Architecture Schools and Programs in Botswana

Architecture Studies in Botswana

The University of Botswana

Architecture in Botswana is taught at the University of Botswana (UB) in Gaborone, the one school SpainExchange lists for this subject in the country. Its Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) is a professional degree taught in English, set out over five levels of study (ten semesters), and it sits alongside degrees in urban and regional planning and in real estate.

The title of architect is protected in Botswana. Anyone who wants to practise has to register with the Architects' Registration Council (ARC), so the length and content of the degree matter for what a graduate can do afterwards.

How the BArch at the University of Botswana is organised

The programme runs from Level 100 to Level 500, with two semesters at each level. Design is the core of every semester: Design and Communication in the first year, Architectural Design I to VI from the second to the fourth year, and two Design Project courses in the final year. Around this core students take:

• Building materials and construction, building services and building systems
• Theory of structures, design mathematics and physics
• History of art and architecture, including a course on traditional African architecture
• Environment and comfort, and energy efficiency in buildings
• Computer-aided drafting, interior design and landscape design
• Construction law, professional practice, building economics and project management

Three internships are scheduled in the winter sessions after the fourth, sixth and eighth semesters. The university notes that a course may consist entirely of fieldwork, project work, practical work, design and seminars, and that assignments can fall in vacation periods.

Admission and language

Entry to Level 100 requires at least Grade D in English Language, Grade C in Mathematics, Grade C in Physics (or BB in Science Double Award) and Grade C in Art or in Design and Technology. All applicants attend an interview with the architecture staff, and admission depends on its result; bringing a portfolio is an advantage. Applicants who miss the subject requirements may still be considered if they have assessable artistic or design experience or submit a portfolio of up to ten drawings and design exercises. Students with credits from another post-secondary institution can apply for advanced standing.

Applications are made online and are decided on academic merit, depending on the space available, so meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place. For the August 2026 intake, applications for local and international students closed on 6 August 2026. UB states that all its undergraduate programmes are accredited or registered by the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) on the National Credit and Qualifications Framework.

Students who only want a semester in Gaborone can come as exchange or free mover students. UB asks for at least two completed semesters at the home university, proficiency in English and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7, with applications by 15 July for the first semester and by 10 December for the second.

Visa and study permit

According to UB's international office, citizens of Commonwealth countries do not need an entry visa, except those of Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and nationals of a list of other countries are also exempt. Everyone else applies before travelling; the university says a visa takes 7 to 14 working days to process.

Full-degree students, and exchange students who stay longer than five months, apply for a residence (study) permit for the whole study period. The application is processed only after admission and academic registration, with the help of the international office, and includes a payment of P1,500 to the immigration office. Exchange students who stay one semester apply for a residence waiver instead. Rules change, so check the current requirements with the university and the Botswana authorities before applying.

Becoming a registered architect

The ARC was established by Act of Parliament (Cap. 61:08) to register architects, architectural technologists and architectural draftspersons and to regulate the practice of architecture. To register as an architect, a person needs:

• A professional degree in architecture with at least five years of full-time study
• A pass in the prescribed examination, the ARC Professional Examination (ARCPE), or one recognised as equivalent
• At least two years of experience after completing the degree, including work on at least two projects

Since 1 June 2016 it has been an offence to perform the work of an architect or to use the title without being registered with the council. Registered architects may take on all work without limitation, while architectural technologists and draftspersons are limited by building size. Graduates who intend to work in another country should ask that country's registration body how it treats the UB degree.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the architecture degree in Botswana?

The Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Botswana has five levels, from Level 100 to Level 500, with ten semesters in total.

Do I need a portfolio to apply?

All applicants are interviewed, and the university advises bringing a portfolio that shows an interest in visual arts or design. A portfolio of up to ten drawings can also support applicants who lack one of the required school subjects.

Do international students need a study permit in Botswana?

Yes. Full-degree students apply for a residence permit for the entire study period after they are admitted and registered at the university; the international office assists with the application.

Can I work as an architect straight after graduating?

No. Registration with the Architects' Registration Council also requires the council's professional examination and at least two years of experience after the degree.