Architecture... is it worth the 6 years of study?

Friend of ours is a military architect. Sounds like an amazing job tbh.

I know many aren’t keen on military, but it could be a more exciting way of training? Possibly even paid to train.

I have one applying next year to the London Unis, with the Bartlett of course being her favourite. Can anyone give me any tips in how to procure an offer?

Most professions take similar amounts of time as the degree is often just the start and you then need 2 or 3 years of professional body exams and approved relevant experience.

Only last year we were at a Uni open day watching an accountancy degree presentation and quite a few people were shocked that the accountancy degree doesn’t make you an accountant and that the next step would be a training contract for 2/3 years!

Architecture is one of those things where people mistakenly think architects are paid a lot, but actually they aren’t. A couple of years ago British architects actually formed a trade union because they were sick of being underpaid and exploited on insecure contracts.

As some other have said, 6 years will not have him qualified. It's a minimum of 7 years. I took an extra year before doing my professional exams as I didn't feel ready, so 8 years in total.

Both my DH and I are architects and are disillusioned by the industry and profession. More and more red tape and thankless responsibility every year for pretty crap wages compared with other construction professionals. I will do everything I can to discourage my DSs from taking it up as a career.

He could consider being a structural engineer instead? There are many construction and design related careers, not all known to careers advisors.

There are professional qualifications involved but the degree is 4 years to start with.

Most professional jobs worth having will involve some route to qualification over and above a basic degree.

Ah it won't upload the photo of my brother's design... oh well.

It's probably a lot more boring than ur dd realises though. Measuring stuff and playing a computer all day

Or not... This is my brother's design. Blatant boast, but hey, he's no longer here to celebrate his achievements, so I'll make some noise. Architecture doesn't have to be boring!

My brother (he recently passed away) was an architect with his own studio. I was and remain immensely proud of him. Lots of years cutting his teeth, grafting, and working his ass off, but he absolutely LOVED being an architect... he loved it, never ever ever grew jaded. He was an incredibly creative person and his creativity spilled over into his personal life. So I think the fact that he was so creative and so well trained as an artist kept the spark alive for architecture. It was hard, he was skint in the early years, but do any of us hit the ground of the grown-up world running?

I think the big difference is, my brother studied in the States. It's a different ball game there. My son is about to begin his degree in architecture at The Bartlett in September. I'm not at all anxious for him. He'll either be an architect... or not. But he'll have, I truly believe, a brilliant opportunity ahead of him.

I think, with architecture, you really have to love it and be willing to work for love AND at heart, have a little bit of the passionate 'starving artist' in you to help squeeze you through those tight spots in the early years.

Urban design/ town planning?

I know two young people who studied architecture but neither became an architect. I know two older architects, both earning great salaries and getting to design bars/restaurants

Well I've just paid £650 to have some drawings done for a garage conversion. So it might be 6yrs but there's gd money in it. Especially if you go self employed.

It's probably a lot more boring than ur dd realises though. Measuring stuff and playing a computer all day.

The industry I work in means I deal with a lot of architects - many of them are quite disillusioned.

I also work with QS's who seem to be happier in general. lastqueenofscotland I'm one of those arsehole contractors

One of DS's friends was lucky enough to get onto a degree apprenticeship with one of the major construction companies, they are paying for him to study for his degree in Quantity Surveying, he is benefiting from on the job training, a salary and his university education paid for. He also won't have to compete for a graduate position. He is one of the lucky ones in a win/win situation.

I've just left one of the bigger architect practices, not as an architect. I was shocked at the levels of pay - after 6+++ years of study the starting salary for a qualified architect in central London with a great practice is £35k. This hasn't changed in years, and so effectively salaries for architects don't keep up with inflation. And the people we employed were top of their game, 1st from top uni, etc. Then to work on large, impressive projects, but only to do a little piece. Unless you have family money behind you, or you have the aptitude to go it alone, it's not a career I would ever recommend. I truly despair of RIBA who have sat back and allowed the profession to become one that only white and privileged kids can afford to aspire to.

Engineering is a good shout as an alternative. Also, Landscape Architecture - still design (an no, Landscape Architects are NOT gardeners or landscapers!) And option of working in multi disciplinary engineering/ environmental consultancies on large infrastructure projects or working for a landscape practice (although former in general would be better paid). Need undergrad, year put (so earning), 1 Yr PGDip/ Masters and then working for a few years before working towards Chartership (if you choose). Very interesting send fulfilling career and lots of avenues off pure design work too.

My husband is in this industry. He would recommend taking the engineering route not architecture. SIL is an architect and she's clueless about what is actually possible or practical. Always calling him and he's a carpenter joiner (top of his game though). Architecture is too pie in the sky, too much about what looks edgy and cool, and pushing the envelope for the sake of it. Architects actually don't command a lot of respect in the buildings industry from the other professions. I also have a dear friend who completed a Master's degree in architecture and then went on to do art and furniture design because "that's all my skills are good for" (his words).
Engineers, on the other hand, architectural engineers, are the complete opposite. They actually know what they're doing. They command respect accordingly.

My friend is a QS and her job satisfaction, pay and hours are very impressive. Lots of kids at the school I teach at are looking at these more vocational courses such as QS, radiology etc

I would really discourage a child of mine from becoming an architect. Had a friend who after all the years of training would have earned more per hour stacking shelves... (salary looked almost alright on paper, but the hours...)

DH is an achitect. Long study, insecure employment and very sensitve to economic factors still at least we have a beautiful house. Oh yes on marrying an achitect champange tastes beer pockets.

@denverRegina
I did a 1 year masters then jump straight in in a junior position rather than a grad scheme.
APC takes 2-3 years.
Contractors/Subby side is better paid than client side but I went for client side as I didn’t want to work on site and I personally find the type of work on client side more interesting

@lastqueenofscotland how long did you train for and would a, say, 40 something be too old to retrain as a QS?

Asking for a friend 😂

I'm jealous @lastqueenofscotland

As mentioned upthread, I’m a QS, DP is an architect.
I’m better paid, qualified quicker, quicker progression. I was better paid as a green ground the gills QS on my first job that he was as a fully qualified architect. And once you’ve passed your APC QSs are really very well paid.
If you do client side it really isn’t counting bricks or whatever people claim it is. It really interesting. Happy to answer any questions about the role

I completely disagree with the first reply, ruling out architecture doesn't mean he will be stuck in a low-level, low-paid job in any way, shape or form. It is actually a very rational assessment as quite literally, it may not be a good investment of time or money to study architecture.

There are plenty of career choices where you can get started and earn money without racking up years and years of student debt, and still rise to a very senior level.

In fact you don't necessarily even need to go to university. I'm thinking of a friend who left school at 18 and joined an accountancy firm, he is now late 30's and a Director of an accountancy firm with a £120k annual salary. He is "nothing special" - he just made smart choices early on about what he wanted to do in life. He was able to buy a house in his early 20's as he had income and a good credit history and permanent full time job (he worked alongside his accountancy qualification, akin to an apprenticeship, really). He can afford to retire at 55.

I'm not saying your DS should go into finance but definitely shop around before committing to a vastly expensive qualification, and do a "value for money" exercise - what % of graduates have an income over £40k within 2 years of graduating? Over £100k within 15 years? And so on. Money isn't everything but if you have many years of debt to repay, you need at least some idea what you are getting yourself into.