Bachelor of Architectural Design
Overview
Design a sustainable and inclusive future through architecture.
The Bachelor of Architectural Design brings together design studio learning, expert teaching and a strong focus on social and environmental impact.
You’ll explore how buildings, places and urban systems shape the way people live, work and connect, while responding to challenges such as climate change, housing affordability and urbanisation.
From your first semester, you’ll step into the studio, the creative hub of architecture, to develop ideas, collaborate, and build your creative and technical capability. In later years, you’ll take on more complex design projects and graduate with an industry-ready portfolio that reflects your interests, strengths and design identity.
You’ll go beyond the classroom, using UQ’s industry-standard facilities, like UQ Innovate, CoLab and the VisLab, to prototype, fabricate, model and visualise design ideas. Field trips and study tours in Queensland, Japan and India help you build local and international design perspectives.
As Queensland’s only architecture degree with specialised majors, you can tailor your studies to your interests and career goals. With mid-year entry available, you can start when it suits you.
This program can prepare you for roles in architecture, design and the broader built environment, or lead into accredited postgraduate study as the next step towards professional registration as an architect or urban planner.
Program highlights
- Queensland’s only architecture degree offering majors, you can tailor your studies to match your passions and career goals.
- Graduate with an industry-ready portfolio that reflects your creativity, capability and unique design identity.
- Take your learning beyond the studio, with field trips and study tours in Queensland, Japan and India.
- Learn from passionate academics and practising architects who connect practice with your classroom experience.
Majors
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
- Design Thinking
- Sustainable Buildings
- Urban Systems
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Overseas study
- Laboratory work
- Studios
- Workshops
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Architectural Design 1: Form and Space
- Architecture in the Western Tradition
- Buildings in History and Culture
- Building Materials: Properties, Principles and Applications
Career possibilities
Our programs prepare you for your first job and beyond. Depending on which major you choose, here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Architect
- Interior designer
- Environmental graphic designer
- Furniture designer
- Urban designer
- Property developer
- Product designer
- Wayfinding designer
- Change manager
- Fashion designer
Average annual salary range
Architect
seek.com.au
Next steps after graduation
Once you complete the Bachelor of Architectural Design, you'll be able to start your career as a junior designer in an architectural practice, draftsperson, building designer or 3D visualisation artist.
Or, move into accredited postgraduate study with the Master of Architecture, Master of Urban Development and Design or Master of Urban Planning.
To be able to practise architecture in Australia, you'll need to:
- Progress into the Master of Architecture.
- Complete 2 years of professional experience.
- Pass the Architectural Practice Exam.
- Join a state or territory registration board.
Professional memberships
When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.
- Australian Institute of Architects
Professional registration
When you graduate, you may be eligible for registration with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to register.
- Board Of Architects Of Queensland
The Bachelor of Architectural Design has allowed me to develop and execute my creativity while benefiting from the personalised support of tutors, who are often from industry. This made my learning experience extremely engaging and rewarding.
I would recommend future students take risks and have the courage to explore new and different avenues, whether it be doing things differently to others in their projects, or following a unique career path or even taking the opportunity to travel overseas.
The design ethos at UQ was the biggest attraction for me. I really wanted to be immersed in design and absorb as much as I could. This has been the basis for my growth and career progression over many years.
I loved the studio-based learning element of my study at UQ. I met lifelong friends there and we had so much in common that we became pretty much inseparable. Working together in that creative and practical environment helped us learn to collaborate.
The Bachelor of Architectural Design has allowed me to develop and execute my creativity while benefiting from the personalised support of tutors, who are often from industry. This made my learning experience extremely engaging and rewarding.
I would recommend future students take risks and have the courage to explore new and different avenues, whether it be doing things differently to others in their projects, or following a unique career path or even taking the opportunity to travel overseas.
The design ethos at UQ was the biggest attraction for me. I really wanted to be immersed in design and absorb as much as I could. This has been the basis for my growth and career progression over many years.
I loved the studio-based learning element of my study at UQ. I met lifelong friends there and we had so much in common that we became pretty much inseparable. Working together in that creative and practical environment helped us learn to collaborate.
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Entry requirements
Prerequisites
- General English subject (Units 3 & 4, C).
Prerequisites
- General English subject (Units 3 & 4, C).
Entry score threshold
| ATAR / Rank | IB |
|---|---|
| 84 | 32 |
These are the lowest adjusted scores we made an offer to in Semester 1, 2026. Entry scores are based on the most recent Semester 1 intake and are updated in April each year. Meeting the entry score threshold doesn't guarantee admission.
Guarantee your place at UQ: If you meet our guaranteed minimum ATAR you could secure an offer for your preferred program.
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
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.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Bachelor of Architectural Design are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
Entry score range
This table shows the range of entry scores for recent secondary students offered a place in the B Architectural Design for Semester 1, 2026
| Without adjustments | With adjustments | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | 99 | 99.95 |
| Median | 89.65 | 90.65 |
| Lowest | 79 | 84 |
Who you'll study with
Here's a snapshot of our student intake for this program in Semester 1, 2026:
| Applicant background | Number of students | Percentage of all students |
|---|---|---|
(A) Higher education study | 12 | 13.5% |
(B) Vocational Education and Training (VET) study | <5 | <5 |
(C) Work and life experience | <5 | <5 |
| (D) Recent secondary education | ||
| 55 | 61.8% |
| <5 | <5 |
| 0 | 0% |
International students | 15 | 16.9% |
Total | 89 | 100% |
"<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 protect the privacy of students in other cells.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Majors
Majors
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
Majors
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$9,525
2026
Fee information for 2027 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2026.
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $52,528
2027
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)
- Courses that include a field trip component may incur additional costs to cover transport, accommodation and food.
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Bachelor of Architectural Design are Commonwealth supported, as long as you meet all Commonwealth supported place eligibility requirements.
This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government. Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
If you have a Commonwealth supported place, you may also be eligible for HECS-HELP. This is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
If your senior schooling is from outside Australia, you can submit your application to UQ. Or, if you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent near you.
The program code for the Bachelor of Architectural Design is 2550.
How to apply for undergraduate study
If your senior schooling is from Australia
Submit your application to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre if you're an international student who is currently studying:
- Australian Year 12 (in Australia or another country), or
- the International Baccalaureate in Australia.
The QTAC code for the Bachelor of Architectural Design is 711202.
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 711202.
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.
Visa processing times vary. Apply and accept your offer as early as you can.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
To check the closing date for this program, go to the QTAC website.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Admissions schemes
Applying to university can be both exciting and daunting, which is why we’ve tried to make the process as simple as we can.
We have several schemes in place to improve your chances of getting a place at UQ.
Pathway options
A rank or score doesn’t determine your potential.
If you're not offered a place in your first-choice program – or if you don't meet the entry requirements – you still have a number of options.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (ATSIS) Unit.
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