B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) Syllabus and Subjects

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Ahana Bhaduri

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Bachelor of Architecture or B Arch is considered one of the top courses pursued by science students. It is a 5 years professional program suitable for students who aspire to become an architect. The minimum eligibility to pursue B Arch courses is that students should clear their class 12th board exams with PCM combination from a recognised board.

There are more than 800  colleges in India offering B.Arch courses. With more than 90,000 architects across the country, this course is considered as an interdisciplinary course of design, technology, humanities, and other streams. Some of the top B Arch colleges in India are IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, Jamia Millia Islamia, NIT Calicut etc.

The entire course curriculum for B Arch includes subjects like Architecture Design, Types of Structures, Building Construction, Architectural Appreciation etc. The sections below will discuss the syllabus for B Arch courses for the entire 5 years duration.  

B.Arch Syllabus

The course curriculum is made in such a way that B.Arch syllabus can be divided into two stages: Stage1 and Stage 2 in the course of 5 years consisting of 10 semesters.

This is mainly followed in the School of Planning and Architecture, which is considered on of the esteemed architectural schools in India.

Check best B.Arch colleges to know more.

Stage I will include Year 1,2 and 3, and Stage II includes Year 4 and 5.

  • Stage I: It includes semester 1 to 6 where foundation and exploration subjects and topics are included which helps students to develop knowledge to clear architectural filaments.
  • Stage II: In this, one semester is completely dedicated to practical training and rest is for in-depth synthesis and ideation studies. In this stage, students are allowed to select electives based on their interests, followed by research training and studio subjects.

A choice based learning is incorporated throughout the course so that students can develop the innate skills of reflection, evaluation,re-iteration, and research, required for a strong architectural background.

Semester Wise Syllabus

Tabulated below is the Semester wise B.Arch syllabus.

SEMESTER I SEMESTER II
Architectural Design I Architectural Design II
Visual Arts and Basic Design I Visual Arts and Basic Design II
Computer Applications I Computer Applications II
Building Construction I Building Construction II
Theory of Structures I Theory of Structures II
Environmental Studies Climate-responsive Design
Model making and Workshop Surveying and Leveling
Human Settl. & Vernacular Arch. History of Architecture I
Professional Communications I Sociology and Culture
- Professional Communications II
Semester III Semester IV
Architectural Design III Architectural Design IV
Visual Arts and Basic Design III Visual Arts and Basic Design IV
Computer Applications III Computer Applications IV
Building and Construction III Building and Construction IV
Theory of Structures III Theory of Structures IV
Water, Waste, and Sanitation Electrification, Lighting & Acoustics
Site Planning and Landscape Studies Solar Active and Passive Systems
History of Architecture II History of Architecture III
Art and Architectural Appreciation I Art and Architectural Appreciation II
Research Elective I Research Elective II
Semester V Semester VI
Architectural Design V Architectural Design VI
Building Construction V Building Construction VI
Theory of Structures V Theory of Structure & Design II
HVAC. Mech. Mobility & Fire Safety Green Systems Integration
Energy System & Renewables Sustainable Urban Habitats
History of Architecture IV Specifications & Contracts
Design Methodology II Contemporary Architecture
Art and Architectural Appreciation III Architectural Theories
Arch. Research- Elective III Art & Architectural Appreciation IV
Arch. Research- Elective IV -
Semester VII Semester VIII
Architectural Design VII Practical Training
Working Drawings -
Project Management -
Architectural Appreciation IV -
Arch. Research Seminar -
Arch. Research- Elective V -
Arch. Research- Elective VI -
Semester IX Semester X
Architectural Design IX Architectural Design Thesis
Professional Practice Thesis Design Research
Urban Design Studies Professional Practice
Arch. Research Dissertation/ Art Thesis -
Arch. Research- Elective VII -
Arch. Research- Elective VIII -

B.Arch Elective Subjects

B.Arch syllabus is formulated on the choice-based system where students get to choose a certain number of elective subjects based on their interests. 

