Study architecture full-time, dual or online at private universities in Germany: All Bachelor's/Master's degree programmes in comparison

Studying Architecture without NC: Requirements at a glance

There are no admission restrictions in the form of an NC for most of the Architecture degree programmes I present to you here. Some universities, such as the Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences or hochschule 21, limit the size of the study groups, while other universities, such as the IU International University of Applied Sciences, accept unlimited participants.

All degree programmes require at least a higher education entrance qualification such as the Abitur. The following table lists the prerequisites for Bachelor's degree programmes in Architecture in detail:

Study contents of the Architecture degree programme

In the Architecture degree programme, you systematically deal with recording, designing, shaping and constructing our built environment. You learn how to plan, realise and modernise buildings. In current degree programmes, you will also deal with topics such as smart building or sustainable building.

When choosing your Architecture degree programme, you should take a closer look at the course content. There are module handbooks for all degree programmes, which you can request from the student advisory service of the respective university. The module handbooks list all modules in detail and also show the type of examination with which the modules are completed.

The specialisations offered are also important. Compulsory electives enable you to set certain focal points during the Bachelor's programme and to work on topics according to your own personal interests.

In the following, I will show you a typical study plan in the study of architecture using the example of the B.A. Architecture at the IU International University of Applied Sciences:

• Semester 1: Building Construction - Fundamentals, Fundamentals of Building Materials, Representing: Fundamentals, Design: Residential Construction, Design: Fundamentals and Building Theory
• Semester 2: Introduction to scientific work, building physics, seminar: architectural theory, collaborative work, building history
• Semester 3: Intercultural and ethical action skills, Representing: Model making, construction business management, construction systems, project: concept and model design.
• Semester 4: Building Construction - Timber Construction, Illustrate: CAD, Design: Public Buildings, Building Construction - Finishing and Facade, Design: Office and industrial buildings
• Semester 5: Project: Housing concept, Urban planning, Project: Office and industrial building concept, Cost and schedule planning, Project: Cultural building concept
• Semester 6: Building technology, private and public building law, surveying, project: structural engineering and dimensioning, landscape planning
• Semester 7: Elective subject A, elective subject B, Bachelor thesis

In the course of your studies, you will delve into a total of two of these elective subjects: Interior Design, Facility Management, Architectural Competition and Public Relations, Interdisciplinary Professional Excursion, Building Information Modelling, Smart Building, Sustainable Building, Real Estate Law.

Dual study programme in Architecture: Bachelor's degree & work experience at the same time

University studies and professional experience at the same time: the dual study programme in Architecture

A dual Bachelor's programme in Architecture is currently offered by two private universities: IU International University of Applied Sciences and hochschule 21. I will briefly introduce both programmes here.

IU International University of Applied Sciences

The dual Architecture degree programme at IU lasts a total of 7 semesters full-time and is offered at the following locations: Berlin, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Mannheim, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart. Those who do not have a location near them can also study via the so-called Virtual Campus - the courses then take place exclusively online. At most locations, the programme starts in the summer or winter semester.

The IU helps students find a suitable training company. To this end, the IU works together with numerous companies throughout Germany. Important to know: You do not necessarily complete vocational training with your practice partner. This means that in the dual study programme at IU you will not necessarily acquire a vocational qualification in addition to your Bachelor's degree.

Particularly interesting: Students in the dual study programme at IU do not pay tuition fees - the tuition fees are paid in full by the practice partner.

hochschule 21

hochschule 21 offers a dual course of study in Architecture leading to a Bachelor of Engineering degree at its location in Buxtehude/Lower Saxony. The programme lasts a total of 8 semesters. The number of places is limited, applicants go through a three-stage admission procedure.

The university's practice partners are architecture and planning offices, building construction companies, project companies in the real estate industry and construction departments in companies and municipalities. The university looks for a fitting training company together with the students, so a training contract at the beginning of the programme is not a prerequisite.

