Careers Bulletin – 27th November 2023

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Think you have the skills to work in Architecture and Design?

For individuals considering a career in architecture or getting an architecture degree,
the options are diverse in this burgeoning industry. With no signs of stopping, those
who wish to pursue a future in the architecture and design fields can expect a re-
warding career path that blends a great deal of responsibility with an opportunity to
innovate interior and exterior landscapes across the globe. Depending on your areas
of expertise, level of education whether you have a bachelor’s degree, and practical
experience, your earning potential and ability for advancement as architecture gradu-
ates can increase exponentially.
The most successful architecture major candidates in this area will possess a com-
prehensive amalgam of skill sets, including analytical, mathematical, creative, or-
ganizational, visual, technical, and communicative capabilities. Because you’ll be re-
sponsible for designing the overall look and aesthetic of a residential or corporate
structure, you must have the ability to create buildings and designs that are both er-
gonomic and attractive, as well as complementary to the existing surrounding archi-
tecture, particularly in instances of urban design development.
Blending form with function is only the beginning – an architect must also have the
ability to grasp certain core elements, such as the engineering principles and analyti-
cal mindset needed to comprehend the content of blueprints and the context in
which they were fabricated.
Additionally, having a keen sense of spatial relations is necessary in order to concep-
tualise and mastermind the working parts and how those structures will relate to each
other, as well as the ability to visualise the completed structure at the onset of each
project. Architects must have a broad knowledge of technical aptitude, including
CADD technology and other software applications to create plans and blueprints re-
quired in the building information modelling (BIM) process.
Having a thorough understanding of the locations of mechanical systems and how
those systems will affect building operations is only a fraction of the work entailed in
this fast-paced industry. An ability to stay on-budget and work within the parameters
of your firm or client’s budgetary restrictions is essential. Therefore, staying organ-
ised and keeping detailed records (including project costs, materials utilized, and
tracking progress) is of utmost importance, since your work will most likely require
the management of contracts as you progress in your career.
Finally, due to the collaborative nature of the work entailed, excellent communication
skills will get you far in your career – with responsibilities that include oral presenta-
tions and shared ideas between clients, other architects, design teams and other pro-
fessionals, having the ability to clearly express yourself is crucial to your career devel-
opment and success.
What Does an Architect Do?
Places are essential for people to live, work, play, learn, shop, and eat. Architects are
responsible for designing both indoor and outdoor spaces for either public or private
projects. They have the opportunity to be commissioned to design anything as small
as a single room to as big as an entire complex or buildings.
Architects discuss the objectives, requirements, and budget of a project or multiple
projects with a client before developing the final construction plans. In certain cases
architects may provide an assortment of pre-design services. This can include feasi-
bility and environmental impact studies, site selection, cost analyses, and architec-
tural design requirements.
Architects will then develop the final construction plans after discussing and agree to
the initial proposal with the client. The plans will include the structural system – any-
thing from the air-conditioning system to communication systems. It is possible
for landscape design plans to be included in these plans as well. Architects must fol-
low state and local building codes, zoning laws, and other ordinances while developing
the final construction plan.
An architecture degree gives you visual, planning and technical skills meaning you'll be
set up for a creative, design-based career.
What Can You Do With an Architecture Degree?
If you study an architecture degree, you’ll develop a range of very desirable creative,
visual, practical and design-based skills to offer employers. Although most architec-
ture graduates will be looking to becoming chartered architects to practice profes-
sionally, there are plenty of other options for you to consider.
Read on for a look at a variety of possible architecture careers, and how to increase
your employability in these roles.
Architect
Starting off with the most obvious architecture career, a role as a fully qualified archi-
tect is likely to be challenging, fascinating and inspirational – putting you at the fore-
front of new technology to improve people’s lives while exercising your creativity. As
an architect, you’ll work closely with clients and users to design new buildings or com-
plete extensions or alterations to existing ones, ensuring that they are safe, cost-
effective and functional.
Architecture careers are more diverse than you might think, including:
Building architecture – designing
new buildings, or adapting existing
ones.
Landscape architecture – planning,
designing and managing open spac-
es, including both natural and urban
areas.
Naval architecture – the architecture
of ships and marine vessels.
Typical responsibilities of architects include supervising the construction process,
resolving any planning issues, managing the environmental impact of projects, con-