Electives subjects are mainly from 6 different streams which we have discussed below:

Elective Subjects
Stream Subject List
Humanities Art Appreciation, Behavioral Studies, Gender and Architecture, Arch. Photography, Journalism, etc.
Technology Facade Engineering, Tall Buildings, Modular Coordination, Earthquake-resistant Building, Construction Mechanization, etc. 
Environment Environmental Impact Assessment, Solar Design, Renewable Energy Systems, Energy Simulations, Climate Change and Cities, etc.
Design Urban Planning, Hospital Design, Campus Planning, Interior Design, Industrial Design, Exhibition Design, Theatre and Set Design etc
Emerging Concerns Parametric Design, Biomimicry in Design, Smart Buildings, Urban Resilience, Disaster Risk Management, etc.
Professional Practice Management Information Systems, GIS Applications, Architectural Entrepreneurship, Design Outreach as Social Responsibility, etc.

B.Arch Core Subjects

Common BArch subjects are Architectural Design, Visual Arts and Design, Building Construction, Theory of Structures. These are taught throughout the course for building a firm foundation towards different study aspects of architectural study.

Subject Content
Visual Arts and Design This subject is more focussed on the design and visual aspect of the architectural study and includes everything from 2D structure drawing to the latest advancements in the design stream and its combination with the architecture firm.
Building Construction This subject includes topics all related to building construction. This is one of the most important subjects required for technicality and knowledge.
Theory of Structures This subject is the study of different theories required for the making of different structures and designs. This is a theory subject that has direct applicability to the practical aspect of architecture.
Types of Structures This covers the fundamental concepts of determining the structural stability, analysis of statistically determinate beams and frames, trusses and aeches etc.
Building Science & Services The subject majorly focusses on the entirerity of the building construction process and thevarious technologies that works behind it.
Architectural Design The subject extensively focusses on the various designs that can be created and has been created in the past as a reference guide for the students
Design Applications The applications that are majorly used for creating designs starting from softwares to various hardcore instruments along with the process of utilising them, are taught under design applications subject
History of Architecture This subject teaches the history of designs and how designs were made during ancient period

B.Arch Entrance Exam Syllabus

The syllabus of B.Arch entrance exam is completely different from B.Arch course syllabus. Entrance exams generally consist of General Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and basics of Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics.

Check the list of different exams and their syllabus below:

NATA 2023 Exam Syllabus

COA specifies that National Architecture Aptitude Test is an entrance test that measures a candidate’s skills in Architecture through the following techniques.

Check: NATA Exam Syllabus

Techniques through which Candidates Ability will be tested:

Syllabus Topics Description
Diagrammatic Reasoning Logical Reasoning ability of candidates will be tested using diagrams and scenarios
Numerical Reasoning Mathematical Ability of candidates through fundamental simple problems will be assessed
Verbal Reasoning Verbal Logical skills of candidates will be tested
Inductive Reasoning Candidates ability to analyze data and see patterns will be tested in the section of Inductive Reasoning
Situational Judgment Problem Solving Ability of candidates will be assessed
Logical Reasoning Candidates ability to understand patterns and recognise relationships between shapes and imagery will be assessed
Abstract Reasoning Candidates general knowledge will be tested in this section

JEE Main 2023 B.Arch Aptitude Syllabus

JEE Main 2023 Syllabus has been released along with the official brochure at jeemain.nta.nic.in along with the official notification. No changes have been made to JEE Main 2023 Syllabus. Last year, the syllabus had not been impacted with the 30% reduction in CBSE class XI and XII syllabus, instead internal choices were introduced in JEE Main Question Paper.

JEE Main 2023 B.Arch Syllabus- Aptitude
UNIT - 1 Awareness of persons, Buildings, Materials, Objects, Texture related to Architecture and Build-environment
Visualising three-dimensional objects from two-dimensional drawings
Visualizing Different sides of three-dimensional objects
Analytical Reasoning
Mental Ability (Visual. Numerical and Verbal)
UNIT – 2 Three-dimensional- perception: Understanding and appreciation of scale and proportions of objects, building forms and elements, color texture harmony and contrast
Design and drawing of geometrical or abstract shapes and patterns in pencil
Transformation of forms both 2D and 3D union, subtraction rotation, development of surfaces and volumes
Generation of plans, elevations, and 3D views of objects
Creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional compositions using given shapes and forms

Check B.Arch Entrance Exams for a full list of architectural entrance exams that you can take for B.Arch admission.

