How do people afford architecture degrees?

[PossumInAPearTree]

Dd wants to do architecture. Great, six years.

So three year undergraduate degree
Two year masters
And a year postgrad diploma type thing.

Can I ask if anyone here has any experience of this? Do students tend to go straight from the undergraduate degree to the masters? Or do they work for a year first in industry to get some money/experience? Do companies sponsor students at some stage? Am I right in thinking you have to do a year of work between the masters and the diploma?

Do most students stay at the same uni for the six years? Are they pretty much guaranteed a place on the masters if they complete the degree?

After the degree they can do a year (or two) paid work. They could in fact continue at this level as an architectural technician if they wanted. Masters could be done part time working 2-4 days a week. Could be same uni or different. Hard work and you need a supportive employer but worth it. Or full time quicker.

It's a degree with an exciting and interesting career path. Tell her to go for it.

Thanks, good to know that there's the chance of working for a bit inbetween and also good to know about architectural technician jobs if she wants to step off the academic ladder at that point.

my friend who is an architect was telling me that she thinks very few people will be able to afford that
she doesn't work with any graduates at the moment
in my ds's art class 3 of his friends are choosing architecture for their degree

Our architect is actually an architect designer who did the three year course but not the rest. As far as I can tell the main difference is that she isn't a member of the professional body.

I'm being careful not to try and influence Dd away from it but financially it's a worry. But I guess we just need to think of it as a three degree at first and then cross the next bridge after that. Especially of people can/do work with just the initial degree even if as a designer rather than professionally qualified.

Yes, technicians can work, but earnings will be limited. Clearly fully qualified Architects get to work on the best buildings and for the best firms. Having said that, there is intense competition for jobs so networking and work experience is vital. If no-one becomes an architect due to lack of parental finances, then it is a big worry because it will be a very middle class occupation, so look into how these post grad courses are funded and what work is available whilst studying. Not every architect comes from a rich background!

God I hadn't even thought about funding for the postgrad courses. I'd just assumed it was the same as the first 3 years but it isn't is it.

I shared with two architects at university. They were v working class and supplemented their grant and loan by dealing speed, which frankly they needed to get through the degree.

(I realise that's not hugely helpful. Just sayin')