sulting other design professionals and sticking to financial budgets.
To become an architect, you’ll typically need to have completed a degree accredited
by a statutory body such as the UK’s Architects Registration Board (ARB) if studying in
the UK. Having prior experience in an architectural, design or construction environ-
ment is very useful and desirable to employers, and you should try to keep up to date
with the latest trends in architecture and design. You should also try and make con-
tacts in the industry, which can be gained from work experience, university depart-
ments or by joining a professional body in architecture.
Architectural technologist
Also referred to as architectural technicians,
in this architecture career you’ll use your sci-
ence and engineering skills and knowledge
to create tough, resilient and sustainable
constructions and refurbishments. Using
both computer-aided design (CAD) and tradi-
tional drawing techniques, you’ll prepare and
present design proposals and advise clients
on technical matters. Again, work experience is extremely useful when applying for
jobs in this area, and will enable you to build your understanding of how architecture
projects are handled.
Interior and spatial designer
Interior and spatial designers design or reno-
vate internal spaces, fixtures and fittings, us-
ing their architectural, creative design and pro-
ject management skills to ensure that spaces
are both attractive and efficient (although
some designers will focus exclusively on the
appearance rather than the structure of interi-
or spaces). You might work in a variety of com-
mercial, domestic or leisure settings, in every case understanding the needs of your
client while obtaining materials and products and keeping to budgets.
Building surveyor
Concerned with conserving, modifying,
fixing, renovating and restoring existing
buildings, a role as a building surveyor
would suit you if you enjoy problem
solving and have a strong interest in the
design and construction of buildings.
Building surveyors are also often in-
volved with taking precautionary
measures to keep buildings in good
condition, as well as to make them more sustainable. Again, pre-entry work experi-
ence is highly recommended, giving you insight into how ideas are adapted in the real
world, and perhaps even leading to paid jobs through the contacts you’d make.
Town planner
Graduates with an interest in develop-
ment, regeneration and sustainability
might be interested in a career as a town
planner, in which you’ll manage and de-
velop the countryside, towns, cities and
villages. Working on behalf of everyone in
the area and alongside other profession-
als such as architects, you will aim to bal-
ance the conflicting needs of the local environment, population and economy and
think of innovative, sustainable solutions for developments. To become a town plan-
ner, you’ll need strong multitasking skills, commercial awareness, attention to detail,
and be confident in listening to and negotiating with a diverse range of people.
Production designer
Continuing our look at what you can you with
an architecture degree, a role as a produc-
tion designer on the set of films, television
programs and theatre shows would be ideal
for graduates with an interest in the enter-
tainment industry. As a production designer,
you’ll work closely with the producer and di-
rector and use your creative flair to develop a
complete visual outline for the production
they’re working on. Some production designers are entirely focused on theatre and
stage design, or there could be an overlap between media forms. This is not an entry-
level role, so you’ll need to work your way up, for example starting as a runner in the
film industry. You could also get involved with student theatre groups and internships.
Historic buildings inspector
Also known as conservation officers, historic
building inspectors work to promote the
conservation of the historic environment
and help to protect and enhance buildings
with historical, architectural or cultural sig-
nificance. In this role you’ll visit historic sites
to inspect and survey them, advise on the
best preservation methods, and take part in
regeneration projects to benefit the community, economy or environment. Although
 it’s not essential, a postgraduate degree can be very beneficial for increasing your
prospects in this specialist, competitive field. You’ll need to demonstrate a strong in-
terest in (and knowledge of) historic architecture and the relevant legislation in build-
ings and conservation.
Structural engineer
Like architects, structural engineers are
creative innovators, using maths and sci-
ence to plan, design and oversee struc-
tures which will withstand the pressures
of human and environmental wear and
tear. As a structural engineer you’ll work
in partnership with other engineers and
architects to design aesthetically pleas-
ing and safe structures, and will be re-
sponsible for choosing the right materials to meet design specifications. You might
also be involved in examining existing buildings to ensure that they are structurally se-
cure and up to standard. To become a chartered structural engineer, you will most
likely need a postgraduate degree, depending on the typical entry requirements in
your country.
Architecture apprenticeships
These can be another way to become an archi-
tect. They combine practical experience in an ar-
chitectural practice with academic training from
a university. A minimum of 20% of an apprentice's
contracted hours must be spent undertaking this
formal, off the job training.
There are two architecture degree apprentice-
ships routes in the UK:
• Level 6 Architectural Assistant, including
Part 1 qualification
• Level 7 Architect, including Part 2 and Part 3
qualifications

