B.Arch vs. B.E Civil: Which one is Better for a Career in Architecture?

B.Arch vs. B.E Civil: Which one is Better for a Career in Architecture?

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Dec 17, 2020 03:58 PM IST | #Architecture Engineering

Architecture is about building places where people spend their lives. Architects' responsibilities are confined to building the exterior and interior design of any building, but rather to create an environment as a whole. Architecture is all about allowing human beings to live a way "better" than before.

B.Arch vs. B.E Civil: Which one is Better for a Career in Architecture?
B.Arch vs. B.E Civil: Which one is Better for a Career in Architecture?

If you are willing to pursue a course in Architecture, you are surely going to have a lot of fun. These courses are not just limited to traditional theoretical teaching and libraries; instead, it's full of practical works that require a lot of creativity. One can easily opt for some B.arch courses to enter this field. The field is full of opportunities and chances for young talented minds.

The demand for architecture is expected to rise in the next couple of years as India will expand FDI in real estate, eventually attracting huge money from foreign companies. Let's talk about a bachelor of architecture degree. It can easily yield you a handsome salary with jobs in government organizations like:

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  • Public Works Department

  • Town and Country Planning Organization

  • Departments of Railways, Post and Telegraphs

  • The Archaeological Department

  • Ministry of Defense

  • National Building Organization

  • Public Sector Undertakings, Housing

  • Urban Development Corporation

  • National Institute of Urban Affairs

  • National Building Construction Corporation Ltd.

These are some of the top industry places where any individual can be placed after acquiring a degree in architecture. Architecture is a broad field that offers lots of opportunities for graduates. With the increasingly high standard of living, the requirement of architects has also increased. So, if you are a candidate planning to pursue a career in this field of architecture, here we have some of the career prospects after completing the course.

Career Opportunities after bachelor of Architecture degree

After completing a bachelor of architecture degree, an individual shall be fully fledged in creative, designing, visuals, and other practical based skills. Talking about career prospects:

  1. Architect

Well, this is an obvious career option. Generally, architects are given the license to practice architecture. An architect can choose whether h/she wants to work independently or with an organization or any real estate development firm.

  1. Architecture Designer

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This is another most sought career after a b.arch degree. They are the candidates who are involved in designing houses and other small buildings. They are not registered as an architect but perform various jobs such as designing buildings, designing light-frame buildings, including family homes, agricultural buildings, etc.

2. Architecture Engineer

These professionals have the qualities of architects and civil engineers. This dual quality makes it a good career option.

3. Interior Designer

Trained interior designing professionals can work with interior designing firms that offer services in serene interiors, home interior, bedroom interior, bathroom interior, kitchen, furniture designing, etc.

B.Arch Course Details

A career in the Architecture field is attractive, lucrative, and involves lots of potential in development. This field consists of various works like spatial design, safety management, aesthetics, material management, etc.

Bachelor of Architecture degree (B.Arch) is a 5-year full-time duration program. It comprises 10 semesters. It focuses on subjects from the fields of engineering, arts, and technology to architecture's professional practice. It is a degree requiring good imagination and practical skills rather than bookish and theoretical knowledge. A good percentile will help you gain good marks, but you need experience with good gifts. So, working under professionals after acquiring a B.arch degree is considered to be a good idea.

Core Subjects in bachelor of architecture degree

A variety of subjects are taught in bachelor of architecture courses. But here we have a list of some of the core subjects offered:

  • Architecture Design

  • Types of Structures

  • History of Architecture

  • Building Science & Services

  • Architectural Design

  • Building Management

  • Theory of Settlement Planning

  • Design Applications

  • Computer & Software Lab

  • Architectural Appreciation

  • Workshop Practice

  • Building Construction

Skills Required

After you complete your bachelor's in architecture, there are specific skills in which you must excel. They include:

  • Analytical

  • Communication

  • Creativity

  • Organizational

  • Visualization

Top Colleges offering B.arch degree

India has some of the best colleges in the world offering b.arch courses. They include:

Salary Packages

When you enter as a fresher to the architecture field, you can get these rough salary packages. It varies from company to company.

