UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
FIRST YEAR APPLICANTS
General information for first year applicants –
DOWNLOAD Admission requirements for the BArch (Extended) Programmes
Do I qualify?
Purpose of qualification:
To provide the student with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to follow a career as a competent senior architectural technologist. It also provides the opportunity to students who prove to have the required aptitude and inclination to become a competent professional architect by providing access to the programme Magister Technologiae: Architecture: Professional. In addition, it provides an opportunity to specialize in a chosen area within the field of architecture by providing access to the Magister Technologiae: Architectural Technology.
FOR APPLICANTS WHO OBTAINED A SENIOR CERTIFICATE BEFORE 2008:
Admission requirements:
A Senior Certificate or an equivalent qualification, with D symbols (50-59%) at the Higher Grade or a C symbol (60-69%) the Standard Grade for English
Selection criteria:
To be considered for this qualification, applicants must have an Admission Points Score (APS) of at least 25 (six subjects).
Assessment procedure:
After passing the initial administrative screening, all applicants will sit for additional assessment arranged with the Department of Architecture. The purpose of the assessment is to select those applicants who are most likely to be successful in their studies in Architecture. The University reserves the right to select the best candidates for this programme. Please contact the department for information pertaining to the assessment.
FOR APPLICANTS WHO OBTAINED A NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE IN OR AFTER 2008:
Admission requirements:
A National Senior Certificate with a bachelor’s degree endorsement (four subjects with a minimum score of 4 in the subjects) or an equivalent qualification, with an achievement level of at least 4 for English (home language or first additional language).
Selection criteria:
To be considered for this qualification, applicants must have an Admission Points Score (APS) of at least 25.
Assessment procedure:
After passing the initial administrative screening, all applicants will sit for additional assessment arranged with the Department of Architecture. The purpose of the assessment is to select those applicants who are most likely to be successful in their studies in Architecture. The University reserves the right to select the best candidates for this programme. Please contact the department for information pertaining to the assessment.
FOR APPLICANTS WHO OBTAINED A QUALIFICATION FROM TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET) COLLEGES (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS FET COLLEGES):
Application with a National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 4:
Admission requirements:
A National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 4 with a bachelor’s degree endorsement issued by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi) with at least 60% (APS of 5) for English and Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy and at least 70% (APS of 6) for any other vocational subjects.
Selection criteria:
To be considered for this qualification, applicants must have an Admission Points Score (APS) of at least 34.
Assessment procedure:
After passing the initial administrative screening, all applicants will sit for additional assessment arranged with the Department of Architecture. The purpose of the assessment is to select those applicants who are most likely to be successful in their studies in Architecture. The University reserves the right to select the best candidates for this programme. Please contact the department for information pertaining to the assessment.
How can I prepare for the Selection test?
Although a certificate in Architectural drafting is never a waste of time or money, and might help with preparation for the first year, we would advise you to rather do the following:
Spend the year reading well written books. We would recommend you read “Architecture for Dummies”, “At Home” by Bill Bryson (actually any Bill Bryson book is good to read). If you are serious about Architecture get “A Timeless Way of Building” and “A Pattern Language” by Christopher Alexander.
Follow the news and brush up on general knowledge regarding current events in the world.
Sketch, as much as you can. Sketch anything and everything. Still life, people, buildings.
Write. Write in a diary or on the computer, make sure your grammar and spelling is good.
Practice mathematics; trigonometric equations, and have a basic understating of Statics; Newton’s Laws, bending moments and such.
If you have time, ask to work in an architect’s office as a draftsperson; it is incredibly important that you see how an office works. You will probably learn more there than in a short course.
If you can, by all means, travel.
All of the above will, without a doubt, help you prepare for the test and architecture in general.
We look forward to seeing you next year! All the best!
What does the Selection test comprise of?
Profile aspect %:
– Creativity and potential: 30%
– General Education i.e. literacy and numeracy and general knowledge: 30%
– 2D and 3D aptitude. i.e. visual literacy: 30%
– Technical inclination: 10%
Creativity and potential. (Maximum marks 100)
Basic drawing and graphic ability should be demonstrated. Perceptive skills are also evaluated in this section.
