”Architecture is about trying to make world a little more like our dreams”- BjarkeIngels

Architecture, doctor and lawyer are only 3 professions labelled as professional courses in India.  All 3 courses require utmost dedication, passion, constant innovation and lot of learning and unlearning too!

Being an architect, imagination is the key. Imagining, putting across your ideas, creative visualizations, penning them down, converting them into sketches which would be build able takes a lot of courage. The satisfaction of seeing the design getting built gives utmost satisfaction.

Thus, the first step towards becoming an architect is learning to dream, visualize, sketch, doodle, draw, and let the imagination run wild.  Secondly, securing a good score in 12th standard is equally important. Minimum qualification to be able to appear for architectural entrance exams is (min. 50% in 12th standard with science field).

Technically, there are 3 ways in which you can enroll for architecture in India.

1. Appearing for an exam called NATA (National Aptitude Test for Architecture): Almost every architecture aspirant appears for NATA as it is admission criteria for most of the architecture institutes in India. Every state modifies the NATA score in its own way for common admission.
   Total Marks: 200 ( Maths 40 + Aptitude 80 + Drawing 80)
2. Appearing for JEE Main Paper I – JEE Advanced – AAT: Students aspiring for IITs generally attempt JEE paper I. The candidate has to appear for JEE Main Paper I. Admission is purely based on JEE Advanced All India Rank.

AAT (Architecture Aptitude test) is only a qualifying examination. Admission is not based on AAT as marks secured or Rank is not revealed. Post-qualifying, one can proceed to counseling with JEE Advanced rank.

IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee are the only institutes (a total of 70 seats) which admit their students through these exams.

3. Appearing for JEE Paper II: Students aspiring for Spas (School of Planning and Architecture) and NITs (National Institute of Technology) and other colleges appear for JEE Paper II.

AIR is revealed and admission is based on the same.
Total Marks : 390 (Maths 120 + Aptitude 200 + Drawing 70)

Duration, of course, is 5 years. Exposure to various subjects like history, geography, design, structures, and numerous study tours, the vision/ perception of viewing the world completely changes.   During the tenure, of course, one has to undergo training. Working in an architect’s office as a trainee helps one understand the actual world closely and in detail.

After 5 years of struggle and enjoyment, one graduates as an architect.  Merely completing the architecture course, doesn’t make one an architect. COA- Council of Architecture, is the governing body for architecture in India. Thus, registering with the COA is of utmost importance to be able to practice.

Once the required exams are cleared, and registration with COA is done, then one can practice as a licensed architect, thus taking the final step towards actual world of practice.