Studying architecture abroad. Technical education abroad
Bachelor's degree. Studying engineering in this program lasts 3-4 years. School graduates can apply to a technical university abroad. But for this they will need to confirm good knowledge of mathematics and physics. Students pursuing an engineering specialty at universities in Moscow and other Russian cities can also continue their technical education in a bachelor’s degree program abroad. In this case, knowledge of computer, exact and natural sciences is welcome. The ability to apply them in practice will also be a plus. At the undergraduate level, technical institutes abroad offer the study of engineering through theoretical and practical classes that focus on applying knowledge to solve actual problems.
Master's degree. It accepts students with a bachelor's degree in a technical specialty. Master's studies last for 1-2 years. As part of it, students receive a narrower specialization. An integral part of the educational process is practice, the completion of which contributes to successful employment in the future.
Obtaining a second higher technical education abroad involves participation in significant projects in the field of engineering. Students will also enjoy master classes from leading experts.
Technical courses abroad will be of interest to already accomplished specialists. By visiting them, they will be able to improve their skills.
Which universities abroad offer technical education?
STAR Academy cooperates with leading universities in different countries of the world. In the USA it is Northeastern University. It offers education in the specialties “Bioengineering” and “Nanotechnology”. In Canada, we partner with SAIT Polytechnic, which has been recognized as the country's top technical school. The main specialties in it are “Robotics”, “Design of pipeline systems”. You can get an education in the field of engineering technology by becoming a student at Curtin University in Australia, Swansea University or Anglia Ruskin University in the UK.
How to become a student at a technical university abroad?
Studying design abroad is an opportunity to study at world art schools from eminent masters, do internships in the most famous fashion companies and get one of the most sought-after professions in the modern labor market. A specialist in landscape design and interior design, a fashion designer, a master of graphic, industrial and product design - the list of professions that can be obtained in foreign schools is very wide and fully reflects the needs of employers.
If you dream of connecting your life with design, this material will be useful for you. We have selected 5 of the most prestigious universities abroad, studying at which will allow you to open the doors to the world of fine art.
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
- Country: UK
- Directions: architecture, product design, ceramic and industrial design, graphic design, culture and entrepreneurship, theater and performance, fashion history, fashion communications, space organization techniques, jewelry and textiles.
- Famous alumni: John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Giambattista Valli, Christopher Kane
- Rating: 1st place (“25 best fashion schools in the world” according to Fashionista magazine); 5th place (“QS ranking of the best universities in the world”, direction - art and design)
- Tuition fee: £17,230
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design was founded in 1989. Despite its young age, the university managed to graduate perhaps a record number of “stars” of the fashion industry.
In recent years, CSM has regularly topped global rankings of institutes specializing in fashion and design. Among the college's teachers are specialists who worked on the creation of such iconic products as the famous London double-decker "Rootmaster" and Apple's iPhone.
Studying at St Martin's College is practice, practice and more practice. Only working on their own projects will allow the future designer to unleash their creative potential and achieve success in the profession, according to CSM.
Parsons School of Design
- Country: USA
- Programs: bachelor's, master's
- Directions: architecture, fashion design, interior design, urban design, product design, photography, design and technology, design and urban ecology, fashion marketing, design strategies and management
- Famous alumni: Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Tom Ford, Alexander Wang
- Rating: 3rd place (“25 best fashion schools in the world” according to Fashionista magazine); 4th place (“QS ranking of the best universities in the world”, direction - art and design)
- Tuition fees: bachelor's degree - $45,080, master's degree - $46,240
The Mecca of American designers - Parsons School - is located in the heart of the fashion capital of America - Manhattan.
Education at Parsons is built on the principle of integrated learning. Students from different disciplines meet regularly in seminars and workshops to work together on creative projects. This approach makes it possible to bring university studies as close as possible to students’ future professional activities.
The school maintains partnerships with major representatives of the fashion industry. Parsons students have the opportunity to complete a summer internship at the LVMH (Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton) group of companies or volunteer at New York Fashion Week.