B.Arch Syllabus FAQs

Ques: Is Jee BArch easy?

Ans: The overall difficulty level of the JEE Main B. Arch article is quite moderate. The drawing and aptitude test is quite basic whereas the mathematics part is quite tricky. 

Ques: What is the syllabus for BArch?

Ans: The core subjects in BArch includes Building Construction, Architectural Design, Design, Visual Arts, Computer Applications, and Theory of Structures

Ques: How can I prepare for BArch?

Ans: Maintaining a schedule and devoting two to three hours could help you score well for BArch. Generally it takes about three to six months for the students to prepare for this exam.

Ques: Is jee main paper 2 compulsory for BArch?

Ans: No, not at all, but JEE Main and JEE Advanced colleges i.e. IIT and NIT accept JEE school. The Building Council's National Building Skills Assessment (NATA) is required for adoption during the first year of BArch.

Ques: Which is better B Arch or B Tech?

Ans: Students with good design and thinking skills can pursue a bachelor's degree in architecture, while students interested in project development and construction can pursue a degree in civil engineering.

Ques: Is maths compulsory for B Arch?

Ans: Mathematics is required in order to pursue B Arch. Students must pass a Standard 12 test or its equivalent with a minimum of 50% in Math and English as subjects.

What are the subjects in first year B Arch?

Ans: Subjects included in the first year of B Arch are listed below

  • Architectural Design II.
  • Theory of Structures II.
  • History of Architecture & Human Settlements II.
  • Building Services I.
  • Building Sciences II
  • Building Technology & Materials II
  • Architectural Drawing & Graphics II
  • Basic Design II.

Ques: Is physics chemistry required for BArch?

Ans: According to latest guidelines released in 2022, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics will no longer play a major role in undergraduate B Arch admission

Ques: What can I do after BArch?

Ans: Job Prospects after B Arch are listed below:

  • Urban planner 
  • Artist
  • Restoration architect
  • Town Planner
  • Research architect 
  • Interior designer
  • Building surveyor
  • Landscape architect

Ques: What is Aptitude Test in B Arch?

Ans: Applititute Test is generally conducted by colleges to determine applicant’s analytifal, verbal, conceptual and logical ability. The aptitude test will analyze the candidate's ability to make verbal, abstract/conceptual and numerical reasoning.

Bachelor of Architecture [B.Arch] : 24 answered questions

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Ques. How is architecture in NIT Calicut?

● Top Answer By Archita Ghose on 06 Jun 22

Ans. NIT Calicut is a great option for pursuing Architecture. The department has excellent faculty members. Most of the professors are well-experienced. You can get their help regarding any academic problems you may face during your course.  NIT Calicut placements are decent for Architecture. L&T is one of the major recruiters that visit the campus placement frequently. Read more
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Ques. Which one is better, NIT Calicut CSE or IIT KGP agricultural?

● Top Answer By Ankita Banerjee on 01 Aug 22

Ans. NIT Calicut CSE is a better option compared to IIT KGP Agricultural. It offers good academics and placement opportunities for CSE. Companies like Amazon, Cisco, Infosys, Microsoft, etc. visit NT Calicut placements. During 2022 campus drive, students of CSE received an average CTC of around INR 20 LPA. The highest package for CSE goes up to INR 49-50 LPA. Read more
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Ques. Is NIT Calicut good for architecture? What can be said about its campus life and placement services?