Both these degree apprenticeships are approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships
and Technical Education.
 Architecture scholarships around the world
Planning to study architecture and need some extra funding? Check out
these architecture scholarships on offer around the world, broken down by region…
Please note, these include postgraduate and undergraduate awards on offer.
United States
The American Institute of Architects – Various architec-
ture scholarships available for both undergraduates and
postgraduate students, based on academic performance.
Yale School of Architecture – Open to both US and non-
US citizens who wish to study at the Yale School of Archi-
tecture, who demonstrate financial need.
Texas A&M University College of Architecture – Various
scholarships available for current undergraduate and
graduate students in the department of architecture.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
School of Architecture – A range of international/domestic
scholarships to study architecture at the university.
University of Nebraska – Lincoln College of Architecture – A
range of architecture scholarships are available for both soon-
to-be freshmen of the university and current students.
University of Southern California School of Architecture –
Various scholarships available for students of different back-
grounds, at undergraduate & graduate level including a merit-
based scholarship ranging from 10 - 75% of tuition fees.

Canada
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Foundation Scholar-
ships – The RAIC Foundation administers a wide variety of
awards, scholarships and bursaries for students, awarded an-
nually.
UK
University of Bradford undergraduate scholarship – Interna-
tional students can benefit from a £7,500 reduction on yearly
tuition fees and domestic students can receive a cash bursary
of £2,000.
 UCL Bartlett School of Architecture scholarships – A range of
undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for architecture
students at University College London.

Germany
DAAD Scholarships for International Graduates in the Field of Ar-
chitecture – Scholarships available for undergraduate & graduate
students wishing to complete additional studies in architecture at a
German university. You need to be either a US/Canadian citizen or
have obtained your last degree in the US or Canada.

UCD Global Excellence Scholarships—There are a limited

number of 100% and 50% tuition fee Global Excellence
Scholarships available to outstanding international stu-
dents.

Australia
University of Sydney Architecture Scholarships – A range
of scholarships to study architecture at undergraduate or
postgraduate level at the University of Sydney, some of
which may only be open to domestic students.

Anywhere in the world

ACI Foundation Graduate Scholarships for International
Students –
Scholarships of US$3000-$5000 are available for gradu-
ates who wish to study an engineering, architecture or
material science postgraduate program. Applications
are accepted from anywhere in the world, but the graduate program must be recog-
nized/accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
 Podcasts
Architecture and Design Podcasts for Aspiring Architects
Want to learn about architecture firsthand from students, architects, and professors?
Check out this list of architecture and design podcasts out now that can help you
learn more about school and the profession.
Site Visit with architects and profes-
sors Ashley Bigham and Erk Herrmann
A podcast created by two architecture
professors from the Knowlton School at
the Ohio State University. The first 11 ep-
isodes take place in person with a site
visit and a discussion with an architect.
Check out their full list here.

The Second Studio with architects David

Lee and Marina Bourderonnet
The Second Studio is an explicit podcast
about design, architecture, and the everyday.
Hosted by Architects David Lee and Marina
Bourderonnet, it features different creative
professionals in unscripted and long-format
interviews with thoughtful takes and person-
al discussions. Honesty and humour are used
to cover a wide array of subjects.

Archispeak with Evan Troxel and Cormac

Phalen
What’s it really like to work in architec-
ture? The hosts of “Archispeak” know and
they’re here to share real-life experienc-
es. Since 2012, Evan Troxel and Cormac
Phalen have been podcasting their brand
of real talk on everything from design,
tools, and work/life balance to genera-
tional differences, mentoring, job hunt-
ing, and more.
Architecture Work Experience

Architecture MOOCs
Your Future Starts Here
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