M.Arch (Master of Architecture) Course Details, Fees, Colleges, Salary

Content Writer | Updated on - Dec 31, 2020

Master of Architecture or M.Arch is a postgraduate Architecture Engineering course which deals with the principles of design and construction of buildings and also gives way to research concepts.

Note: Students who wish to pursue their education in Management field or get a career boost, can check MBA course.

It is a 2-year program which is generally divided into four semesters and can be pursued through regular batch or distance education. The minimum eligibility for an M.Arch course is a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture with a minimum aggregate score of 50%, completed from a recognized institution.

School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi Admissions	Anna University Admissions

Some of the Best Colleges for Master of Architecture (M.Arch) according to the NIRF rankings are listed below:

NIRF Rank	College	Admission Process	Average Annual Fees (in INR)
2	Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee	Entrance Exam	30,500
4	School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi	Merit Based	1,31,600
6	School of Planning and Architecture Bhopal	Merit Based	50,000
7	National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli	Entrance Exam	1,11,250
8	Jamia Millia Islamia	Entrance Exam	40,750

The average course fee for M.Arch course ranges from INR 60,000 to 2.6 lakh per annum depending on the specialisation of the course and also upon the mode of entrance exam. The Council of Architecture in India regulates the curriculum and professional applications of this field.

Check the list of top M.Arch entrance exams in India.

Successful M.Arch postgraduates are hired in capacities such as Town Planner, Draughtsman etc. The average annual salary offered to M.Arch postgraduates varies between INR 3 and 10 Lakhs based on their skills and areas of specialization.

M.Arch explores on an advanced level, the goals of sustained development, planning, and urban and rural physical and social dimensions.

M.Arch Admission Process

Admission to Master of Architecture (M.Arch) is based on the candidate’s performance in a relevant entrance examination, such as GATE, CEED, TANCET etc.

Also, there are some colleges and universities that conduct their own entrance tests for admission to the M.Arch , while some offer direct admission too.

M.Arch Eligibility Criteria

Any Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) passed students from a recognized university are eligible for M.Arch Degree course. B.Arch final year appearing candidates can also apply.
The eligible candidates need to acquire a minimum of 50% in the entrance examination.
Some Institutes require an aptitude test and an Interview for admission into the Master of Architecture degree.

M.Arch Entrance Exams

Some of the entrance exams for M.Arch are stated below along with college name, eligibility to sit in the exam and the last date of application.

Exam Name	Conducting Body	Eligibility	Application Deadline
GATE	Indian Institute of Science and IITs.	Bachelor's degree holders in Engineering/ Technology and those who are in the final year of such programmes.	December 15, 2020
TANCET	Anna University	Bachelor’s degree exam in the relevant field by obtaining a minimum of 50% marks	February 4, 2020
CEED	IITs and the Indian Institute of Science	Bachelors in design, fine arts, or engineering from a recognized institution	November 17, 2020
TS PGECET	Osmania University, Hyderabad	Engineering, architecture and pharmacy graduates with 50% marks.	April 30, 2020
Karnataka PGCET	Karnataka Examination Authority	GATE Score (OR) Bachelor’s Degree of minimum 3 years (+) 50% marks (45% marks for SC/ ST/ Category-I of Karnataka candidates)	June 20, 2020

Tips to crack M.Arch Entrance Exams

Aspirants should be familiar with the syllabus and exam pattern of the entrance exams.
Candidates should go through all original previous years papers and solve them in the stipulated time and analyze the mistakes.
Candidates should keep a track of the latest happenings in the related fields and read newspapers regularly.
Aspirants should solve mock tests regularly to keep a check on the progress.
Aspirants should focus on time management and make a proper timetable covering all the topics in the syllabus.

M.Arch Course Highlights

The following table shows some major highlights about the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) course as a whole.

Course Level	Post Graduation
Duration	2 years (4 semesters)
Examination Type	Semester System
Eligibility	Graduation in Architecture (B.Arch.)
Admission Process	Based on merit at the graduation level, 50% in entrance tests and interviews in case of some institutes
Course Fees	INR 70,000 to 3 lakhs
Average Salary	INR 5,95,000 per annum
Top Recruiting Organizations	DLF, L&T, Sahara Group, Eros Group
Top Job Profiles	Design Architect, Project Architect, Architect, Landscape Architect, Urban Designer, Assistant Professor, Project Manager, Sr. Associate Architect, Senior Project Architect, Urban Planner etc.

M.Arch: What is it About?

Architecture is a discipline of designing and constructing buildings which involves concepts of planning, architecture, and design fundamentals.

Master of Architecture (M.Arch) incorporates elements of both rural and urban, residential and commercial infrastructure, imparted through a professionally oriented curriculum.
The Council of Architecture (COA) is the regulating body concerned with education and practice of this profession.
The Master of Architecture or M.Arch course also involves designing or construction of Parks, Museums, Garden, Theme Parks, etc.
There are several specializations in this field like Landscape Architecture, Green Architecture, Naval Architecture and many others.

