Architecture Schools and Programs in Australia

Architecture Studies in Australia

University of Sydney

Architecture students learn to design buildings and spaces: design studio, drawing and digital modelling, construction and materials, environmental performance, history and theory, and professional practice. In Australia, architect is a protected title. Becoming a registered architect takes an accredited university qualification, practical experience and a professional examination, so it pays to understand the route before choosing a degree. Teaching is in English.

SpainExchange lists five schools in Australia that teach architecture: the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Griffith University on the Gold Coast, the University of Melbourne and Adelaide University in South Australia.

How architecture degrees are organised in Australia

Australian degrees sit within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), which has 10 levels. At universities such as UNSW and Adelaide University, architecture follows a "3 + 2" model: a 3-year undergraduate degree in architectural studies or design, followed by a 2-year Master of Architecture, which is the step towards registration.

• UNSW: the Bachelor of Architectural Studies takes 3 years (144 units of credit) on the Kensington campus and leads into the university's professionally accredited Master of Architecture, which takes 2 years (96 units of credit)
• Adelaide University: the Bachelor of Architectural Design takes 3 years full time at the Adelaide City Campus, and the Master of Architecture 2 years, with intakes in February and July

Entry to a Master of Architecture normally requires an accredited undergraduate degree in architecture. UNSW asks for a nationally accredited undergraduate architecture degree with a credit average (65 WAM). Adelaide University accepts a 3-year pre-professional architecture programme or equivalent; applicants with a bachelor's in architecture from a university outside Australia may be considered and must submit a portfolio.

Admission and language

Undergraduate applicants need an Australian Year 12 certificate or an equivalent, and admission is competitive. UNSW gives a 2026 lowest selection rank of 92.0 and an IB Diploma score of 36.0 for its Bachelor of Architectural Studies. Adelaide University publishes minimum scores by country, for example an IB score of 25 or a French baccalauréat of 11.0. Students who do not meet the academic level for direct entry can take a foundation course, usually one year long.

Courses are taught in English. Adelaide University asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6 in each band for both its architecture degrees. Part-time study is not available to international students there.

Costs and visa

For 2026, UNSW lists an indicative first-year fee for international students of $52,000 for the Bachelor of Architectural Studies and $48,500 for the Master of Architecture; these figures cover tuition only. Adelaide University lists indicative annual fees of $50,500 for both its bachelor's and master's in architecture. International students need a Student visa (subclass 500); from 1 July 2026 the application fee is from AUD$2,500. Student visa holders may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session.

Registration and careers

In New South Wales, for example, only people on the NSW Register of Architects may call themselves architects. Architects must hold professional qualifications, complete practical experience and pass the Architectural Practice Examination (APE), set by the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA). Candidates must log at least 3,300 hours (about 2 years) of experience, usually under an architect's supervision, including at least 12 months after completing their accredited qualification. They then apply to the registration board of the state or territory where they want to practise.

Graduates who studied architecture abroad can have their qualification assessed through the AACA Overseas Qualifications Assessment, which determines whether it is comparable to an Australian accredited qualification. According to UNSW, a Master of Architecture completed in Australia also gives a pathway to registration in countries such as Canada, Japan, Singapore, the UK and the USA. Graduates with an Australian bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) to stay and work in Australia after their studies.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study architecture in Australia?

Usually 5 years: a 3-year bachelor's degree followed by a 2-year Master of Architecture, as at UNSW and Adelaide University. Registration as an architect also requires about 2 years of practical experience and the Architectural Practice Examination.

Can I become a registered architect with only a bachelor's degree?

Not directly. At UNSW the bachelor's leads into the professionally accredited Master of Architecture, and registration requires an accredited qualification (or an alternative pathway approved by the AACA), practical experience and the APE.

What English level do I need to study architecture in Australia?

Each university sets its own requirement. Adelaide University asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6 in each band.

Is a foreign architecture degree recognised in Australia?

It can be assessed through the AACA Overseas Qualifications Assessment. If it is found comparable, the holder may sit the Architectural Practice Examination before registering with a state or territory board.