● Top Answer By Tina Chand on 26 Mar 21

Ans. One of my friends has studied B Arch from NIT Calicut in the batch of 2020. In his view, the following facts are highlighted to help a student get a brief overview of this institute. Placement If you consider this institute for the placement opportunities, then it can be stated that L&T is the main recruiting company for Architecture. Thus, this stream has the least placement record, approximately 60%, compared to the other engineering branches. In the following, a brief overview of the placement facts of NIT Calicut is highlighted. Criteria NIT Calicut Placement statistics 80% Highest CTC 49.75 LPA Lowest CTC 10 LPA Average CTC 15 LPA Recruiter Came in 2020 400+ Number of Placement (2020) 647 College Life This is similar to the life that is shown in the movie 3 Idiots. You have to please your respective teachers, or you have to be extraordinary in some subjects such as Design and Art, to earn more score. You have to be strong emotionally so that you can face all the struggles easily. Thus, this 5-year course will teach you to face all types of real-life confronts in the field of Architecture. Besides, travel is a compulsory part of this engineering branch. However, the answer is a big Yes because these days, NIT Calicut has established itself as the best part among the other NITs in India. So, if you want to study Architecture, then you must go to NIT Calicut.Read more
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Ques. Which is better for studying architecture in India: SPA Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, or IIT Roorkee?

● Top Answer By Admin on 03 Jul 24

Ans. It is better to choose a college with an IIT tag because it will give you security regarding placements. IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee both have a good placement record, and their IIT tag makes them a better choice for Architecture students. The NIRF 2023 Ranking in Architecture of IIT Roorkee and IIT Kharagpur is 1st and 3rd respectively, whereas the ranking of SPA Delhi is 5th.  IITs offer a lot of facilities which aren’t offered by other top architecture colleges in India. They have extensive libraries, best sports facilities, clubs and societies, etc. If you like extracurriculars as much as studies, IIT Roorkee and IIT KGP will provide you with world-class facilities for the same.  Apart from design and architecture, you’ll be able to study a host of other subjects and varied electives at IIT R and IIT KGP. This will place you in a much better position academically.  Many new professors have joined the Architecture department at IIT Roorkee in the past few years. They are young and have a modern perspective which resonates with today’s youth. IIT Roorkee has the best and the biggest hostels compared to any other college, and everyone can avail a single room for the entire course duration. Every hostel room at IIT Roorkee has access to the fastest internet speed through LAN, without any limitations. Here is a comparison between SPA Delhi, IIT Roorkee and IIT Kharagpur: PARTICULARS IIT ROORKEE IIT KHARAGPUR SPA DELHI NIRF 2023 Architecture Ranking 1 3 5 India Today Architecture Ranking 2023 2 1 4 Placement Percentage (B.Arch) 90% 71% 77% Average Package (B.Arch) INR 18.34 LPA INR 16 LPA INR 7.2 LPA After considering all the factors, I would suggest you choose IIT Roorkee for your B.Arch. The next best option would be IIT Kharagpur. Read more
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Ques. Which college should I choose for a B.Arch. under the NIT/SPA?

● Top Answer By Shivani Behera on 31 Aug 21

Ans. Firstly a hearty congratulations to you for scoring a good rank in JEE Main. However, it is quite difficult to get a seat at SPA Delhi in this rank. The 2nd best option can be SPA Bhopal. Moreover, SPA Vijayawada is relatively newer and cannot be trusted. I have friends studying at both Bhopal and Vijayawada, from what I've heard, Bhopal is a better option. SPAs are purely design institutes and thus the exposure would be greater.  Since your chances at SPA D are quite on edge, you can instead look for the following colleges in order of preference:  NIT Nagpur> NIT Bhopal> SPA Bhopal> NIT Jaipur> SPA Vijayawada and so on. If you want to go for NITs, choose the one with better infrastructure, weather, and a diverse crowd. There are many other good institutes as well but do your proper research and take the right decision for yourself. Read more
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Ques. Should I join IIT Kharagpur for B.arch?

● Top Answer By Senjuti Gupta on 23 Mar 23

Ans. There are two aspects to the question. You asked. Is the bachelor of architecture course at IIT Kharagpur good? To answer this part, I will say with certainty that IIT Kharagpur is an excellent institute. However, as far as architecture is concerned, your first choice should always be the elite schools of architecture like SPA or CEPT. This is mainly because IITs are known for their technology and not architecture. Should a person who's only interested in physics and math, go for architecture or not? If you are genuinely interested in physics and math, then this will be one of your strengths and will prove to be useful in the journey of architecture. Architecture requires problem-solving skills apart from artistic skills. There are many students who are average in drawing but have excellent ideas and designs. To broaden your knowledge about art and architecture you can read books.Read more
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Ques. What rank is required in the JEE B.Arch exam to get admission into SPA (School of Planning and Architecture) Delhi (general category)?