Bunka Fashion College
- Country: Japan
- Programs: 4-year study program, equivalent to the European Baccalaureate
- Directions: fashion design, fashion technology, fashion marketing and distribution, accessories and textiles
- Notable Alumni: Kenzo Takada, Yohji Yamamoto, Junya Watanabe, Hiroko Koshino
- Rating: 8th place (“25 best fashion schools in the world” according to Fashionista magazine); 2nd place (“World Ranking of Fashion Schools” according to Business of Fashion magazine)
- Tuition fee: from ¥1,264,500 to ¥1,374,500, depending on the program
Bunka College of Fashion is the only Asian institute regularly ranked among the top ten design universities on the planet. The college was founded in 1923 as a sewing school for girls. It became the first educational institution in the country to teach the technology of sewing European clothes.
At first, Bunka did not accept either male students or foreigners. But in the 60s everything changed. “Fresh blood” gave a powerful impetus to the development of the educational institution. A couple of decades later, Bunka graduates - Kenzo Takada, Yohji Yamamoto - were talked about all over the world. Today the name Bunka is synonymous with the unique Japanese style of clothing.
Institute Marangoni (Istituto Marangoni)
- Country: Italy
- Programs: bachelor's, master's
- Directions: fashion design, interior design, accessory design, shoe design, styling, buying, promotion in the fashion industry, brand management, history of art and culture, multimedia arts
- Famous alumni: Franco Moschino, Domenico Dolce, Francesco Russo, Alessandro Sartori
- Rating: 4th place (“25 best fashion schools in the world” according to Fashionista magazine); 18th place (“World ranking of fashion schools” according to Business of Fashion magazine)
- Tuition fees: bachelor's degree - €20,800, master's degree - €30,900
Founded in 1935, it was the first private educational institution in Europe specializing in fashion design. At that time, the monopoly on creating fashion trends was in the hands of Parisian couturiers. However, already in the 40s, through the efforts of the first graduates of the university, France had a strong competitor. The words “Made in Italy” quickly became synonymous with beauty and quality in clothing.
Giulio Marangoni, the founder of the institute, believed that fashion is not only an expression of the artist's creative intent. Clothing is a utilitarian item; it is designed to serve people. Today, the Marangoni Institute pays a lot of attention to the technical training of students. Each of the university graduates knows all the nuances of the production process and can create a suit from scratch.
Kingston University
- Country: UK
- Programs: bachelor's, master's
- Directions: fashion design, interior design, photography, product design and accessories, art history, architecture, architecture and urbanism, cinematography
- Notable Alumni: Felipe Baptista, Helen Storey, John Richmond, Sophie Hulme
- Rating: 5th place (“25 best fashion schools in the world” according to Fashionista magazine); 3rd place (“World Ranking of Fashion Schools” according to Business of Fashion magazine)
- Tuition fees: undergraduate - £14,100, master's - £14,100
One of the most prestigious universities in Britain, Kingston University is famous for its large-scale research activities. The Institute collaborates with the largest art centers in Europe and Asia: National Gallery of China, Kyoto Art Center, RAF Museum, British Film Institute, Henry Moore Institute, LABoral Art Center, Tate Art Gallery, Sandlers Wells Theatre, South London Gallery.
Of course, university students do more than just scientific work. The university's partnership programs allow students to practically study the laws of fashion business in companies such as Inditex and Banana Republic.
Graduates of the institute receive positions in the largest European and American clothing companies: Burberry, Armani, Calvin Klein, Max Mara, Lacoste, H&M and Topshop.
How to enter design universities abroad?
First steps
Perhaps the three main advantages of studying abroad are quality, diversity and opportunity. Your decision to enroll in a foreign university will be influenced by at what point in your life you made the decision. Roughly speaking, there are three of them:
- Upon completion of high school or the first years of a Russian university
- Upon receipt of a bachelor's or specialist's degree in a Russian architectural (and perhaps mathematical, engineering or even art) university
- Upon receipt of a master's degree from one of the Russian universities
These starting points will give you further coordinates for choosing a foreign institute.
In the first case, you will have to be patient, because foreign universities are still wary of our educational system. Therefore, in most countries you will have to take preliminary courses lasting from 9 months to 2 years (depending on the chosen country).
It is encouraging that the final exams of such courses are often equivalent to the entrance exams. You can bypass preparatory programs if you apply for admission after completing the first years of a Russian university. True, in this case, years of study at a Russian university most often do not count and “burn out.”
