Program Overview

Overview

The Bachelor of Architectural Design is a three-year program that provides students with a comprehensive education in architecture. The program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become a registered architect.

Program Details

• The program is offered at the St Lucia campus.
• The duration of the program is three years full-time or part-time equivalent.
• The program starts in Semester 1 (February 23, 2026) and Semester 2 (July 27, 2026).
• The QTAC code for the program is not specified.
• The program code is 2550.
• The AQF level is 7.

Entry Requirements

Prerequisites

• Queensland Year 12 (or equivalent): General English subject (Units 3 & 4, C).
• Equivalent subjects: Not specified.

Minimum Entry Score

• ATAR / Rank: 84.
• IB: 32.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS overall: 6.5; reading: 6; writing: 6; speaking: 6; listening: 6.
• TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition): Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21, and speaking 19.
• PTE Academic: Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub-bands.
• BE: A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
• CES: Overall 176 and 169 in all sub-bands.

Majors

The program offers three majors:

• Design Thinking: This major equips students with the creative mindset and problem-solving skills to tackle complex challenges in innovative ways.
• Sustainable Buildings: This major explores broad sustainability concepts, integrating environmental, social, and cultural considerations in architectural design.
• Urban Systems: This major gives students the knowledge and skills to understand the complex and dynamic nature of cities.

Fees and Scholarships

Indicative Annual Fee

• Domestic students: $9,525 (2026).
• International students: AUD $50,032 (2026).

Additional Costs

• There may be additional course costs associated with travel or materials.
• Books, technical notes, etc. (approx $150).
• Consumables, paper, pens, etc. (approx $100-200).

Government Assistance

• Domestic places in the Bachelor of Architectural Design are Commonwealth supported.
• HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.

Scholarships

• The university offers more than 100 scholarships.

How to Apply

Applying Online

• If your senior schooling is from outside Australia, you can submit your application to UQ.
• The program code for the Bachelor of Architectural Design is 2550.

Applying through QTAC

• All domestic applications should be submitted to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
• The QTAC code for the Bachelor of Architectural Design is not specified.

Important Dates

• If you’re studying Year 12 in Australia, go to the QTAC website to check the closing date for this program.
• If you’re applying to UQ, the closing date for this program is:
  • To commence study in semester 2: May 31 of the year of commencement.
  • To commence study in semester 1: November 30 of the previous year.

Career Possibilities

The program prepares students for a range of careers, including:

• Architect
• Interior designer
• Environmental graphic designer
• Furniture designer
• Urban designer
• Property developer
• Product designer
• Wayfinding designer
• Change manager
• Fashion designer

Professional Memberships

When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations:

• Australian Institute of Architects

Professional Registration

When you graduate, you may be eligible for registration with the following professional organisations:

• Board Of Architects Of Queensland

Next Steps after Graduation

On completion of the Bachelor of Architectural Design, you will be able to start your career as a junior designer in an architectural practice, draftsperson, building designer, or 3D visualisation artist. Following the completion of your Bachelor of Architectural Design, your next step to becoming a registered architect is with UQ’s Master of Architecture. To be able to practice architecture in Australia, you must join a state or territory registration board. To be eligible to register, you first have to:

1. Progress into the Master of Architecture.
2. Complete 2 years of professional experience.
3. Pass the Architectural Practice Exam.