Study Architecture

BAS 3 years, plus BAS(Hons)/BArchHons 1 year, plus MArch(Prof) 1 year at Wits (NQF 9); structures differ between schools

Pay in South AfricaR720–770ka year · typical R750k Work abroad3.1 of 5best: Ireland, United Kingdom AI outlookEvolvingAI changes parts of the daily work

Getting inHighcompetition for places · 3-year BAS + 1-year honours + 1-year MArch

R53 000 to R78 140 first-year fees 1 bursary lists Architecture

School subjects: Maths requiredPhysical Sciences required at some universitiesMaths Literacy not accepted

Entry details and typical minimums

English at 50%+. UP's BSc Architecture also requires Physical Sciences at level 4; Wits and UCT do not. Most schools also require a written and graphic exercise and an interview; Visual Arts or Design helps.

Typical minimums: Wits BAS: APS 29 with at least 50% in Mathematics and 50% in English; Mathematical Literacy is not accepted (course finder). The Wits 2027 Guide (p.70) instead gives APS 34+, with APS 30-33 possibly accepted after an interview on exceptional scores. Selection weighs the exercise and interview as well as APS.

Sources: Wits Bachelor of Architectural Studies · Wits Guide for Undergraduate Applicants 2027, p.70 (BAS: "APS 34 +"; "applicants with a Wits APS of 30-33 may be accepted on the basis of exceptional scores") · UP Faculty of EBIT brochure 2027, p. 8 - BSc Architecture: English 5, Mathematics 4, Physical Sciences 4, APS 30 · SACAP architectural learning sites · Wits - MArch (Professional), 1 year full-time

Pay

Yearly gross pay, turned into rand at the exchange rate. The dot is the typical figure. How pay is measured

USAR1.4–2.3m
NetherlandsR1.2–1.9m
AustraliaR700k–1.5m
GermanyR940k–1.6m
UKR880k–1.3m
CanadaR830k–1.5m
IrelandR570k–1.8m^~
New ZealandR710k–1.3m
South AfricaR720–770k

~ limited evidence

Working abroad 3.1 of 5

Score out of 5. Tap a country for steps and visas.

AI outlook

EvolvingAI changes parts of the daily work

Registered architects carry legal responsibility for buildings, but drawing, documentation and rendering are being automated fast.

Hands-on In-person care Licensed & accountable

How AI changes each field

Careers

Professional architect
Architectural technologist
Urban designer
Heritage or conservation architect
Project architect / contract administrator
Architectural designer in practice

Canberra Accord on Architectural Education

SACAP has been a full signatory since 2017, alongside the US (NAAB), Canada (CACB), Mexico, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Korea. It recognises accreditation systems as substantially equivalent, but the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia and NZ are not signatories.

Where to study 6

First-year tuition, as published. My Matric Map can check your results against each of these. Tap a university for its entry requirements and dates. Compare study costs

Country by country: steps, exams, visas and pay sources

About five years of study (3 + 1 + 1 at Wits; structures differ between schools) plus candidacy before SACAP registration as a Professional Architect. 'Architect' is a protected title almost everywhere, so every destination needs local registration, exams or a period of local practice.

Professional regulator: South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP)

Where it can take you

Architecture → New Zealand

Overall 3/5 · Moderate

SA degrees are not pre-recognised by NZRAB; expect Pathway 2 or 3 plus a year of NZ experience.

Recognition: 3/5 · Exams or bridging. Licensing exams, an adaptation period or a conversion course. Typically 6 to 24 months.
Demand: Some demand

Sources: NZRAB recognised qualifications (Pathway 1) · NZRAB qualifications and experience assessment (Pathway 2): Stage 1 fee 'NZ$700.00' · NZRAB Pathway 3: 'NZ$1,750.00 (GST included) for a first attempt and $875.00 (GST included) for subsequent attempts'

Qualification and licensing guide

Pay, in rand at the exchange rate

Typical gross pay in each country, turned into rand at the exchange rate. Compare salaries switches between the exchange rate, buying power and after tax, and says how each works.

