Bachelors in Architecture

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Western Australia

Program Overview

At UWA, the Architecture extended major opens the door to a world where creativity meets real-world problem-solving. It’s designed for curious minds who love sketching, making, and shaping spaces, giving you the skills to design with purpose, understand the history and context of architecture, and prepare for postgraduate study or a career in architecture and related design fields.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
Your first year is all about seeing the world through an architect’s eyes. In Architecture Studio 1, you’ll start sketching, modelling, and tackling real design challenges, while courses like Drawing History and Early Modern Architecture show how buildings reflect culture and society over time. Techniques of Visualisation introduces you to the tools — from hand drawings to digital media — that bring your ideas to life.

Year 2
In your second year, you’ll gain confidence and fluency as a designer. Architecture Studio 2 is your creative playground, complemented by Modern Architecture, which explores key design movements, and Environmental Design, which teaches you to create spaces that are sustainable and responsive. It’s a year of balancing creativity with deeper reflection on space, material, and purpose.

Year 3
By your third year, you’re thinking like a designer ready to make meaningful contributions to communities and places. Architecture Studio 3 immerses you in projects guided by real design briefs, while History and Theories of the Built Environment sharpens your critical eye. Electives like Advanced Design Thinking or Active Matter give you the chance to explore your personal interests and expand your design style.

Focus Areas:
Design studio, architectural history, environmental and sustainable design.

Learning Outcomes:
Graduates of this program are equipped to think critically, communicate design ideas effectively, solve complex spatial problems, and confidently craft drawings, models, and prototypes.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):
This extended major sets you up for success in the Master of Architecture, UWA’s accredited professional degree, giving you the creative and technical foundation needed for a smooth transition into professional practice.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):
Studying at UWA gives your portfolio extra weight thanks to its global recognition and rankings, while the small, studio-based approach ensures you’re seen, heard, and supported as you grow into your role as a designer.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Studying Architecture at UWA isn’t about memorising facts — it’s about doing. From day one, you’ll be rolling up your sleeves in design studios, creating real drawings, building physical models, and testing prototypes that explore how buildings and places actually come to life. You won’t be doing this alone — award‑winning practising architects and researchers will guide you, helping you think like a designer: asking questions, solving problems, and experimenting with both your hands and your mind. And because UWA’s studios mirror the professional world, what you learn in class will set you up perfectly for postgraduate study or stepping straight into architectural practice.

Here’s a glimpse of the hands‑on, real-world learning you’ll experience in this program:

Design studios that let you create: You’ll conceive, develop, and present your own projects across multiple levels of study, growing your skills and confidence with every step.
The Design Hub: A collaborative space where senior student mentors support your projects and help you navigate your creative journey.
Well-equipped studios: Your creative playground for hands-on making, experimenting, and exploring ideas.
Digital fabrication tools: From 3D printers and laser cutters to CNC machines, you can turn digital ideas into tangible forms.
Computer labs with 24/7 access: All the essential software professionals use, whenever you need it.
Printmaking studio: Etching presses, spray booths, and other tools to explore materials in tactile, experimental ways.
Multimedia facilities: Communicate your designs through digital imagery, video, and presentations.
Exhibiting your work: Cullity Gallery gives you the chance to show your projects to a real audience beyond the classroom.
Global and industry engagement: Study abroad options and partnerships with architectural firms and government agencies let you see design in different contexts.
Courses that solve real problems: Learn to tackle issues like sustainable design, historical and theoretical perspectives, and design communication — all vital skills in professional practice.

If you’re someone who learns by making, testing, and engaging — with your tools, peers, teachers, and real design challenges — UWA’s Architecture program gives you everything you need to grow from a curious student into a confident, capable designer.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the Bachelor of Philosophy (Architecture) at UWA positions you to step confidently into a variety of creative and impactful roles. Many graduates pursue careers in architectural practice, urban design, architectural drafting, or even government policy, shaping the spaces and communities people live in. Here’s what this means for you:

UWA Careers and Employability Services: Receive tailored support through career coaching, internships, and industry networking to prepare you for the professional world.
University–Industry Partnerships: Collaborate with leading architecture firms, urban planners, and government agencies on real-world projects during your studies.
Accreditation Value: Completing the extended major at a high standard allows progression to the Master of Architecture, fully accredited by the Architects Board of Western Australia.
Graduate Outcomes: Alumni often work in architectural practice, city and regional planning, property development, or higher education, reflecting strong employability pathways.

Further Academic Progression:
After your undergraduate degree, you can advance into UWA’s Master of Architecture, opening doors to professional registration and advanced design roles. Other options include postgraduate study in Urban Design, Building Information Modelling, Landscape Architecture (with conversion units), or a Graduate Certificate in Architectural Conservation, allowing you to tailor your expertise to your career ambitions.