)

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

Recent secondary education

  • Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
    AND
  • Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
  • Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE,
    or
  • Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points

Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.

OR
Higher education study

  • Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
  • Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above
    OR

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

  • Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma level or above
    OR

Work and life experience

  • Qualify for Special Entry, or
  • Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
  • Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past