  • Design Architect - INR 3.45 LPA

  • Architect - INR 3.22 LPA

  • Project Architect - INR 5.48 LPA

  • Intern Architect - INR 1.46 LPA

  • Senior Project Architect - INR 9.89 LPA

  • Architectural Designer - INR 4.81 LPA

  • Urban Planner - INR 5.46 LPA

Career Opportunities after courses after BE civil engineering

BE Civil Engineering is a 4-year undergraduate engineering degree course. This course deals with the Construction, design, and maintenance of structures and the Construction of bridges, canals, tunnels, etc. Whenever the name BE civil engineering comes to your mind, you might doubt why to opt for this course. Here are the top 3 reasons to answer your question/

Why Study BE Civil Engineering?

  • Reputed profession

Civil engineering has been a high demand field. Here skilled graduates can easily find jobs. It is the oldest and most reputable engineering division.

  • High pay

It is a high paying job. The work of a civil engineer includes initiating, planning, overlooking and completing public infrastructure projects. Be it a private or public sector, BE civil engineering has a great career prospect.

  • Career opportunities

The career opportunities in BE Civil Engineering are vast. From law, management to competitive examinations to get employed in Government organizations, the sky's the limit.

Skills Required

  • Leadership Skills

  • Team Player

  • Attention To detail

  • Good Time Management skills

  • Problem Solving Skills

  • Ability to Visualise

  • Negotiating Skills

  • Passion For Learning

Core Subjects in Bachelor of Architecture degree

  • Surveying in Civil Engineering.

  • Strength of Material or Solid Mechanics.

  • Building Material and Construction Technology.

  • Geology in Civil Engineering.

  • Concrete Technology in Civil Engineering.

  • Structural Analysis.

  • Building Planning and Drawing.

Top Colleges offering BE civil engineering are:

  • SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai. ...

  • Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore. ...

  • Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore. ...

  • Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara. ...

  • Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

Which is better, B.arch or BE Civil engineering?

Well, both of the courses are good in their aspect. It depends on the individual's interest in which course he/she wants to opt for. The students who are good at drawing and designing can easily opt for the B.Arch course. To succeed as an architect or any other professional in architecture, a candidate must have good imaginative skills. If an aspirant is interested in Interior design and creative works, he/she can go for B.Arch.

While a person is looking for a career in development and construction, BE Civil Engineering can be a great choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is B Arch an engineering course?

Bachelor of Architecture degree (B. Arch) is a 5-year full-time duration program. It focuses on different subjects like fields of engineering, technology, and art, and drawings. B.arch is a course that involves planning and designing.

2. Is a b.arch degree better than civil engineering?

Well, both civil engineering and architecture are quite valuable and professional academic programs. Still, when it comes to choosing one of them, it isn't easy. While the architecture course deals with the design and aesthetic components, civil engineering courses deal with structural planning and the architect's creativity and innovation execution.

3. What is the critical difference between b.arch courses and BE civil engineering courses?

The role and responsibilities of architects include designing the physical structures and layout of the buildings. At the same time, civil engineers are responsible for developing the building's infrastructure and implementing it. Being an architect requires more imaginative power and drawing skills apart from the subject knowledge. At the same time, civil engineering is a profession that requires administrative skills and supervising skills.

4. Can civil engineers perform the role of architecture?

Yes, civil engineers can make great architects. They have a better understanding of the structure holistically. But even civil engineers require good training before they perform the activities of architecture.

5. Can I be both an engineer and an architect?

Yes, it is possible to pursue both these fields, but the fact is that you need to have separate degrees of the same. You can choose to pursue these courses in any order, but degrees in architecture followed by a civil engineering degree are better options.

6. Should I prefer an engineer or an architect?

The primary difference is that: An architect is more concerned about the artistry, the layout of the space, and the design of a building. So, these are things of his primary focus. While it comes to civil engineering, their primary focus is on the structural elements and technical components. Hence, choose wisely!

7. Is architecture an excellent career to choose from?

Architecture is a good career option for students interested in this field. It is an excellent job with a low-stress level and higher work satisfaction. It offers you the right work-life balance because instead of too much stress, it rather requires good creative skills.

8. Is it hard to get a job in architecture?

See, it's never easy to get a high-paid job right at the beginning of your career. It probably requires some research and some experience before getting an appointment with a good salary. Though some firms are always looking for freshers with creative minds, to get a job in these organizations, you need to be skilled enough and have a good portfolio.

9. Are b.arch courses in high demand?

The employment opportunities of architects are projected to grow by 8 percent from 2018 to 2028. This has also yielded in more students graduating from architecture courses every year.

10. Can I pursue a b.arch degree if I can't draw?

Well, candidates with good drawing skills have some advantages in this field. But being a successful architect doesn't necessarily require good drawing skills. A basic sketching essential is sufficient to form a basic layout of the model of your client. If you are good at researching and imagining, then your weak drawing skills will not act as a barrier in this field.