In the second case, admission to the “zero” level does not stand up to criticism: despite all the cliches, Russian education is still worth a lot. During the first courses you will mark time, clearly surpassing your classmates in knowledge. So once you have some basic knowledge, consider a master's program.
Please note that the admission process for master's programs is more personalized than for bachelor's programs. Sometimes work experience, recommendations are needed, and serious attention is paid to the personal qualities of the candidate. Bad news for specialists: despite the whole year difference, most likely your diploma will be equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
Country selection
Having decided on the program, you are faced with the choice of country. Two factors will play a major role here - knowledge of foreign languages and your architectural preferences. Regarding learning a language, I will say one thing - best of all, you can only learn a language in a native country. In addition, it will be useful to immerse yourself in the flavor of the country. But as for architectural preferences, you will have to think about it so as not to regret it later.
Try to become as closely acquainted as possible with the architectural traditions of the countries that are most interesting to you and project them onto yourself. After all, despite the modern tendency to put everyone under the same brush, each country has its own style, national traits and individual characteristics in architecture. Therefore, it is important that the characteristics of the local heritage are harmonized with your sense of style.
It’s easy to guess that another factor will be your material well-being. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to submit documents for receipt. And oddly enough, when abroad, a correctly completed package of documents will be important in obtaining a grant. Therefore, start preparing in advance, one and a half to two years before the start of training.
Free guides to study and scholarships in England, USA and Australia. Download by clicking on the picture.
Have you decided on the country? Choose!
School of Architecture of the Architectural Association(England). Legendary architectural school, the undisputed leader in ratings. More than 90% of both students and teaching staff are foreigners. The program includes both “full-fledged” educational programs (5-year programs with a diploma and the assignment of the specialty “architect”, as well as master’s programs in 16 months), and post-graduate programs lasting a year in 11 areas.
Columbia University School of Architecture(USA). Another “monster” of architectural education has been training specialists since 1881. The school is a division of Columbia University in New York, which is part of the Ivy League and widely known outside the United States. The school itself specializes in master's (7 areas lasting 2.5-3 years) programs and specialized courses (duration 2-3 months).
MIT Department of Architecture(USA). It is difficult to suspect the Massachusetts Institute of Technology of an inferiority complex due to its proximity to the popular Harvard. The Institute is rightfully considered a world leader in the field of science and technology. The school offers a full cycle of education: bachelor's degree (4-year program, master's degree - 3.5 or 2.5 years, and doctoral study - at least 2 years. There is also the possibility of distance learning.
Technical University of Munich(Germany). The university is part of the association of technical universities in Germany TU 9 and is the largest university in Bavaria. The Faculty of Architecture at TUM is generally the only place in Bavaria where you can get a degree in Architecture. The faculty has been repeatedly awarded various prestigious awards in the field of architecture. The faculty offers both a bachelor's program - 8 semesters, and a master's program - 4 semesters.
In addition, you can find excellent high-tech architectural universities in Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, China and Malaysia. And each of them will be able to offer you excellent learning conditions and a diploma that will be taken into account by the whole world. For example, not so popular, but no less interesting universities:
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia
$4,300 per year
is a reputable private university in Malaysia that offers high-quality and affordable programs in English. Architecture can be studied at the university at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It offers both academic and research programs in the fields of general architecture, civil engineering, surveying and environmental technology in architecture.
University of Huddersfield Great Britain
Estimated cost of training:$18,400 per year
As an innovative educational institution, it is committed to preparing a new generation of professionals with fresh views and ideas. The university offers a wide range of architecture programs at different levels. Among them are unique programs with a specialization in international architecture, which involve foreign trips outside of Europe to become familiar with the architectural traditions of different regions of the world. In addition, the university's programs lead to the prestigious accreditation of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
New Jersey Institute of Technology,USA
Estimated cost of training:$29,000 per year
Located near Manhattan, it specializes in training qualified personnel for work in the field of exact sciences and technology. The Institute offers fundamental undergraduate and graduate programs in the fields of architecture, urbanism and infrastructure planning. An important place at the university is occupied by programs with an emphasis in engineering technology and construction. It is also possible to earn a PhD in urban systems here.
Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Estimated cost of training:$15,000 per year
Included in the list of the best engineering and technical universities in the world. By providing students with generous scholarships and various professional development options, the university offers affordable and high-quality English-language education. University graduates are in great demand not only in Scandinavia, but also abroad. You can study architecture in English at a university at the master's level. In particular, in 2 years you can get degrees in architecture, planning and sustainable development, in architecture and urban design, in design and construction project management, in construction engineering and technology.
Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy
Estimated cost of training:$4,400 per year
It is the largest engineering university in Italy and educates students from all over the world, offering programs not only in Italian, but also in English. At the undergraduate level, the university offers an English-language program in architectural design, which includes workshops and a variety of study trips. In the master's program, students have access to programs with specializations in general architecture, construction, architectural design and history, architectural and urban design.
Popular Architecture Programs
Foreign educational institutions offer a wide range of programs in the field of architecture with various specializations.
Programs with double specialization in related fields - architecture and design - are very popular. For example, such programs are offered in (UK), (Canada), (Australia) and (New Zealand).
Another popular area in modern architectural education is architecture and sustainable development. Programs of this type prepare professionals who will use current principles of sustainable development and environmental friendliness in architectural work, in the field of urban studies and city planning. You can get such an education in universities such as Buckingham University also offers exciting MSc and PhD programs that train experts in classical and historic British architecture.
University programs that allow you to obtain a double degree while studying architecture and another discipline are widely popular among students. One of the world's leading providers of such programs is (Great Britain). At the undergraduate level, the university offers numerous programs with specializations in architecture or architectural design and in business, management, history, marketing, sociology, etc.
Features of admission to architecture programs
To enroll in architecture programs at foreign universities, students submit a standard package of documents.
It includes:
- completed application form
- copy of passport
- certificate and transcript of grades
- other available certificates and diplomas
- language exam certificate
- motivation letter or resume
- letters of recommendation
Since architecture is a creative discipline, in most cases additional entry requirements are added to the standard list of documents.
First of all, we are talking about a portfolio. It is required for admission to architecture programs at many foreign universities. For example, the prestigious School of Architecture included on its website notes that the portfolio is the most important component of a student's admission application. It is in the portfolio that the student can demonstrate his abilities and talents; it is this that is a reflection of the student’s creative vision, conceptual and creative thinking. These are important factors that the school's admissions committee takes into account when enrolling.
In addition, some universities conduct entrance interviews with potential students. These interviews help the admissions committee gain a more accurate picture of the student's creative potential and also provide an opportunity to personally discuss the student's submitted portfolio.
The UK architect qualification combines academic education and professional practical experience and takes a minimum of seven years to complete. Academic knowledge can be gained from one of 40 university departments of architecture offering a wide range of architecture programs and modules. At the same time, applicants must make sure that the educational programs have been verified by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
Quality mark
RIBA is the professional body for British architects. Its active members are 44,000 people. Its most important functions include supervision of:- the quality of education received by future architects,
- undergoing industrial practice,
- continuous improvement of their professional level.
Overview of entry requirements
Although there are no uniform entry requirements, most architecture admissions committees note that an applicant must demonstrate:
- creativity and achievements (in areas related to art, computer graphics, 3D modeling, etc.);
- good knowledge of mathematics;
- good command of English;
- portfolio, which is discussed during the entrance interview.
Qualification process
Successful completion of the Faculty of Architecture alone is not enough to qualify as an architect and be able to work in this position. RIBA breaks the qualification process into 3 stages. Stage 1: 3-year university study at the undergraduate level program leading to a bachelor's degree BA/BSc; studying the fundamentals of architecture and developing the most important professional skills; obtaining RIBA membership from the 1st year of study; paid one-year professional internship. During the first stage, the trainee must record his/her achievements on the Professional Practice and Development Records (PEDR) website. The intern's work is supervised by a faculty member and a representative of the architecture company providing the position. Stage 2: further 2-year study at your own or another university in a graduate-level program (students are considered to continue their studies at the first higher education level) with the assignment of a professional BArch/MArch degree; obtaining in-depth, more specialized knowledge and skills for working on projects; obtaining work experience in the specialty for at least 1 more year. Stage 3: Continuing to study on a RIBA accredited program to study practical aspects related to architectural management and law; passing oral and written qualifying examinations; registration with the Architects Registration Board (ARB); application for a RIBA license (optional). To continue their studies in the UK, foreign students who have a diploma of first higher education in architecture undergo ARB certification for compliance with their current qualifications at Stages 1 and 2.Professional awards
RIBA's activities are not limited to education and retraining processes. The Royal Institute of British Architects annually recognizes the best professionals in their field and awards several world-renowned architectural awards. These include the Stirling Prize for the best new building of the year, the Royal Gold Medal recognizing the amount of architectural work produced, the Stephen Lawrence Prize for the best buildings funded under £500,000, as well as national, European and international awards, awarded to the best architects in the world.