United States R1.4–2.3m2.4× SA

Netherlands R1.2–1.9m2.0× SA

Australia R700k–1.5m1.9× SA

Germany R940k–1.6m1.6× SA

United Kingdom R880k–1.3m1.5× SA

Canada R830k–1.5m1.4× SA

Ireland R570k–1.8m^*1.3× SA

New Zealand R710k–1.3m1.3× SA

South Africa R720–770k^*

South Africa · line: the South African figure · pay range · starting pay · hover or tap a bar for details · gross pay a year, low to high estimate; the bar ends at the typical figure · * weaker figure

Country	Typical gross pay	Range and starting pay	Occupation and source
South Africa	ZAR 745 900 Middle of the pay scale, as gross pay 2026	ZAR 719 600 to 772 200 lowest and highest point of the pay scale, 2026 · DPSA Circular 15 of 2026 OSD salary scales (1 Apr 2026), Appendix E · Converted to gross like the typical figure. PUBLIC, TCE package. Architect (Production) Gr A, 6 notches; Gr B to R961,167, Gr C to R1,189,767. No public private-sector architect survey. Starting ZAR 624 500 Candidate Architect (pre-SACAP Professional registration), after the professional degree, 2026 · DPSA Circular 15 of 2026 OSD salary scales (1 Apr 2026), Appendix E · Converted to gross (x0.909): State Candidate Architect TCE R687,036 = R624,500 gross. Private-sector cross-check: PayScale South Africa early-career architect median base R224,771 (P25 R120k, P75 R261k), tiny sample (crowd-sourced, low confidence).	Architect (Production) Grade A, OSD for Engineering Professions and related occupations (Appendix E) DPSA Circular 15 of 2026 OSD salary scales (1 Apr 2026) · Gross pay: package midpoint R820,565 x 0.909 (less the State's GEPF contribution, 13% of the 70% basic). PUBLIC-SECTOR. Scale quoted as total-cost packages; amounts below are as quoted. Grade A scale R791,604-R849,525; Chief Architect Gr A/B run to R1.5m. No public SACAP/private architect survey found. Private-sector cross-check: PayScale South Africa median R273,000 (crowd-sourced, low confidence).
United Kingdom	GBP 47 143 Median 2025	GBP 37 342 to 55 262 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · SOC 2451 Architects, full-time, April 2025. Registered-architect status needs ~7 years (Parts 1-3). Starting GBP 31 000 Newly registered architect after Parts 1-3, 2026 · National Careers Service job profile: architect ('Starter' salary) · NCS starter 31,000; experienced 58,000. Part 1/Part 2 assistants during training typically earn less.	SOC2020 2451 Architects ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a Annual pay - Gross, full-time · Median gross annual pay, full-time employees, April 2025. CV 5.3%.
Ireland	EUR 49 633 Middle of the advertised range 2026	EUR 28 000 to 90 000 salary survey range, 2026 · Morgan McKinley Ireland Salary Guide 2026 (permanent salaries) · low confidence · Architect, lowest to highest across experience bands and 5 cities (same source as typical). MM 0-3 yrs: 28,000-45,000 (regions lowest). Starting EUR 36 140 First year after an L8 degree (architecture is in this field; full registration needs further practice and exams), 2023 · CSO Higher Education Outcomes, table HEO12 Graduate Earnings (NFQ Level 8, 2022 graduates, year 1): Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction · low confidence, not shown on the chart · EUR695/wk x52. Median, earned 2023. Broad field of study; includes part-time workers, so understates full-time pay. Architecture is a small part of this broad field.	Architect Morgan McKinley Ireland Salary Guide 2026 (permanent salaries) · Midpoint of each published band (0-3/3-5/5+ yrs) averaged over bands and the 5 listed cities. Full range EUR28,000-90,000. No Irish official occupational pay statistics exist.
Netherlands	EUR 73 840 Median 2025	EUR 57 824 to 94 432 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · CBS StatLine 86355NED Werknemers; uurloon en beroep (p25/p75 gross hourly) · BRC 2014 0714 Architecten en planologen, employees, 2025: p25 27.80/h, p75 45.40/h x2080, excl. holiday pay (as typical). Starting EUR 50 544 New wo-master graduate, 1 year after leaving university; registration as architect needs a 2-yr beroepservaringsperiode, 2024 · CBS StatLine 83815NED Uitstromers ho; uurloon na verlaten onderwijs (median, cohort 2022/'23, 1 yr after leaving) · low confidence, not shown on the chart · Wo-master 'Techniek': median 24.30/h x2080, Oct 2024, employees. Field covers all technical masters, not architecture alone; likely overstates architects.	BRC 2014 0714 Architecten en planologen CBS StatLine 86355NED Werknemers; uurloon en beroep · Median gross hourly x2080 (40h x52). Hourly excl. holiday pay, NL full-time ~36-38h; errors largely offset. Group also holds planners and surveyors.