General Education. (Maximum marks 268)
Age, gender, previous experience and learning are all converted to values. Ability to read, comprehend and write in English is determined. A basic language proficiency test is done. Basic grade 9 mathematical knowledge and ability is required and tested. General knowledge, interest and social awareness are evaluated.
2D and 3D aptitude. (Maximum marks 99)
Problems are posed to test the candidates’ ability to comprehend and visualize three dimensional shapes as well as problems pertaining to spatial and two dimensional aspects.
Technical inclination. (Maximum marks 50)
Problems of a technical nature are posed for the candidates to solve. The ability to think logically, rationally as well as laterally are evaluated. Some of the questions are multifaceted and cover more than a single field.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS for the BArch or BArch (Extended) Programmes
Thank you for your interest in our Department. The Department of Architecture at TUT educates professional architects and senior architectural technologists. The study of architecture involves an exploration of the diverse disciplines that form part of the built environment. If you appreciate the value of technology and are inspired by great designs and buildings, then architecture may well be your field of study. Architecture is one of the most diversified and stimulating careers. We design, document, and build buildings (as part of a team) that can easily reach an age of 100 years or more.
The minimum admission requirements to study architecture are listed below. If the selection criteria remain unchanged, you will fall in Category 2 if you apply in your Grade 12 year.
Given our past experience with architecture students, it seems languages are a good indicator of aptitude for architectural studies. You could also consider choosing Arts, Art Appreciation, or something similar. If your school does not offer this, look at the free online course by Harvard titled “The Architectural Imagination”, (https://www.archdaily.com/803876/harvard-announces-free-online-architecture-course). Technical Drawings is not a requirement and we have seen students struggling with the transition to architectural drawings, which uses a different approach.
Minimum admission requirements: Bachelor of Architecture (B Arch) or BArch (Extended)
Category 1:
Students who obtained their subject credits at an academic or technical school (before 2008)
- A Senior Certificate with a Bachelor’s degree endorsement
- English (home language or first additional language), with at least a D symbol (50 – 59%) at the Higher Grade, or a C symbol (60 – 69%) at the Standard Grade
- Min APS total = 25 (six subjects)
Category 2:
Students who obtained their subject credits at an academic or technical school (in, or after 2008)
- A National Senior Certificate with a Bachelor’s degree endorsement
- Min APS = 4 (50 – 59%) for English (home language or first additional language)
- Min APS = 4 (50 – 59%) in each of five (5) other subjects, excluding Life Orientation
- Min APS total = 25 (six subjects)
Category 3:
Students who obtained their subject credits at a TVET college
- A National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 4 with a Bachelor’s degree endorsement issued by the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi)
- Min APS = 5 (60 – 69%) for English
- Min APS = 5 (60 – 69%) for Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
- Min APS = 6 (70 – 79%) in each of four (4) other vocational subjects •
- Min APS total = 34 (six subjects)
If you would like to study next year, apply online before 31 July 2018. The online application system opens at the end of March 2018. The departmental assessment is scheduled for 1, 2 and 3 October 2018 and Saturday 3 November 2018. In total, only 65 students will be selected for their first year studies in 2019. This comprise of 50 students for the 4-year BArch programme and 15 students for the 5-year BArch (Extended) programme.
After successfully completing the BArch or BArch (Extended) programme, you will be eligible to register as a Senior Architectural Technologist with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP). Should you wish to become an architect, you will need to complete the additional 2-year Master’s degree.
All the degrees on offer at the Architecture Department are accredited by the South African Council for
the Architectural Profession (SACAP) for registration in the relevant category. The degrees are also internationally validated through the Canberra Accord (CA). The CA facilitates the portability of educational credentials amongst participating member countries by recognising the similarity of professional architecture degrees. CA signatories include Canada, China, Korea, Mexico, South Africa, the USA and a further 35 countries represented by the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA).
If you require any more information, please contact our department on 012 382 5252.
email: motaungkg@tut.ac.za
tel: +27 12 382 5252
tel: +27 12 382 5028
Staatsartillerie Road, Pretoria West,
Building 11
