Bachelor of Architecture
About This Programme
AURAK's Bachelor of Architecture is a five-year, 161 credit-hour professional degree covering design, construction and sustainability alongside the technical skills of drafting, modelling and computer-aided design. The curriculum is studio-led, running seven architectural design studios and a two-part graduation project, with two internships in between.
Course Highlights
- Five-year, 161 credit-hour professional degree
- Seven design studios plus a two-part graduation project
- NAAB candidate for accreditation, with the initial accreditation visit set for October 2026
- Scholarships for this degree renew for up to five years rather than four
What You'll Study
AURAK publishes this as a sample study plan; the actual sequence a student follows depends on placement, transfer credit and course availability. Where AURAK's own plan totals fewer credit hours than the degree's published credit count, the published count is authoritative.
Freshman Year
- ARCH 121 - Basic Design I4 credits
- MATH 113 - Calculus I3 credits
- INDS 112 - Design Communication 1: Sketching and Drawing for Interiors3 credits
- ENGL 101 - Composition3 credits
- UNIV 100 - University First-Year Transition1 credit
- ARCH 122 - Basic Design 24 credits
- INDS 121 - Interior Design Process, Human Factors and Ergonomics3 credits
- INDS 122 - Design Communication 2: Digital Media for Interiors3 credits
- PHYS 110 - University Physics I3 credits
- PHYS 111 - University Physics I Lab1 credit
- CSCI 112 - Introduction to Computer Programming3 credits
- CSCI 113 - Introduction to Computer Programming Lab1 credit
Sophomore Year
- ARCH 221 - Architectural Design Studio 14 credits
- ARCH 231 - Building Construction 13 credits
- ARCH 241 - History and Theory of Architecture 13 credits
- CIEN 216 - Structures for Architecture 13 credits
- ARCH 223 - Computer Architectural Drawing3 credits
- ARCH 222 - Architectural Design Studio 24 credits
- ARCH 232 - Building Construction 23 credits
- ARCH 242 - History and Theory of Architecture 23 credits
- CIEN 316 - Structures for Architecture 23 credits
- ENGL 202 - English for Workplace Communication3 credits
Junior Year
- ARCH 321 - Architectural Design Studio 34 credits
- ARCH 331 - Building Construction 33 credits
- ARCH 341 - History and Theory of Architecture 33 credits
- CIEN 261 - Surveying1 credit
- ENVS 102 - Sustainability and Human-Environment Relations3 credits
- ARCH 322 - Architectural Design Studio 44 credits
- ARCH 336 - Construction Drawings3 credits
- ARCH 342 - History and Theory of Contemporary Architecture3 credits
- ARCH 372 - Sustainable Architecture3 credits
- ARCH 000 - Technical Elective 13 credits
- ARCH 390 - Internship I3 credits
Senior and Fifth Year
AURAK publishes the fourth and fifth years of the Bachelor of Architecture together in a single Senior Year tab.
- ARCH 421 - Architectural Design Studio 54 credits
- ARCH 463 - Landscape Architecture3 credits
- MENG 468 - Building Utilities I: HVAC and Mechanical Building Services3 credits
- GEN ED - Humanities and Fine Arts Elective3 credits
- ARCH 457 - Urban Design3 credits
- ARCH 422 - Architectural Design Studio 64 credits
- ARCH 466 - Building Utilities II: Illumination, Acoustics and Electrical Building Services3 credits
- ARCH 454 - Urban Planning3 credits
- Technical Elective II3 credits
- ARCH 391 - Internship II3 credits
- ARCH 521 - Architectural Design Studio 74 credits
- ARCH 591 - Graduation Project Thesis Research2 credits
- ARCH 000 - Technical Elective 23 credits
- ARCH 487 - Project Management3 credits
- ARCH 592 - Graduation Project Design5 credits
- MENG 323 - Engineering Economy3 credits
- ARCH 485 - Professional Practice3 credits
- UNIV 200 - Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (Writing Intensive)3 credits
Writing-intensive requirement - students take one of the following:
- PHIL 100 - Critical Thinking and Reasoning3 credits
- ENGL 200 - Advanced Composition3 credits
- MEST 100 - Introduction to Islam in World Culture (Writing Intensive)3 credits
Entry Requirements
Applications are made online. AURAK's admissions application deadline for Fall 2026 is 30 August 2026 and for Spring 2027 is 3 January 2027.
Careers
AURAK frames the architecture career path around building design concepts, drawings, 3D models and presentations, residential, commercial and mixed-use projects, engineering, urban planning, sustainability consulting, infrastructure projects, building regulations and approvals, public infrastructure and civic projects, project feasibility and investment, coordinating design and construction, and managing large developments, leading to leading projects, starting your own firm, taking full legal responsibility for designs, master's or PhD study, and teaching architecture. AURAK names architecture firms, engineering firms, government agencies and academic institutions in the UAE and internationally as destinations.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The programme is a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) CANDIDATE for accreditation, not yet accredited: candidacy was awarded in 2022, the initial accreditation visit is scheduled for October 2026 and AURAK projects initial accreditation in 2026. AURAK is also institutionally accredited by SACSCOC (US) and QAA (UK).
Programme Details
Award
Bachelor of Architecture
Start Date
Fall (August/September) and Spring (January), with an optional Summer (June) start
Typical Offer
Placement in the appropriate Mathematics course is set from the applicant's high school Mathematics result or Accuplacer test result.
Duration
5 years
Qualification
BArch
Subject Area
Architecture
Tuition Fee
AED 63,290/yr
Applications are made online through AURAK. Fees shown exclude the separate non-tuition charges: an AED 400 application fee (AED 500 for graduate programmes), an AED 4,000 seat reservation fee credited against first-semester tuition, and per-semester technology, service and medical fees.