Undergraduate course information
Undergraduate study in Design, Architecture and Building is unique, providing specialist education in three schools.
- The UTS School of Design is renowned for its creativity, research, international focus and industry engagement.
- The UTS School of Architecture has an outstanding reputation locally and internationally for its visionary architectural design, conceptual rigour and strategic thinking.
- The UTS School of Built Environment offers a leading-edge and dynamic environment for students and industry through an approach that mixes the property economics and construction and project management disciplines.
School of Design
The Bachelor of Design offers three distinct professional areas of specialisation:
- Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles (C10306)
- Bachelor of Design in Product Design (C10304)
- Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication (C10308).
Design students are required to undertake a professional core program specific to each individual course, as well as elective studies. The four areas also share a number of subjects within the design studies strand.
Design studies subjects
Design students are required to undertake 24 credit points of design studies subjects. Each subject is worth 6 credit points and is one session in duration.
These subjects examine what is common to the different forms of design and the interface between design and other disciplines and professions. The subjects develop creative thinking within a critical framework and foster openness to difference and alternative futures while establishing criteria for judgment about the value of design proposals. The subjects also enhance students' abilities to work collaboratively and reflect individually. Through these subjects, students acquire an understanding of, and skills in, a range of aspects of design research:
- research for design — investigating the cultural contexts of design problems and solutions
- research of design — reflecting upon and explaining the nature of creative design processes
- research by design — exploring and articulating what can be discovered about situations through designed interventions.
Not all subjects are offered every session. Contact the Student Centre for details.
Elective stream
Students are required to undertake 12 credit points of elective subjects - electives will be listed in your study plan. This will be in a variety of subjects offered by Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building. Note that some electives have prerequisites or access conditions that apply.
Global Studio elective
The Global Studio program runs across all degrees and consists of elective study tours led by UTS academics to international destinations. Students get to visit iconic places, work on projects with local institutions and meet outstanding practitioners. Some of the destinations include: Japan, Italy, Prague, Vietnam, Singapore, New York, and China.
Overseas exchange
The design programs offer students the opportunity to undertake concurrent study at approved institutions overseas. UTS: Design, Architecture and Building has memorandum of understandings with institutions in Canada, Germany, Korea, the United Kingdom, Portugal, the USA, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Hungary, France, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Thailand and China.
School of Architecture
UTS School of Architecture offers the following undergraduate courses:
- Bachelor of Design in Architecture (C10004)
- Bachelor of Design in Architecture Master of Architecture (C10413)
- Bachelor of Design in Interior Architecture (C10271)
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours) (C09079)
- Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Architecture (C09048)
UTS architecture courses provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to practice in the fields of architecture, interior architecture, and landscape architecture, and to be future leaders in the design of the built environment. Students receive a rich education oriented towards international practice and design innovation, and gain a critical and ethical awareness of architecture and landscape architecture as disciplines engaged with many of the most pressing challenges of today including environmental and social sustainability, rapidly urbanising metropolitan centres, cultural development and preservation through the built environment, maintaining the livelihood of diverse communities, and our changing relationship to the natural environment. Graduates are highly technically and critically skilled, and sought after by the profession. The course is recognised both nationally and internationally.
The architecture program at UTS offers disciplinary and professional education through three distinct, but consecutive and strongly interconnected degree courses:
- Bachelor of Design in Architecture (BDes) (C10004) is awarded after successful completion of three years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent). This may be followed by a Master of Architecture (MArch) (C04235), which involves a further two years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent).
In general terms, the BDes can be seen as a liberal introduction to the study of architecture as a discipline. This degree can stand alone and equips students to join other design fields or related disciplines, or to go on to further academic research and study. It also plays an important role in preparing students for the MArch degree. In this latter degree the emphasis lies on educating students for the practice of architecture. Together the two degrees acknowledge the nature of architecture as both a discipline and a profession. Further information on the MArch degree is available from postgraduate course information. - Bachelor of Design in Architecture Master of Architecture (C10413) consists of the identical program as Bachelor of Design in Architecture (C10004) from Year 1 through to Year 3 and as Master of Architecture (C04235) from Year 4 through to Year 5.
To progress into the master level (Years 4 and 5) of this double-degree, students must meet the following requirements:
- Students must have completed 144cp as part of the structures STM91342 Core subjects (UG Architecture) and CBK91801 Electives (UG Architecture); AND
- Attain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 5.50 or above across the structures STM91342 and CBK91801 (Years 1-3).