Course Comparison

The table below shows the differences between M.Arch and its alternative course M.Plan.

Overview	Master of Architecture [M.Arch]	Master of Planning [M. Plan]
Objective	Master of Architecture (M.Arch), is a postgraduate course dealing with the advanced way to approach the design, planning and structures and also giving way to research concepts. Landscape Architecture, Environmental Planning,	Masters of Planning (M.Plan) is a postgraduate course in planning urban, rural, environment, transport, etc. settlements and resources
Duration	2 years	2 years
Eligibility	Candidates must have passed B.Arch, B.Plan with 55% marks in aggregate Candidates must also have a minimum one year of work experience (depends on the colleges)	Candidates must have passed B. Arch. / B. Plan. OR B. E / B. Tech in Civil Engineering with a minimum 55% aggregate OR M.Sc. / M.A. in (Geography/ Economics / Sociology) with a minimum 55% aggregate
Course Fees	INR 50,000 to 2 lakhs	INR 1 to 3 lakhs
Average Starting Salary	INR 3 Lacs to 10 Lacs	INR 2.5 to 4 Lakhs

Why Study M.Arch?

Master of Architecture [M.Arch] is an advanced and detailed study of Architecture which is tangible.
As demand for commercial space increases, there is strong growth in non-residential construction.
Architectural course (M.Arch) enables one to design any kind of structure system which includes a wide variety of buildings, such as office and apartment buildings, schools, churches, factories, hospitals, houses, and airport terminals.
An Architect acquires a multi-dimensional role whose guidance is required in the execution of construction projects, client discussions, and preparation of the blueprint, budget decision, and supervision.

M.Arch Specializations

Master of Architecture is a postgraduate programme with specializations in different fields:

Urban Design: M.Arch in Urban Design is a 2-year post graduate program dealing with the design and construction of fine buildings. This program is divided into 4 semesters that vary from institute to institute.

Average Fee	INR 1.25 lakhs per annum
Average Starting Salary	INR 1 to 6 lakhs per annum

Top Colleges for Master of Architecture [M.Arch] (Urban Design)

Urban and Rural Planning: M.Arch in Urban and Rural Planning is a postgraduate course which teaches basics of planning and applications of planning in daily life.

Average Fee	INR 1.14 lakhs
Average Starting Salary	INR 2.9 to 3.7 lakhs per annum

Top Colleges for Master of Architecture [M.Arch] (Urban & Rural Planning)

Landscape Architecture: M.Arch in Landscape Architecture is a two year postgraduate program, focused on the tools and methods used to plan the development of a land and designing the outdoor environment.

Average Fee	INR 50,000 to 2 lakhs
Average Starting Salary	INR 2 to 8 lakhs per annum

Top Colleges for Master of Architecture [M.Arch] (Landscape Architecture)

M.Arch Syllabus and Course Structure

M.Arch syllabus provides specialization in one's chosen line. The Master of Architecture does not only involve just buildings; but also designing a variety of environments like Gardens, Parks, and Theme Parks etc.

Each architectural field has a specialist, thus we have Green Architect, Landscape Architect, Museum Architect, Naval Architect, Theatre Architect etc. The following table gives a brief description of M.Arch Syllabus.

Semester I	Semester II
Contemporary Processes in Architectural Design I	Contemporary Processes in Architectural Design II
Urban Conservation and Practice	Performance Evaluation of Buildings
Traditional and Contemporary Landscapes	Services in High Rise Buildings
Sustainable and Green Building Design	Urban Landscape Design
Urban Design Studio	Web Design and Portfolio Production
Landscape Ecology and Planning	Advanced Architectural Design Studio I
Semester III	Semester IV
Emerging Practices in Housing	Building Information Modelling
Research Methodologies in Architecture	Thesis
Architecture and Critical Theory	Building Management and Control Systems
Dissertation	Appropriate Technologies and Sustainable Construction
Advanced Architectural Design Studio II	GIS Modelling in Urban Planning
Sustainability and Energy Conservation in Landscape Architecture	Material Conservation

M.Arch Colleges

Listed below are some of the top institutes offering the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) course in the country with the corresponding locations and fees charged by each of them.

NIRF Rank	Name	Location	Annual Fees (in INR)	Placement Package
2	Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee	Uttarakhand	30,500	INR 5 to 7 lakh per annum
4	School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi	Delhi	1,31,600	INR 6 to 8 lakhs per annum
6	School of Planning and Architecture Bhopal	Madhya Pradesh	50,000	INR 10,000 to 60,000 as stipend
7	National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli	Tamil Nadu	1,11,250	INR 4.2 lakhs per annum
8	Jamia Millia Islamia	Delhi	40,750	INR 5 lakhs per annum
9	School of Planning and Architecture Vijayawada	Andhra Pradesh	1,56,800	INR 3.6 lakhs per annum
12	Anna University	Tamil Nadu	60,000	INR 6 lakhs per annum
15	BMS College of Architecture	Karnataka	80,000	-

College Comparison

There is quite a difference between the government and private M.Arch colleges. The table below is a comparison between two top Master of Architecture colleges of india.

