Students from even commerce and humanities streams can pursue course:
Many students are still unaware that architecture is a career option even for those who did not take up science in class XII. Those from commerce and humanities streams can also get into architecture provided they have studied mathematics in class XII. According to the Council of Architecture (COA), only maths is essential to apply for bachelor of architecture contrary to the popular perception that those who haven’t studied physics, chemistry and maths PCM) can’t dream of becoming architecture.
However, most school pass-outs remain unaware of the latest eligibility criteria for architecture and only science students end up applying for the 142 architecture colleges in the country. “To apply for architecture you are only required to have studied maths in class XII and secured at least 50% aggregate. Earlier, English was also required but we have dropped that requirement now,” said Prof Vijay Sohoni, president, COA.
Sohoni said that while COA has often advertised the eligibility criteria in newspapers, only 10-15% of the students in each architecture institution are from the non-science streams. All the rest are science students despite the fact that knowledge of any science subject is not essential for architecture, Sohoni added. “In architecture we need people who have studied arts and aesthetics or even social sciences,” Sohoni said.
The confusion started with COA and AICTE following their own eligibility criteria with the latter making PCM a pre-requisite for architecture. However, COA had ruled in 1983 that only English and maths would be required. After six cases were settled in different high courts, it was decided that COA was the sole authority to regulate the education in architecture. “After the Bombay High Court decided in the favour of COA, the AICTE approached the Supreme Court. But the SC declined a stay on the HC order in 2005,” said Vinod Kumar, registrar, COA. After this, in January 2006, COA notified that only maths was essential for applying to architecture.
There are 142 architecture colleges in the country out of which 123 conduct admissions through a National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA). The others are regional and centrally-funded institutes, which consider AIEEE rankings. “The confusion over the eligibility criteria for architecture still prevails because AIEEE puts it in the same bracket as engineering. The entrance exam for architecture and engineering is clubbed under AIEEE that requires a student to have passed class XII with PCM. A case in this regard is still pending in the Supreme Court,” Sohoni said.
So, the students who had maths in class XII and wants to pursue architecture can take NATA-an outline test conducted across 100 centers in the city. “The test is not annual. It happens between January and September. One needs to approach the designated center, take an appointment and appear for the test at the allotted time,” Sohoni said.
Report presented by Neha Pushkarna (TIMES CITY)