11. What is the primary work of a Civil Engineer?

Civil Engineers are mainly deputed in building, supervising, operating, constructing, and designing projects in public and private sectors. They are also concerned with different tasks like roads, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, water supply, and sewage treatment systems.

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Questions related to Architecture Engineering

Have a question related to Architecture Engineering ?

For OBC category (non-creamy layer) candidates seeking admission to government medical colleges across India (All India Quota + State Quotas) , the NEET 2025 cutoff marks will depend on the college, state, and reservation policies . Below is a pan-India estimated cutoff range for OBC-NCL candidates based on previous years' trends:

State Expected Marks Range (OBC-NCL) Possible Colleges
Delhi (UCMS, LHMC) 620+ Very tough, needs top rank
Maharashtra (GSMC Mumbai, BJMC Pune) 580-620 Competitive
Tamil Nadu (MCC Chennai, MMC Madurai) 550-600 Moderate
Karnataka (BMCRI, KIMS Hubli) 540-590 Moderate
Rajasthan (SMS Jaipur, JLN Ajmer) 530-580 Moderate
Uttar Pradesh (KGMC Lucknow, MLB Jhansi) 500-550 Easier
Bihar/MP/Jharkhand (PMCH, GMC Bhopal) 480-530 Safest

Next Steps

  1. Aim for 600+ marks to secure AIIMS/JIPMER/AFMC or top state colleges .

  2. 550-600 marks → Good state govt colleges (Maharashtra, Karnataka, TN).

  3. 500-550 marks → Govt colleges in less competitive states (UP, Bihar, MP).

  4. Check previous cutoffs.

With a NATA score of 105 and 98.3 percentile in JEE Paper 2, you have excellent chances of getting admission in good architecture colleges in India. Most top colleges accept either NATA or JEE Paper 2 scores, and your marks are well above usual cutoffs. You can apply to colleges like SPA Delhi, CEPT Ahmedabad, and good private universities. Make sure to complete the counseling process on time and keep your documents ready. Your scores give you a strong edge!



Hello there,

With an 80 percentile in JEE Main Paper 2 for B.Arch and belonging to the ST category , your eligibility for admission to National Institutes of Technology (NITs) is possible but depends on several factors:

1. Minimum Qualifying Marks

  • ST Category : Typically, a minimum of 35–40 percentile is required to qualify for the exam.
    2. Expected Cutoff Ranks for NITs

  • ST Category : The closing ranks for ST category candidates in NITs have been observed to range from approximately 100 to 700 in previous years, varying by institute and course competitiveness.

    3. Factors Affecting Admission

  • Choice of NIT : Top NITs may have higher cutoff ranks, while others may have more accessible ranks.

  • Home State Quota : Some NITs offer relaxation in cutoff ranks for candidates applying under the home state quota.

  • JoSAA Counseling : The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts counseling based on merit and preferences.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

Yes, an ST  student with an 80 percentile in JEE Main Paper 2 (B.Arch) has a strong chance of securing admission to the Bachelor of Architecture program at several National Institutes of Technology (NITs), depending on the specific rank and seat availability.

  • Exact Rank Matters : While percentile gives a general idea, admissions are based on All India Ranks (AIR) . An 80 percentile typically corresponds to an AIR that may be within the range of previous years' cutoffs for ST candidates.

  • Home State Quota : Some NITs reserve a certain percentage of seats for candidates from the home state. If you are applying to an NIT in your home state, your chances may improve.

  • Seat Availability : The number of seats in the B.Arch program varies across NITs, which can influence the cutoff ranks.

  • Participate in JoSAA Counseling : Ensure you register for the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counseling process, where seat allotments are made based on AIR and category.

  • List Preferences Wisely : Prioritize NITs based on previous years' cutoff trends, location, and personal preferences.
  • Consider Other Institutes : Explore options in other reputed institutes offering B.Arch programs where your rank may be competitive.

Hii,

Use these simple steps to apply for admission to architecture school: First, earn at least 50% in science (math, physics, and chemistry) when you graduate from the 12th grade. Next, sit for an entrance exam such as JEE Main Paper 2 or NATA. Verify your eligibility on the exam website, then apply online by completing the application and paying the required amount. Upload marksheets and other documents.

Apply to colleges using your exam results after passing it. If necessary, go to interviews or counseling. For more information, visit college websites.

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