● Top Answer By Souman Dasgupta on 03 Feb 22

Ans. School of Planning and Architecture Delhi is the best architecture school in the country. To get selected for admission you will need to have a good rank. Securing a rank of around 400-500 should fetch you a seat at SPA Delhi. But you should keep in mind that the cutoff varies each year. In 2021, the opening cutoff for B.Arch was 212 (General).Read more
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Ques. i have completed civil engineering diploma.. how i join b. arch in sir jj college of architecture

● Top Answer By Riyansh Jha on 22 Mar 23

Ans.  you can pursue Bachelor in Architecture even after completing a diploma in Civil Engineering. The scope for Architecture is increasing day by day in India. The Bachelor in Architecture course is related to the design of bridges, multipurpose buildings, industrial areas, residential area etc. Owing to many ongoing dam and bridge projects in India, there is a huge demand for Architecture students. Since you have completed a Diploma in Civil Engineering, B.Tech in Architecture is the most logical option for you. The candidate who has completed a diploma in civil engineering is eligible for the architecture engineering course through the lateral entry scheme offered by the Engineering colleges in India. Under this scheme, you are eligible for admission for the second year in the Engineering course provided that you have either completed  Diploma In Engineering  B.Sc course For you it’s the former case, and thus you can avail the lateral entry scheme and get admission in Architecture. Now specifically talking about Sir JJ College of Architecture, some key points regarding the eligibility criteria are For B.Arch, you should have passed (10+3) Diploma in Engineering/ Technology with Mathematics as a compulsory subject Candidates should have scored a minimum of 50% in NATA (i.e. 80/200) If you belong =to SC/ST category, 5% relaxation is offeredRead more
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Ques. Is it good to pursue Bachelor of Architecture from NIT Raipur?

● Top Answer By Bhavna Roy on 19 Mar 21

Ans. One of my friends pursued his B.Arch from NIT Raipur. According to his experience, a Bachelor of Architecture from NIT Raipur is not a good option. The faculty quality is average. There is too much workload on students.  The table below gives a brief overview of the Department of Architecture of NIT Raipur. Total Fees (B.Arch) Rs. 6.74 Lakhs Median Salary Offered Rs. 3 LPA Total Number of seats (B.Arch) 79 JEE Main cut-off 1580 Key Highlights: There are several good colleges in Maharashtra and Gujarat for Architecture. But NIT Raipur has a lot of bad reviews from students who have studied B.Arch in the institute. Most teachers in Architecture at NIT Raipur are not good in their teaching habits and capabilities. Teachers make students mindless about their actions, even some hard working ones. It is obvious that Architecture studies involve a lot of hard-work in assignments, but teachers are not even sensible about the fact.  The curriculum at NIT Raipur is such that it can frustrate a student who has good concepts to the core. People may tell you a college does not matter in the overall development of students. But, it is true that in fields like architecture and management, you need to be smart enough to deal with a lot of people in your career. So, the institute's atmosphere, and the people surrounding a student, do matter. NIT Raipur is not a decent place for a Bachelor of Architecture, considering all the above factors. If you have any other options, it will be wise to go for them.Read more
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Ques. Is MANIT Bhopal a good college for a B.Arch?

● Top Answer By Raktim Tarafdar on 11 Nov 23

Ans. MANIT Bhopal is a good college for Architecture. But a college completely devoted to Architecture and Planning is a better choice. At such colleges, one has access to a strong alumni base. Apart from that, we get the right outlook for the field and a central library full of new architecture books. These colleges have digital labs with new architecture software. The crowd over there is completely devoted to the field of Architecture. These colleges organize dedicated seminars and guest lectures on Architecture and Planning. It is a huge boost to one’s self-esteem as an Architect in making. At NITs/state engineering colleges, our engineering friends receive placement one year ahead. But, one has an almost negligible chance of campus placement. SPA/CEPT won’t offer placements either, but this won’t be as demoralizing. Their strong alumni network allows us the chance to work in a firm through a senior’s recommendation. Thus, I would recommend you opt for SPA, CEPT, or other Architecture colleges for your B.Arch.Read more
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