Germany	EUR 59 400 Median 2025	EUR 46 512 to 78 180 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BA Entgeltatlas (Beschaeftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025, Vollzeit, all ages, Germany · KldB 31114, monthly p25-p75 x12. Chamber registration needs ~2 yrs practice after the degree. Starting EUR 49 494 Newly graduated architect in municipal building authority, TVoeD E10 Stufe 1 (assumed engineer grading), 2026 · TVoeD/VKA Entgelttabelle 2026 (valid 1 May 2026-31 Mar 2027); EGO VKA Teil A II.3 · low confidence, not shown on the chart · Assumes architects are graded with engineers (E10) - EGO text names engineering degrees, not architecture explicitly. Private-office pay often lower. Excludes annual Jahressonderzahlung.	KldB 2010 31114 Berufe in der Architektur - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten BA Entgeltatlas (Beschäftigungsstatistik), Stichtag 31.12.2025 · Median monthly gross full-time x12. Employees in social insurance only (no self-employed/Beamte); capped at 8,050 EUR/mo. n=54,621.
United States	USD 99 280 Median 2025	USD 77 960 to 126 550 25th to 75th percentile, 2025 · BLS OEWS May 2025 national (via BLS Public Data API) · OEWS May 2025 national annual 25th/75th percentile for SOC 17-1011; p10 $62,300, p90 $161,420; not top-coded. Starting USD 57 700 1 year after a Master of Architecture (CIP 04.02, master's), pre-licensure, 2022 · College Scorecard field-of-study data (Jun 2026 release), EARN_MDN_1YR · Grad-weighted median of program medians, earnings 1 yr after completion (2018-20 grads, CY2020-21, 2022 $; working & not enrolled, incl. part-time). Licensure needs NAAB degree + AXP experience + ARE exams. Bachelor's-level 04.02 (incl. non-professional BS) is $46,551.	17-1011 Architects, Except Landscape and Naval BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national · OEWS national median annual wage, May 2025.
Canada	CAD 80 995 Median 2024	CAD 65 000 to 114 005 25th to 75th percentile, 2024 · Job Bank wage data 2025 release (LFS 2023-2024), national quartiles · Job Bank Q1/Q3 hourly C$31.25/C$54.81 x2080, NOC 21200, LFS 2023-24. Low/high (~p10/p90): C$54,995/C$155,002. Starting CAD 69 100 2 years after a master's in architecture and related services (M.Arch route), intern-architect stage, 2024 · Statistics Canada Table 37-10-0281 (ELMLP), graduates two years after graduation · Median employment income 2 yrs after graduation (2022 grads, measured 2024, 2024 $); excludes full-time students, includes part-time/part-year workers. Licensure needs an accredited M.Arch, internship hours and ExAC. Bachelor's-level architecture: C$55,600.	21200 Architects Job Bank wage data (open data), Labour Force Survey · National median hourly wage C$38.94 x 2080 h. Job Bank/LFS reference period 2023-2024, published 19 Nov 2025.
Australia	AUD 120 016 Median 2025	AUD 60 800 to 131 000 25th to 75th percentile, estimated from tax statistics (includes part-time), 2024 · ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24, Individuals Table 14A (occupation unit group x taxable income range); medians from Table 15B · low confidence · p25/p75 interpolated from 5 taxable-income bands (linear density matched to band means). Includes part-time/part-year earners and non-wage income; 2023-24 dollars, not uprated. Starting AUD 77 600 About 4 months after completing a postgraduate coursework degree (e.g. Master of Architecture), FT employed, 2025 · QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025 national report tables: median full-time salary, postgraduate coursework, by 45 study areas ('Architecture and urban environments') · Registration needs the master's plus practice experience and exams. Undergrad 'Architecture and urban environments' median 70,000.	Architects and Landscape Architects (ANZSCO 2321) ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025 (customised report), via JSA Occupation Profiles · Median $2308/wk x52; FT non-managerial adult-rate employees, before tax. Unit group includes landscape architects. Employee survey: excludes self-employed and managers, so likely understates.
New Zealand	NZD 90 000 Median 2026	NZD 68 000 to 123 000 careers service range, 2026 · Tahatu Career Navigator job profile: Architect ('most common' pay range) · Tahatu 'most common' band (full published range 54,000-167,000); Stats NZ IDI/Census + IR data, percentiles not defined, no vintage stated. Starting NZD 63 000 Graduate architect after the 5-year BAS + M.Arch(Prof), before registration, 2026 · Tahatu Career Navigator study page 'Masters degrees in architecture (M.Arch (Prof))': median employed income 1 year after completion (Stats NZ IDI + IR) · Published in $ thousands; vintage not stated; includes part-year/part-time earners. Year-1 p25-p75 55k-70k. Registration needs further practice experience.	Architect Tahatu Career Navigator (Ministry of Education / Tertiary Education Commission careers service) · Published range $54,000-$167,000, most common $68,000-$123,000. From Stats NZ Census/IDI + Inland Revenue data; no vintage stated (year = year observed).

General information, not immigration or legal advice. Researched 2026-10-07.