Among those awarded RIBA awards is our compatriot. This is Andrey Saltykov, a graduate of the Moscow Architectural Institute and the Faculty of Architecture. Bartlett University College London, now working for Rogers Stirk Harbor and Partners (RSHP). Find
The best architectural universities in the UK train top-class specialists
It is believed that the best architectural universities are those that have the highest scores on criteria such as difficulty for admission, as well as cost and duration of study. But are these factors really that important?
We have prepared our list of the best British educational institutions in this field based on the originality of the projects created by their graduates and the innovativeness of the teaching approach.
1. Architectural Association School of Architecture
This educational institution beat out the Bartlett School of Architecture for first place on our list. Some may think that this is just a cliché or too obvious a solution, but - let's be honest - AA is indeed one of the most unique specialized universities in the world. Here they actively research materials, test new digital approaches and take non-standard themes as the basis for projects.
Overall, if your goal is to unlock your potential and go beyond conventional architectural paradigms, you won't find a better source of knowledge. In addition, AA conducts seminars, both home and away, the participation of which will be useful even for experienced specialists, because this is the best way to learn new techniques and approaches.
2. The Bartlett School of Architecture
Bartlett teaches her students to find their own ways of expressing themselves. It is the birthplace of new architectural styles and innovative ideas. The work of the famous Architectural Research Group (an association of young designers that existed from 1932 to 1935) had a serious influence on the activities of the institution, which today is famous for its interdisciplinary approach to projects, which guarantees them novelty and unconventionality.
There are many workshops on the school grounds that conduct classes for students from other specialized universities.
3. Royal College of Art
As the name suggests, this university has a more artistic approach to teaching, much in demand in the modern architectural scene. However, it would be a mistake to assume that all RCA developments are conceptual and divorced from life, because this institution unites under its roof some of the best workshops that focus on the physical modeling of objects.
They help students become familiar with different materials, which is a vital aspect in creating good design.
4. University of Sheffield
These days, every architect is forced to ask himself sooner or later the question: “Can I make a name for myself in this field without being a good entrepreneur?” The answer is yes, it is possible, but very difficult. That is why the University of Sheffield, in addition to traditional architectural courses, provides its students with classes in political science, political science and business technology.
And these are disciplines that future architects usually do not consider as important to them. This approach gives Sheffield graduates a distinct advantage over their peers and allows them to become self-sufficient rather than being dependent on big firms to make a name for themselves.
5. Cambridge University
Strictly adhering to certain principles in the teaching of architectural disciplines, the University of Cambridge focuses on the thesis that modern specialists tend to overlook such an important factor for design as the urban context.
Sustainable construction, manual labor and digital research are concepts to which the institution attaches great importance, and at the same time universal multi-stage teaching methods are practiced here.
6. London Metropolitan University
This university uses unique teaching technologies to develop students’ professional skills. For those for whom it is important to learn how to create projects based on in-depth research, we recommend the Faculty of Arts of Architecture and Design. Sir John Cass as the school of choice for future fans of their craft.
7. Glasgow School of Art
Famed for its student-to-student magazine MacMag, Glasgow School of Art's architecture department communicates its views through a range of teaching projects, from the very real, site-based to the conceptual competition. The approach varies and develops in different directions.
8. Kingston University
With a hands-on approach expressed in the motto "Thinking as You Create", Kingston University is an institution that promotes the importance of handcraft as it offers slightly different ways of exploring form and materials than digital modelling.
In conclusion, we will say that all these schools at one time became the alma mater for many architects, whom today we call, if not great, then certainly talented. Therefore, whichever one you prefer, your choice will be correct.