What does the everyday working life of architects FH look like?

Architects FH are professionals in the planning, design, realization and supervision of construction projects, such as residential buildings, hospitals, company headquarters, industrial buildings, school and sports facilities, as well as roads, parking lots, landscapes, playgrounds and interiors. In their work, they combine aesthetic creativity with sound engineering knowledge.

They often work as employees in architecture and planning offices. However, they can also be found in public administration, real estate management, building cooperatives, cultural institutions or the media (journalism), research, science and teaching/schools. Some work as freelance architects and run their own company, often together with business partners as architecture and planning offices.

The day-to-day work of architects FH can be very varied. For example, they are responsible for or, depending on their professional experience, initially involved in the following tasks:

• Drafting, designing, constructing, visualizing and renovating buildings using detailed working drawings
• Development of the construction plans (digital with three-dimensional models)
• Advising clients on planning, design, financial and legal issues
• Communication with clients, authorities (building zones, obtaining permits, etc.) and relevant companies
• Preparation of documents, documentation, analyses, reports and presentations for clients or for project tenders/competitions
• Preparation and monitoring of the cost budget and schedule
• Monitoring and control of construction progress

UAS architects take a holistic view in their work and also take into account developments in the economy, politics, energy, environment and climate. In order to be able to cover the wide range of topics, they are in constant and close contact with other experts such as electrical planners, civil engineers, plumbing and heating specialists, climate experts, sociologists, etc.

Target group and skills: Who is the FH Architecture course suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The architecture course leading to a Bachelor's degree from a federally accredited university of applied sciences is suitable for

• Graduates of upper secondary level (EFZ with BM1/BM2 or high school diploma and at least 1 year of relevant professional experience) who are enthusiastic about architecture and would like to gain a professional foothold in it.
• Ambitious professionals who work in the real estate industry, for example, and would like to professionalize their passion for buildings and houses from a different perspective.
• People with a federal certificate of competence as a draughtsperson specializing in architecture who would like to give their career a boost by studying architecture at a university of applied sciences.
• Experienced professionals with an upper secondary level qualification who would like to reorient themselves and switch to architecture.

Architects FH should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Spatial imagination
• Craftsmanship
• A sense of aesthetics
• Creative expressiveness
• Flair for numbers
• Sense of responsibility
• Meticulous, reliable and solution-oriented way of working
• Creativity
• Communication skills and foreign language skills
• Winning, confident and professional demeanor
• Team and conflict management skills

Requirements for admission to the FH Architecture Bachelor's program:

The respective universities of applied sciences decide on admission to architecture studies at Bachelor's level. In addition to direct, examination-free admission, some universities of applied sciences also offer other admission procedures (entrance examination, admission "sur dossier", i.e. examination of personal documents). Depending on previous education and experience, it is sometimes possible to have credits recognized. Here too, the decision lies with the universities of applied sciences.

As a rule, the following admission requirements apply:

• Draftsman EFZ specializing in architecture or other related EFZ with (technical or design) vocational baccalaureate

Or

• High school diploma and one year of relevant work experience in construction and planning

Or

• Other completed apprenticeship (EFZ) with vocational baccalaureate and relevant one-year internship in construction and planning

Or

• Degree from a university of applied sciences (HF) in the construction industry and relevant practical experience

Note: Some universities of applied sciences

• explicitly require practical professional experience in a recognized Swiss architecture firm.
• require a workload of 40-50% in a relevant job in the part-time model.
• offer voluntary preliminary courses or "practical construction courses" to deepen basic knowledge and skills in the practical construction field and thus ideally prepare students for their studies.

Subject matter and content of the course

The universities of applied sciences are free to design their Bachelor's degree programs in architecture within the framework of the Higher Education Funding and Coordination Act (HFKG). The course content and thematic emphasis therefore vary. Most universities of applied sciences offer (elective) compulsory modules and elective modules.

Here is a selection of topics that are usually covered in a Bachelor's degree in Architecture:

• Design basics
• Basics Execution
• Architectural theory
• Spatial perception, representation and design
• Fundamentals of construction technology
• History of architecture, building and (residential) culture and art
• Building economics and building law
• Building technology
• Construction communication
• Building physics
• Mathematics for architects
• Scheduling and cost planning
• Site management
• Digitization
• Sustainability
• Climate, Environment
• Energy
• Mobility

Costs and financing of further training

The costs vary depending on the provider, training location and training model. In general, the following costs are to be expected for the 6-8 semester FH Architecture course:

• Course fees:between CHF 500 and CHF 1000 per semester for Swiss residents. Students from abroad must expect to pay higher course fees.
• Application/registration fee:between CHF 100.- and 300.-
• Examination fees (per semester):between CHF 40.- and CHF 150.-
• Additional costs:Some providers charge extra costs for teaching materials, training documents, copies/printouts, student ID/campus card, software licenses or expenses for excursions, block and seminar weeks or study trips.

Duration of study, number of lessons, training model and learning effort

• Duration of studies and training model:The Bachelor's degree in Architecture has a modular structure and lasts 6 semesters in the full-time model or 8 semesters in the part-time model (part-time).
• Number of lessons:Academic achievements are reported in ECTS points (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System Points), a type of tool for the standardized study structure of Bachelor's and Master's degree courses at universities. As a rule, 180 ECTS points are required for a Bachelor's degree, which corresponds to 4,500-5,400 hours of work. (One ECTS point corresponds to a student workload of 25 to 30 working hours). This includes all study units such as lectures, tutorials, exercises, coursework, semester examinations, etc.
• Teaching format:In addition to traditional classroom teaching, some universities of applied sciences also offer online courses and forms of learning.
• Learning effort:You should allow sufficient time to prepare for and follow up on the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style, learning speed and chosen training model.

Degree, diploma and title

The modules of a Bachelor's degree in Architecture all conclude with a performance assessment (examinations, module work, etc.). The architecture degree program is completed with a Bachelor's thesis, usually in the form of a project.

The universities of applied sciences are responsible for carrying out the performance assessments of modules and the final assessment. At some schools, the Bachelor's thesis is written after the subject lessons in the last semester, at others it is possible to write it during the subject lessons. At some universities of applied sciences, the written Bachelor's thesis must also be presented orally.

In the Bachelor's thesis, students have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, spatial, creative, interdisciplinary, networked and practical thinking. They write their thesis in individual or group work on a topic relevant to the architecture sector (usually specific construction projects)

Diploma and title

Graduates of the architecture program receive a Bachelor's degree from a federally accredited university of applied sciences and are entitled to use the title "Bachelor of Arts [FH] in Architecture".

* Note: The job title "architect" is not recognized in Switzerland.not protected. In principle, anyone can use this designation.