As we already mentioned, studying architecture is a very diverse career path that can take you anywhere. There are many ways to pursue this degree, so it is important to know the differences between them before deciding which one is right for you.

Undergraduate programs usually last three years or more depending on how fast students graduate. Most schools offer both online and classroom courses available, with some requiring off-campus study as well.

Postgraduate studies are much shorter than undergraduate ones, typically only one year long. These are often called Masters degrees or Ph.D.s (Doctor of Philosophy) after their respective levels.

Professional practice courses focus more on giving practical lessons through hands-on experiences rather than just theory. This is great if you want to be able to put your knowledge into action!

This article will talk about the costs associated with an architectural education in the Philippines, what kind of fees exist, and some tips for saving money while still getting a good deal.

Find an architectural firm

In both online and offline courses, you can find lots of resources to learn about architecture. There are many firms that offer professional level training and/or employment. Finding an architect is not as difficult as some might make it seem!

Mostly people connect with other architects through social media sites like Instagram or LinkedIn. Or they go to events such as open house tours or lectures hosted by member companies or universities.

By interacting with other architects, they may also be able to get referrals for services or employers.

Application requirements

Being an architect is not just about looking at pretty pictures and designing cool buildings, it’s also about studying mathematics, science, and humanities. Beyond that, most architecture courses require you to know some drawing skills, which are very important for architects.

Most architecture schools offer either two or three year programs. The two-year program can be done full time or part time, while the three-year one must be completed within four years (usually six months per year).

There are many types of architectural courses available around the world. They differ slightly by country and area of specialization, but overall they share similar fundamental components. You will usually learn general concepts such as planning, design, and theory of building, along with specializations in interior and exterior designs, technology applications, and more.

Depending on what level you want to advance your career, there are several routes you can take. For example, if you want to be an industrial designer, then directly after graduation you can choose to become a Bachelor of Design (BDes) or Masters of Industrial Designer (MID), both of which are accredited by the Architectural Association of Australia (AAA).

Alternatively, if you would like to work as an urban planner, then you can pursue a Master Planner (MPP) degree, which is from the School of Planning Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. Both of these degrees focus heavily on applying theories to practical cases, making them very useful.

Cost of an architectural program

The cost to study architecture is not constant, it varies depending on which school you choose to attend and what level degree you want to pursue. Most college courses these days are quite expensive, even more so when you consider that there are no grants or scholarships for studying architecture!

Most undergraduate programs have three main components- tuition, fees and living costs. Tuition is typically around 6,000 – 8,000 per year, but this can vary greatly between schools and countries. Fees cover things like computer use, resources, and materials; they’re usually about 1,500 per year.

Living costs are very different from country to country. In some countries, buying food and lodging is extremely cheap, making it possible to spend most of your money on education. However, this isn’t always the case. An average student should be able to find affordable housing and meal plans at least half way through their studies.

Popular programs

There are many schools that have their own architecture courses or major design areas such as interior design, furniture design, product design, etc. These specializations allow students to pick what area of designing they would like to pursue.

Some universities offer both bachelor’s degree and master’s degree levels in architectural design so if you are already holding an undergraduate degree then you can go for your masters too!

There are also some institutions which offer professional certification in various fields of architecture. This is very helpful when looking for employment since it proves you know certain skills within the field.

These certifications vary from country to country and organization to organization but all require you to prove your mastery of fundamentals of the field.

Skills you should have

Being an architect is not only about creating beautiful buildings, but also about educating others through your architectural designs. Therefore, what are your skills as an architect?

You should be able to design and create aesthetically pleasing spaces and landscapes that appeal to the eye. You should be familiar with different styles of architecture so that you can incorporate them into your own style.

You should be proficient in basic drawing and designing tools such as computers, pens, markers, and Photoshop or similar graphic editing software.

You must be good at mathematics, science, and psychology so that you can apply these concepts to architectures. For example, when calculating how much space something takes up in a room, you would need to know dimensions and proportions.

You will also need to understand physics, engineering, and chemistry since architects use these theories in their work. For instance, engineers build things like bridges by figuring out how to make it stable and sturdy.

Architects also study psychology, which helps them determine the best materials for a building and how to motivate people to do their jobs.

Licenses you need

To be able to work as an architect, you will first have to prove that you are legally allowed to practice architecture. This is done by getting certified or licensed!

There are two main licenses for architects in the Philippines: The Architect Registration Board (ARB) and Philippine Association of Registered Architects (PARAI). Both require candidates to prove their proficiency in Filipino and mathematics beyond high school level.

Both ARB and PARAI can offer either a Professional Associate Degree in Architecture (PAA), Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (BA) or both. These degrees typically take three years to complete, but there may be some courses that do not meet this requirement.

Employment opportunities

Being an architect is a very popular career choice these days. There are now more and more schools offering architectural programs, which means there are always employment opportunities for architects. This is not to say that this was not the case before, but it has become much higher demand than supply at this current moment in time.

Architects have a lot of different responsibilities so they usually work with other professionals during the day. These colleagues can be from any field- including interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, etc.

During nonworking hours, however, you will probably find most practicing architects working on their craft or exploring new concepts as part of their profession. Becoming an architect is a long process that takes several years to fully launch yourself as one, so having some downtime is quite normal.

Many architecture courses offer both bachelor’s degree and master’s degree levels. The former typically take two to three years to complete while the latter take one additional year beyond the bachelor’s degree.

Popular locations

Singapore is one of the most popular destination for architecture courses due to its rich architectural history, beautiful natural landscapes, and interesting culture. The city-state has an impressive number of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings that have been built over several decades, making it a great place to study contemporary design.

Malaysia also offers plenty of opportunities to take part in architecture field. Kuala Lumpur alone boasts some 30+ professional sports facilities including stadiums, arenas, museums, and cultural centers. These include venues like the Petronas Tennis Centre, Bukit Jalil National Stadium, or even the famous Merdeka Square!

Thailand’s capital Bangkok features many modern looking buildings such as shopping malls and apartment complexes, giving students a variety of styles to learn. In fact, there are more than 250 completed projects under MGA's program (Master of Global Architectural Design) at this time!

Philippines is not quite as well known as these other countries but they do feature lots of unique architectures. A must see if you're studying here is Baguio City which was declared by UNESCO as World Heritage Site in 2015. It features very steep streets with hanging lantern roofs, creating a magical feel.