As we already mentioned, becoming an architect is not easy. It takes years to become one! This can be a tough pill for some people to swallow because they’re under the impression that it’s easier to become an artist or designer and thus, expect more success.

It’s totally normal to feel this way. We all want to believe that if someone else could do something, then we could too. But reality is, this isn’t the case when it comes to creating art.

Architecture is a lot of math and design so there are definitely things you need to know before you start trying to draw shapes and create designs. You also have to be very careful about how space is organized and what colors look good together. These are just two examples but there are many, many others.

Many students begin studying architecture later in life because they have other priorities like kids or a job. Or maybe they’ve lost interest and can’t motivate themselves to learn new skills. All of these reasons make sense, but unfortunately, they will never find out whether they really wanted to be architects unless they take the plunge and invest their time into learning everything needed to succeed.

There are several ways to prepare yourself for the Architect Exam which consists of both written and practical tests. The Philippine Association of Architects (PAA) makes its candidates pass at least one every year so staying up-to-date is important.

Cost of studying in the Philippines

Even though the cost of studying architecture is very expensive, it’s definitely worth your investment! If you are coming from a lower income background, there are ways to reduce the costs of education considerably. For example, most universities offer scholarships or financial aid for students with dependents.

You can also look into online courses that do not require much money, but still give you an excellent degree. The benefits of these options are more flexible timing and location, as well as less spending since they are mostly done through the internet and YouTube.

There are many sites that compare the various tuition fees around the world so that you know what companies offer the best deal.

Licensing requirements

In most countries, there are formal educational qualifications for becoming an architect. These vary depending on if you want to be able to work alone or as part of a team, and whether your practice is small or large.

In some cases, there will also be restrictions on who can call themselves an ‘architect’. For example, only people with at least an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) can use the title.

But this isn’t always the case! Some countries don’t have any such rules. You could perform services as an Architect even if you haven’t graduated yet!

The terms ‘Architect’ and ‘Professional Engineer’ are not interchangeable here. Only someone with an appropriate professional degree can use the latter term.

Get scholarships

As we already mentioned, attending an architecture school is a very expensive undertaking! Luckily, you do not have to pay upfront tuition costs unless you are enrolled as a full-time student. Most universities offer some form of scholarship or financial aid for students. It does not matter if you are a professional degree applicant or a casual undergraduate student, every university offers some sort of incentive for studying there.

Most scholarship programs give back half of their cost per year to attend the institution they support. This can be done through direct funding or via tax credits. The Federal Government actually gives away money to educational institutions so it is definitely possible to find free education!

Architecture schools are usually well funded due to the beauty nature of the field. If you are dedicated to taking your career seriously then apply for any available scholarship.

Pick a school

Now that you have your degree or diploma, it is time to pick where you will spend your next two years studying! The choice of college or university is an important one, as some offer more opportunities than others.

It is best to do some research into schools before picking which one to attend. Check out how well their departments are run, what courses they offer, and whether there are enough resources available.

Also look at the student body- are people talking positively about the school? Is there a strong alumni network? Does the school seem like a safe environment?

When choosing between schools, think not only about yourself but also about the long term goals for your career.

Student visas

As mentioned earlier, studying architecture in the Philippines is not easy. You will need a student visa to live and study here. Most universities require you to be an enrolled student before they accept you as a visiting student.

Most countries give students coming from outside their country a student visa that allows them to study for a limited amount of time. The length of this visa depends on how long you want to stay in the country but most are one year.

After your visa expires, you must apply for another one so make sure you know when it runs out!

Some countries may also ask you to have proof that you can afford to live while you’re there. This could mean having enough money to survive for a month or two, depending on what kind of living situation you find yourself in.

Permanent residency

Being an architect is a long process that can take years depending on how quickly you are able to secure employment as an architect, but not all countries offer PR or permanent resident status to aspiring architects. Only some may even allow people with limited professional training to practice architecture!

Most western nations do however grant certain levels of visa sponsorship for professionals who are looking to work there. These visas typically go by the same name – something like ‘Non-Immigrant Visa’ or ‘Work Visitor VISA’. More than likely, your home country will give you at least one of these types of visas if you are highly skilled and have enough money to prove yourself.

This article will talk about what kind of visa designations exist for those seeking architectural career opportunities outside of their native land. First though, we will discuss why it is important to have this sort of visa.

Invest in your future

As we already mentioned, studying architecture is a very expensive business. There are many ways to pay for school costs, but making sure you understand how much money you’ll spend before college is an important part of ensuring that you don’t go into too big of debt.

Some students start off heavy with student loans because they put lots of pressure on themselves to keep up with classes and tuition fees. But investing in education isn’t necessarily about having more knowledge and skills, it's about developing self-confidence and motivation towards what you study.

By setting yourself low goals early on, you may be less likely to drop out or give up when things get tough. It can also help prevent overextending yourself financially, as you'll realize how much money you need well in advance.

Practice makes perfect

The most important thing about studying architecture is that you have to keep practicing your craft, even after you get into school! It will take you many years to truly call yourself an architect, but you can always pick up where you left off once you reach this stage of your career.

There are several ways to learn more about the profession, such as by taking online courses or talking to older architects. By keeping up with what’s happening in your field, you’ll be able to stay informed and advance your own skills.

Architecture is also a very visually-focused field, so looking through magazines and books is another way to gain knowledge. You should definitely try experimenting with different types of lessons to see which ones help you the most.