General Information

Overview

Architecture shapes the ways we live and connect. In our Bachelor of Design (Architecture), you'll study design, construction, cultural contexts, and more – all under the guidance of world-renowned academics. Get more than just theory, gain the hands-on experience the industry desires. Design, create, and make in our ProtoLAB with 3D printers, laser cutters, robots, and more.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Design (Architecture) requires students to complete units of study to the value of 300 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Contexts of Architectural History
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ARC10003
Introductory Design Studio
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DDD10006
Construction 1: Building Systems and Materials
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DIA10001
Interior Architecture Communication
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DIA10005
Architectural Design Studio 1 (Communication)
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
ARC10001
Cross-cultural Contexts
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ARC20003
Interior Architecture Digital Documentation 1
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DIA20003
Architectural Design Studio 2 (Socio-economic Contexts)
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
ARC20001
Construction 2: Building Services and Documentation Packages
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DIA20001
Architectural Design Studio 3 (Construction)
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
ARC20002
Construction 3: Sustainability
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DIA30001
Architectural Design Studio 4 (Construction)
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
ARC30001
Architectural Communication 2
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ARC30003
Architectural Design Studio 5
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
ARC30002
Professional Practice 1: BIM (Building Information Management)
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ARC30004

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 50 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

  • Accounting
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Space Technology
View minor units

You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.

Units of study Unit code
Professional placement - Major (12 months)
Work Experience In Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20001
Integrated Professional Placement A - Design
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD20031
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20002
Integrated Professional Placement B - Design
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD20032
or
Professional placement - Minor (6 months)
Work Experience In Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20001
Integrated Professional Placement A - Design
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD20031

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Bachelor of Design (Architecture), graduates will be able to:

  • resolve a wide array of design challenges by formulating and actualising innovative design ideas in a series of stages from conception to finished design 
  • interpret and understand knowledge of the global, ethical, socio-economic, cultural and historical contexts that produce contemporary architectural practice 
  • demonstrate a critical awareness of and responsibility towards the impact of all aspects of architectural practice, design and delivery on natural resources and apply strategies to minimise their impact 
  • effectively communicate innovative design concepts and outcomes through visual, verbal and written platforms according to audience 
  • demonstrate comprehensive understanding of regulations, standards and codes and apply them to the relevant aspects of architectural practice, design, and delivery 
  • demonstrate understanding of players involved in all aspects of architectural practice, design and delivery and perform necessary project management roles, and responsibilities throughout design and construction building processes 
  • demonstrate comprehensive understanding of structural systems and construction documentation modes and apply them to the relevant aspects of architectural practice, design, and delivery. 

Career opportunities

Graduates may enter the workforce globally – in architecture roles for private and corporate architecture firms, government organisations, development companies or in the building and design sector.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design (Architecture) students must complete 300 credit points comprising:

  • Four (4) Core Units of Study (100 credit points)
  • Eleven (11) units of study in the Architecture Professional Major (150 credit points)
  • Four (4) units of other studies comprising a minor or electives (50 credit points)
     

A unit of study can only be counted once. Where there are overlaps between majors and/or minors, students in the first instance choose another unit from the list of units available in the major/minor. Students may not complete more than 150 credit points (normally 12 unit) at Introductory Level.
All students must complete the OHS workshop training component of unit DDD10006 in their first semester of the course.

Students who elect to undertake a 6 month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 325 credit points comprising:

  • Four (4) Core Units of Study (100 credit points)
  • Eleven (11) units of study in the Architecture Professional Major (150 credit points)
  • Two [2] Professional Placement units (50 credit points)
  • Two (2) units of other studies comprising of electives (25 credit points)
     

Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 375 credit points comprising:

  • Four (4) Core Units of Study (100 credit points)
  • Eleven (11) units of study in the Architecture Professional Major (150 credit points)
  • Four [4] Professional Placement units (100 credit points)
  • Two (2) units of other studies comprising of electives (25 credit points)

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Design (Architecture) is 200 credit points. This is for students transferring from an Architects Accreditation Council of Australia approved course (or international equivalent).

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations. 

Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 80 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer. 

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course. 

Selection rank adjustments 

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne. 

Subject adjustments 

A study score of 25 in any Mathematics, Systems Engineering, Product Design and Technology, Visual Communication Design, Media or Studio Arts equals 4 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 15 points. 

Meeting course prerequisites

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent. 

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2023

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors
Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer 97.85 99.95
Median rank to receive an offer 73.45 81.17
Lowest rank to receive an offer 61.95 72.15

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2023
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) 20 17%
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study 27 23%
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) 0 0%
(D) Recent secondary education:    
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) 53 45%
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) <5 <5
International students N/P N/P
All students 119 100%

Notes:

“<5” – the number of students is less than 5.
N/A – Students not accepted in this category 
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.

Interested in the Bachelor of Design (Architecture)?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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