- Students who attain a GPA between 5.00 and 5.49 across STM91342 core subjects and CBK91801 (Years 1-3) will be transferred to (C10004) Bachelor of Design in Architecture to graduate. These students may apply for entry to (C04235) Master of Architecture – please see admissions requirements.
Students who attain a GPA below 5.00 are not eligible for entry into the Master of Architecture.
Any student who completes all subjects as part of STM91342 and CBK91801 (Years 1-3, 144cp) for the bachelor program, and does not wish to continue on to the master course, may choose to graduate from (C10004) Bachelor of Design in Architecture via Course Transfer-graduating.
Note that C10004 Bachelor of Design in Architecture on its own is not sufficient for professional accreditation as an architect.
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours) (C09079) offers students a four-year, professional bachelor's degree with one year advanced standing into a two-year Master of Landscape Architecture (C04270). The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture shares a common first foundation year with students studying architecture. It is considered a professional grounding in landscape architecture and equips students with skills in all the design, construction and management areas associated with the design and management of the natural and built landscapes. UTS offers graduates the opportunity to apply to the Master of Landscape Architecture degree.
- Bachelor of Design in Interior Architecture (BDes) (C10271), is a three years of full-time study degree (or part-time equivalent). It is followed by an optional Bachelor of Design in Interior Architecture degree (Honours) (C09055), which is undertaken as a one-year of full-time study (or part-time equivalent). Both degrees qualify students with skills and knowledge in the areas of design, history, theory and construction for interior architecture. They are considered professional grounding necessary for entry into the interior architecture industry and related spatial design fields.
- Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Architecture (C09048) offers graduates of the Bachelor of Design in Architecture (C10004), Bachelor of Design in Interior Architecture (C10271) or Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Hons) (C09079) a pathway entry into the Master of Architecture (C04235) or Master of Landscape Architecture (C04270). This course also prepares students for advanced study in a Higher Degree by Research program at the PhD level.
Students in all courses have the opportunity to participate in a broad range of international travel and exchange opportunities, and gain excellent exposure to and insight into leading practitioners in the industry.
Elective stream
Architecture students are required to undertake 12 credit points of elective subjects, Interior Architecture students are required to undertake 24 credit points of elective subjects - electives will be listed in your study plan. This will be in a variety of subjects offered by Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building. Note that some electives have prerequisites or access conditions that apply.
Landscape Architecture students are required to undertake 24 credit points of elective subjects. View the full list of undergraduate electives offered by Design, Architecture and Building. Note that some electives have prerequisites or access conditions that apply.
School of Built Environment
The school offers two undergraduate courses:
The Bachelor of Construction Project Management (C10214) is concerned with the management of all aspects of the construction process and provides a high-quality education for both construction managers and quantity surveyors.
It delivers all the recognised competencies for construction professionals and gives graduates the opportunity to diversify into project management. This unique degree provides graduates with the broader skills and knowledge required to meet the changing demands of the construction industry.
The course offers a first-rate building education and gives students opportunities such as industrial placements, field trips, practical and lab-based work, and international exchange programs. Students have access to state-of-the-art computing facilities. Every stage of the course includes a practical component and there is a substantial professional work experience program.
The Bachelor of Property Economics (C10310) produces highly skilled property professionals and is fully recognised by Australian employers, governments and professional associations.
Property is valued as a fundamental economic asset that affects the security and wealth of the owner. Success in this industry requires an understanding of the principles of valuation, legalities and ethics, economics, finance, accounting and management.
Design, Architecture and Building provides a broad-based applied property degree course that includes the important component of practical experience – full-time students complete their degree on a part-time basis for the final two years, ensuring all students have industry experience upon graduation.
Elective stream
Students are required to undertake 24 credit points of elective subjects. View the full list of undergraduate electives offered by Design, Architecture and Building. Note that some electives have prerequisites or access conditions that apply.
Combined degrees
The Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building also offers the following combined undergraduate degree programs:
- Bachelor of Construction Project Management Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (C10215)
- Bachelor of Design in Interior Architecture Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (C10272)
- Bachelor of Design in Product Design Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (C10305)
- Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (C10307)
- Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (C10309)
- Bachelor of Property Economics Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (C10320)
- Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation (C10321)
- Bachelor of Design in Interior Architecture Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation (C10322)
- Bachelor of Design in Product Design Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation C10323
- Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation (C10324)
- Bachelor of Design in Architecture Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation (C10325).
Students in combined degrees graduate from their combined degree at one ceremony, though receiving two testamurs.