After two years of professional experience, the Bachelor's degree in Architecture DUAL from hochschule 21 qualifies for entry in the list of architects (chamber eligibility).

Study Interior Design privately: Study contents & possibilities

You can currently study Interior Design at a total of three private universities: the Berlin International University of Applied Sciences, the AMD Akademie Mode & Design of the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences and the IU International University of Applied Sciences.

These degree programmes focus on the conception, design and planning of spaces and spatial objects. At AMD, for example, the study programme is structured as follows:

• Semester 1–3: Introduction, Manual and Digital Drawing Techniques I, II, III, Visual Communication I, II, III, Fundamentals of Spatial Design I, II, III, Cultural History of Design I, II, III, Design with Digital Media I, Narrative Spaces, Elective Module
• Semester 4: Design with Digital Media II, Design in Context, Theory of Architecture I, Elective Module
• Semester 5: Internship
• Semester 6: Theory of Architecture II, Marketing, Technical Development, Spatial Concept
• Semester 7: Bachelor Phase, Exhibition Documentation

Here are all the degree programmes in Interior Design at a glance:

Distance learning in Architecture at the IU: Requirements, contents & costs

The IU International University of Applied Sciences is currently the only private distance learning university in Germany to offer an online studies or distance learning in Architecture (currently not chamber-eligible). The study programme lasts 6 semesters in full-time, and between 8 and 12 semesters in part-time study.

The only prerequisite for admission to the architecture distance learning programme at the IU is a higher education entrance qualification, i.e. a baccalaureate, a professional baccalaureate or subject-related entrance qualification. In addition, it is also possible to enter the study programme without an baccalaureate with completed vocational training or with completed advanced training.

In full-time studies, the distance learning programme costs a total of 13,623 euros, the tuition fees are paid in monthly instalments of 359 euros each. In part-time studies, students pay a total of 15,531 euros, 309 euros per month. Part-time students pay a total of 15,747 euros, 209 euros per month.

The full-time curriculum is structured as follows:

• Semester 1: Building Construction - Fundamentals, Introduction to Scientific Work, Fundamentals of Building Materials Science, Representing: Fundamentals, Design: Fundamentals and Building Theory, Project: Concept and Model Design
• Semester 2: Building History, Representation: Model making, Seminar: Architectural theory, Collaborative working, Design: Housing, Project: Housing Concept
• Semester 3: Structural engineering, building construction - timber construction, building physics, presentation: CAD, Design: Public buildings, Project: Cultural building concept
• Semester 4: Surveying, Building Construction - Finishing and Facade, Urban Planning, Intercultural and Ethical Action Skills, Design: Office and Industrial Building, Project: Office and Industrial Building Concept
• Semester 5: Building technology, project: structural engineering and dimensioning, construction management, cost and schedule planning, private and public building law, landscape planning
• Semester 6: Elective subject A, elective subject B, Bachelor thesis

In the course of their studies, students specialise in two subjects of their choice. They choose one of these scientific specialisations: Sustainable Building, Smart Building, Building Information Modelling. In addition, they choose one of the following functional and industry specialisations: Foreign Languages, Facility Management, Advanced Leadership, Applied Sales, Human Resources, Project Management, Real Estate Law.

Important: The programme is currently not eligible for the Chamber of Architects: You will acquire professional competence, but you are not allowed to use the protected professional title of architect. To obtain this professional title in Germany, you need to be registered in the list of a Chamber of Architects. As a rule, you can only apply for admission to the chamber after completing a four- or five-year degree in Architecture with corresponding professional experience of at least two years. Some state chambers require additional qualifications. The responsible Chamber of Architects of the respective federal state decides on the entry in the list. Many chambers currently state that they do not accept applicants who have completed their Bachelor's degree in Architecture by distance learning. Classroom attendance is usually still considered essential. Even the addition of a recognised Master's degree programme cannot currently guarantee admission to a Chamber of Architects.