Architecture: There is no standard timeline
This week’s piece is for anyone who has deviated in any way from the standard Architecture journey and is feeling confused about what to do next or scared that they may have missed their chance. Let me tell you now, you’re all good .
The idea for this post initially came to me when one of my students wanted to talk about their mental health and how it has been and could in the future, affect their work. I am obviously not going to go into detail but it reminded me of an important point about architecture that many people forget: not everyone starts from the same place or has the same advantages or obstacles along their journey.
Currently the quickest route to qualifying as an Architect, the common but not only goal for Architecture Students and what a lot of people see as ‘standard’ is
3 year undergraduate degree,
1 year out in practice,
2 years Postgraduate degree
1 year out in practice whilst doing your Part 3 to then hopefully, qualify as an Architect.
This assumes no issues, no setbacks, no extensions, immediate job offers, seamless university transitions, and employer support during Part 3. It leaves no room for “error” but by error, I actually mean deviation.
This is something I thought about a lot whilst writing my Career Appraisal for my Part 3 Course, reading/comparing it to other examples and realising that I have actually done a f*ckton over my architectural career so far.
I worked part time jobs throughout both my bachelors and masters degrees at university (Watch this video), I lived and worked in New York for year (not doing my PEDRs so missed out on a year from the ‘standard’ route), I worked at the university for a year in Student Services after struggling to find a job post-masters, I have worked in three different UK based architecture firms as a Part 2 Architectural Assistant, all with their pros and cons and I qualified as an Architect at 30 rather than the ‘standard’ 25.
Throughout this journey to qualify, I constantly compared myself to those who were my age or younger or started university at the same time as me or before and were now ‘ahead’. It was very easy to feel like a failure, like I had done something fundamentally wrong and that's why I was behind this arbitrary line. When in fact, I tried to stay on the 7 year path at every stage, I worked hard at university and got good grades, I applied for jobs early, and did everything “right”—my journey just unfolded differently.
From conversations I have had with different Architecture students, Architectural Assistants and Architects, a lot of you can relate to this and it is definitely a lot more common than you think. From what I have seen following the 7-year path often requires more than just a lot of hard work. You also massively benefit from having a mentor, industry connections, and honestly, a bit of luck on your side too.
To hammer this home more than just telling you, I’ve shared a few real-life examples below, people at different stages of their journeys, some still on the path to qualification, others who have moved into different careers. They are grouped by the stage they are currently at or stopped at.
Architecture Bachelors at University
Architecture Student who after finishing their Bachelors degree in Architecture, did a Masters degree in Construction Management and is now working as a Design Coordinator for a development company
Architecture Student who travelled and volunteered after their Bachelors and is now a homemaker homeschooling their 3 children with their husband.
Architecture student who found a placement for a semester abroad and is now back at a UK based university finishing off their degree
International Architecture student who completed Bachelors who now work in their home country as a qualified Architect
Part 1 Architectural Assistant
Part 1 who went travelling for 3 months after finishing their year in practice and is now working in the same place as an Architectural Assistant, wondering what to do next - abroad or at home but definitely knowing that going back to university is not for them right now.
Apprenticeship student who decided to leave the university unsure if they want to be an architect after the first year who is now working as an Architectural Assistant, wondering what to do next
Part 1 struggling to find a job currently taking an unintended gap year after transferring their course from Singapore to the UK and having to redo a year of their education because of it.
Masters at University
A final year Masters Student after working in practice for 2 years after their Bachelors as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant.
Part 2 Architectural Assistant
Architecture student who completed their Masters and is now freelancing as a Part 2 Architectural Assistant whilst creating content with no intention to do their Part 3
Part 2 Architectural Assistant also working as a University Tutor in their first Architecture job having gone straight from Bachelors to Masters without a year out looking to start their part 3 soon.
Architect
Interior Design Student who did a conversion course to Architecture who is now a qualified Architect but considering another role within Architecture
Architect who qualified as ‘standard’ but then lived and worked in China for a couple of years before coming back to the UK as an Architect
Architect who went straight through the ‘standard’ route in the minimum 7 years whilst doing a year out in New York and is now working in Property Development
Architect who went straight through the ‘standard’ route in the minimum 7 years, became an Associate Director who now works 4 days a week, spending 1 day on personal projects including content creation and illustration
Architect who went straight through the ‘standard’ route in the minimum 7 years working at the same firm who became Director of a new branch of the firm within the year after qualifying
These are a mix of people I know personally or stories kindly shared with me on social media. Whilst I have separated them by the ‘level’ associated with the architectural education that they stopped at or are at now, you will hopefully see by reading each snippet that they are either way beyond that ‘level’ or have deviated so far from it that the ‘level’ makes no difference anyway.
Some are on their way to qualifying, others have no intention of qualifying, some have qualified and are happy where they are, some have qualified and are looking to move into a different sector.
My point is, the journey to and following qualification differs and whilst at the time it might feel like you’re behind or stuck or don’t know where to go, it is in fact an opportunity, not a setback.
So you can’t find a job as an Architectural Assistant - whilst you continue to look, take the time to build a skill, think about other career paths, pick up a hobby or develop a particular passion or interest. Same if you’re unsure if qualifying as an Architect is for you, take the time to think, explore your options, you might decide on Architect, or your passions might lie elsewhere.
No matter where you are, what you’re doing or what you are currently thinking, you are not behind. If qualifying as an architect is what you want to do, you will get there. If you don’t want to be an Architect, explore your options and get out of the system when you can. Experience in Architecture can benefit you in other jobs too.
On that note, look out for next weeks post: Architecture degree or not, You don't have to want to be an architect :)
Signing off,
Aliya
Thanks for reading, I hope you found this weeks issue helpful to you or for a friend or colleague. Feel free to reply or message me on any of the social handles below with your thoughts or any questions you have.
