About Master of Architecture
M.Arch is a postgraduate program designed to provide skills to students in the art of designing and constructing buildings. It is a course of engineering that specializes in Landscape Architecture, Green Architecture, and Naval Architecture among many others. M.Arch provides students with specialized insights into sustained development, planning, and urban, rural, physical, and social dimensions.
Merriam Webster defines architecture as “the art or practises of designing and building structures and especially habitable ones.” This course has incorporated the significant changes that have taken place in the global engineering architecture and includes elements of both rural and urban architecture, imparted through a professionally oriented curriculum. As an engineered study of structures and buildings, the M.Arch course essentially involves the concepts of planning, architecture, and design fundamentals.
M.Arch is a two-year postgraduate program that deals with the advanced way to approach the design, planning, and structures and also gives way to research concepts. M.Arch full form is Master of Architecture. The course is designed to prepare students for dealing with various industrial challenges. Upon completing M.Arch, students can work as Architectural Technician, Building Control Officer, Architectural Engineer, Architectural Conservator, and Building Inspector.
M.Arch Course Details
| Degree |
Masters |
| Full Form |
Master of Architecture |
| Duration |
Course Duration of Master of Architecture [M.Arch] is 2 Years. |
| Age |
No age limit as such |
| Minimum Percentage |
50% in relevant entrance exam |
| Subjects Required |
B.Arch |
| Average Fees Incurred |
INR 60,000 to 2.6 LPA |
| Similar Options of Study |
M.Arch (Urban Design) |
| Average Salary Offered |
INR 6.06 LPA [Source: Payscale] |
| Employment Roles |
Design Architect, Project Architect, Architect, Landscape Architect, Urban Designer, Assistant Professor, Project Manager, Sr. Associate Architect, Senior Project Architect, Urban Planner etc. |
| Placement Opportunities |
Man Infraconstruction Ltd, Aecom Corporation, KPGM, Voyants, JLL, IL&FS, Crisil, GiZ, PwC, EY, Liases Foras, Feedback Infra etc. |
How To Get Admission in M.Arch?
To get admission to M.Arch Colleges in India, students must ensure that they satisfy the eligibility criteria. In addition to passing the B.Arch examinations, students must ensure they score a minimum of 50% in the entrance examinations based admissions. The admissions for M.Arch colleges in India can be based in two ways.
The procedure for M.Arch admission is either direct admissions after passing a relevant M.Arch entrance exam or conducting an additional aptitude test and interview for the same. Applications for the admission process may be availed by visiting the University website or by directly visiting the admission office of the colleges. Listed below are the details of the admission process in general:
How To Apply?
M.Arch course details are available on the website of M.Arch colleges in India through which the students can start their application process. The applications for M.Arch admission 2021 are available through both online and offline procedures. For admission procedures, students are required to fill out an application either through online or offline mode and provide valid documents for M.Arch entrance exams. After submission of the form, students will receive further correspondence from the college. Before applying, students must ensure they satisfy the basic eligibility criteria for passing a B.Arch examination.
Selection Process
The selection process for M.Arch admission is primarily based on the candidate’s performance in the B.Arch examination. Admissions will be strictly offered to those students who pass a relevant M.Arch entrance exam such as GATE, CEED, and TANCET. The admit card and other relevant details are provided on the college website beforehand. Few institutions might have an additional process of conducting an aptitude test or interview to get admission. Students can view their results on the college portal or may receive them via email.
Course Subjects for Specialization
M.Arch course is a postgraduate course that provides the students with an opportunity to learn about specialized subjects in various fields of Architecture. The council of architecture has offered specialization in the subjects below for Masters in Architecture course:
- Architectural Conservation
- Building Engineering and Management
- Housing
- Urban Design
- Landscape Architecture
- Architectural Design
- Sustainable Architecture
- Transport Planning
- Town and Country Planning
- Regional Planning
- Industrial Design
- Environmental Planning
- Architecture and Digital Design
M.Arch Duration
M.Arch or Master’s of Architecture’s duration in India is of two years. The postgraduate course is further divided into four semesters. Aspirants can choose between elective subjects along with the core subjects in the curriculum.
Types of M.Arch
The degree of M.Arch is a postgraduate degree for aspirants who have completed their graduation from B.Arch. The different types of M.Arch that exist are:
- Full-Time M.Arch
- Part-Time M.Arch
- Distance Learning M.Arch.
Eligibility Criteria For M.Arch
Admission criteria for M.Arch eligibility include students clearing the B.Arch examination from any recognized College. The criteria for M.Arch qualification is passing the B.Arch examinations. There is no age limit for admissions into the M.Arch course. Students must additionally secure a minimum of 50% in a relevant M.Arch entrance exam such as GATE, CEED, and TANCET. Some colleges also conduct an aptitude test or interview after the entrance examinations for the admission process.
Popular Entrance Exams for M.Arch
M.Arch colleges in India conduct an entrance examination-based admission process. Students must ensure they prepare for the M.Arch entrance exam along all the lines of requirements. With the process, the best M.Arch colleges in India examine the academic readiness and the required skills among the suitable candidates. Some of the popular exams conducted for admission into the 2 years M.Arch course duration are listed below:
- JEE MAIN
- JEE ADVANCED
- NATA
- UPSEE/UPTU
- COMEDK UGET
- PGCET
- TS PGECET
- KIITEE
- TANCET
A Quick Glance at the M.Arch Exams
Students who wish to appear for the M.Arch entrance exam should study the syllabus and pattern of the relevant exam beforehand. It would help the candidates to ensure adequate preparation for the exams. This would go a long way to help the students get admission to the colleges of their choice. Below is the detailed exam pattern of the M.Arch CET entrance exam:
- Questions asked in the examination are objective.
- The total duration of the examination is 1 hour.
- The medium of the question paper is the English language.
- The maximum number of marks a candidate can score is 100
- The question paper is structured with 50 questions in an MCQ format
- There is no negative marking for any answers attempted
Preparation Tips for M.Arch
Students should be well prepared for the different aspects of the M.Arch entrance exam. They should start preparing well beforehand by reading M.Arch books which enables them to a timely preparation before the M.Arch entrance exam.
Upon selection, students should continue to read and research M.Arch books and concepts. This helps the students to cater to the demands of the M.Arch semester-wise syllabus adequately. Some preparation tips for M.Arch are listed below:
- Time Management: One of the essential skills that the candidate must have to get selected for the course. This trait would also help them to cover the M.Arch semester-wise subjects smoothly.
- Exam Pattern: Collecting previous years' question papers and solving them enables the candidate in gaining an understanding of the M.Arch subjects list for the course.
- Practice Regularly: Regular practice throughout the entire duration of preparation makes sure that the students do not miss a beat with the M.Arch subjects and their topics.