Parameters	Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee	School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada
Overview	The Institute offers undergraduate courses in 10 disciplines and postgraduate degrees in 55 disciplines. The college offers doctoral programs in management, science, engineering, and architecture streams.	SPAV is one of the leading institutes in the country known for its quality of education and focus on research . SPAV offers courses in planning and architecture at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Location	Uttarakhand	Andhra Pradesh
Specialization Subjects	Offers only the general course	Sustainable Architecture
Average Course Fees	INR 53,000	INR 2,23,800
Average Salary	INR 5 to 6 lakhs per annum	INR 3.6 lakhs per annum

M.Arch Jobs and Career Prospects

The scope of Architecture has varied applications even in non-related areas as it is interdisciplinary in nature. Since M.Arch relies on principles of science, arts, mathematics etc., it makes one somewhat skilled and can have many M.Arch job opportunities, including other fields as well.

Most M.Arch graduates find lucrative career opportunities in areas such as:

Central and State Public Work Departments
Urban Development Corporations
State Housing Boards
Town and Country Planning Organization
Department of Railways
National Institutes of Urban Affairs and Housing
National Building Organization
City Development Authorities

Successful M.Arch postgraduates of the course are hired in capacities such as Architectural Consultant, in organizations such as DLF, L&T, Sahara Group, Eros Group etc.

The table below provides an idea of the sought after professions on successful completion of a M.Arch Degree.

Job Role	Job Description	Annual Average Salary (in INR)
Architectural Technician	Architectural technicians work with architects and other building professionals and provide architectural design services and solutions on construction projects.	11,79,172
Project architect	A Project Architect oversees the architectural aspects of the development of the design and production of construction documents and specifications.	6,01,688
Landscape Architect	Landscape architects create natural and built environments that are aesthetically pleasing as well as practical, in both urban and rural areas.	3,95,646
Design Architect	Design Architects create plans and gather design requirements for new structures and focus on the style and look of the project while adhering to all building requirements and codes.	3,76,763
Architecture Professor	Architecture Professors teach courses in architecture and architectural design, such as architectural environmental design, interior architecture/design, and landscape architecture.	3,60,000
Architectural Conservator	Architectural Conservators assist in activities related to research and planning and to execute preservation and conservation projects through coordination of disciplines and by following principles of scientific methods of conservation, mainly dealing with materials.	4,88,832
Building Inspector	Building Inspectors determine the structural soundness of buildings and construction projects.	7,25,000
Building Control Officer	Building control officers examine and comment on plans for new buildings, alterations or extensions, oversee the work of building surveyors and provide them with supportive management.	5,35,704

The graph below gives an idea of the salary trends of M.Arch graduates.

Source: Payscale

M.Arch Higher Studies

Doctoral Degree programs are much more advanced than Master’s and PG Diploma courses of Architecture. M.Phil. and PhD are Doctoral Degree level courses after completing relevant Master’s Degree in Architecture (Specialization or General) OR Completed Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Art History or Civil Engineering. M.Phil/PhD in Architecture in India takes about 4 years to complete and the providing institutes follow a merit based admission process.

Check the list of top colleges for M.Phil. and PhD in Architecture

M.Arch: FAQs

Ques. What are the career benefits of completing an M.Arch after a B.Arch?

Ans. Career benefits of M.Arch are teaching, research, Govt. jobs and for field experience. Sometimes branching out to different specialisations like planning, landscape etc. also help in increasing the field of practice.

Ques. Is it good to earn an MBA after B.Arch or go for M.Arch?

Ans. While both courses add value to a B.Arch, the choice between the two depends on several factors. MBA tends to have a broader spectrum, allowing diversity into more 'mainstream' lines of business (such as consulting). In contrast an M.Arch focuses on becoming an expert in the chosen field.

Ques. Can students do M.Arch after B Tech in civil?

Ans. Yes, a B.Tech civil engineer is eligible for M.Arch. M.Arch is a master of architecture, and it includes various topics like building design, town planning, urban designing, etc.

Ques. Who can do a PhD in architecture?

Ans. Students enrolled in a Ph.D in Architecture program can complete the degree in four or more years of full-time study. A professional degree in architecture (M.Arch) or in a related field is all that is required to be admitted into a PhD program.

Ques. Is there a demand for architects in the future?

Ans. Employment of architects is projected to grow 4 percent from 2016 to 2026, slower than the average for all occupations. There is increasing demand for architects with a knowledge of “green design,” also called sustainable design, is expected to continue.

Ques. Is M.Arch necessary?

Ans. Many architects go on to own their own architectural firms, where they have the freedom to design what they love and build significant and complex structures that can resonate with a community. A M.Arch degree is essential to reaching such a level of professional and creative freedom.

Ques. How difficult is a M.Arch degree?

Ans. Doing an architecture degree can be hugely rewarding. But it is also among the most challenging courses as it includes long hours, a huge workload and focus on detail.