Hey, just some questions here..
I finished spm in 2009.. and I went for Australian matriculation in sunway college for 2 years (screwed up both years? ). And now I'm thinkin of architecture as my career path. I think I wont be able to take STPM, so government universities like UTM wont be an option for me (and efffff, i live in Taman University and I cant study there)
A lil suggestion on where i should study and what course should I take please? Maybe foundation+degree @ LKW/Taylors?

well, in ur situation, it's true that u're now limited to IPTS only. alternatively, u could just for go the matriculation and opt for diploma instead. with a diploma, u have the option to apply to an IPTA, UTM included.

Hmmm, if I go for IPTS, are there any good ones you would recommend? Because taking diploma and then a degree seems pretty time consuming and I seriously think that I wont do well in matriculations..
By the way, what are the major cons if I don't study architecture in a government uni?

Thank you in advance for providing the infos and advises

in a nutshell, no IPTS is accredited by LAM. without accreditation, it will seriously hinder ur ambition of becoming a practicing architect one day. u might be aware that architecture is a protected profession, meaning even if u have an architectural degree (from an unaccredited school), it is actually illegal to call urself an architect.

of course, u could sit for the LAM part 1 and 2 exams individually after that.

Hi there, i have some questions regarding the individual part1/part2 LAM examinations

Based on the information i found on the internet, (LAM website)



1.How do they determine if one has passed Stage 1?

2.In stage 2, how good does your work have to be to pass? Is this where people usually fail?

3.What is the Integrated Design Project? How is it conducted?

4.How long does the process usually take? From Stage 1 to passing the part1/part2 exam and obtaining the certificate?


5. Referring to the above, does it mean that if every time someone fails, to resit the exam, they have to gain 2 years of working experience in an architectural firm? Is this why people usually take so long to be a registered architect?

6.Finally, how hard is it to pass the exam and why?

Comparing Taylors to LUCT; I would highly recommend LUCT without any reservations on my part.

Based on my research;

Firstly, all degree, diploma, & foundation programs in general at LUCT are really very reasonably priced (which is certainly a very surprising matter to me); and their programs also cost significantly much cheaper compared to the similar but overpriced programs at Taylors. (It certainly surprised the hell out of me when I checked & compared.) I should have pursued my architecture studies in LUCT instead of Taylors; I am now regretting every single cent of it. (But it is my problem, however, now that you have came to know about it; you can certainly save yourself from it.)

For example, the foundation in the Natural & the Build environment (or FNBE) at Taylors cost twice as much as the architecture foundation program at LUCT; Taylors' FNBE program cost about RM 20K for one year, wheres LUCT's arch. foundation program cost only just about RM 10K for one year as well. (This should give you the idea of how much more Taylors is really charging everybody who comes to it, and they are surging fast & very hugely popular I need to warn you; so the confidence in charging high fees will remain & it will soar even higher in the near future...)

Just take a look at the other programs & compare the pricing as well and you will suddenly notice how much more expensive Taylors is...; you will notice that for every similar programs in degree or diploma level at LUCT & Taylors; Taylors' programs would always cost significantly more by RM 10 - 20K at-least...

Finally, at LUCT, you will definitely be having more freedom in your courses; from what I could very well see, the lecturers at LUCT generally tend to treat you as adults/grown-ups, and give you more flexibility & options; in general they will have more confidence in you. (At Taylors, the lecturers tend to be very restrictive, controlling, & sometimes treat you like school kids.)


Nevertheless, it can all get rather too lenient/laid-back/generous in LUCT from what I have heard; where it is very hard for lecturers to fail any students (even those who really deserves to fail); and then it is always far too easy to obtain truly excellent grades..., and perhaps the criteria(s) of an assignment are also not as strictly enforced; but rather being more open ended & flexible, and lecturers also don't tend to care too much; as long as you do the works & deliver, submit the assignments & attend the presentation & exams; all would definitely be truly well with you. (Whether these sounds good to you or not is for you to decide.)

However, I took a look at the works produced by LUCT students and they are certainly truly amazing for what they intent to be...


The bottom line is; choose what you want, but the fact remains that Taylors is significantly more expensive than LUCT in literally every respect I could see... (It was just too bad that my parents thought LUCT was more expensive than Taylors; which was why Taylors is the one that was highly recommended in my list at that point of time.)

It has ever been a common misconception that LUCT is always more expensive. (Perhaps it is due to their taste, style, and their way of portraying themselves in public that make them be interpreted as more expensive...)

I was also personally lead to believe that LUCT is really darn expensive, and they are the MOST expensive of all... (Obviously they are not.)


"The greater evils are the ones that hides behind the seemingly normal & humble looking white-washed office walls of a typical squarish office building (where nothing looks wrong; it can't be expensive "says the interested people"); but once inside, it charges exorbitantly high premium fees equivalent to opulent-palatial-style luxury rates..." (But yet the people still do not know about it & apply; thinking it is the cheapest around... Yes, admittedly I was also one of the victims. )

Bear in mind, that back then, Taylors (P.J.) was still just a normal-humble looking office building specifically just being only the basic rental spaces on a few selected levels... (as they do not own the entire building); wheres LUCT at that point of time was already a huge and established campus of its own. (And at that point of time, the fees at Taylors was already more expensive; but people are telling me that LUCT is more expensive; and I believed because I never knew that the fees at Taylors is more expensive back then...)


Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Jul 4 2011, 12:22 AM

Hey, thanks alot on the info man .. Btw, since u're taking the course in a private institute, does that means that you'll SURELY need to sit for the LAM thingy to work in Malaysia (or even to work anywhere at all). And alot of people keep telling me that LUCT is not as good as it was due to those so called increasing problems which causes good lecturers to leave the university. It is really that case?

The said problems of LUCT are "management" deficiency, where there are an inadequate amount of staffs, and also about lecturers being instructed to respect the students as well as not to fail them at all cost. (There would certainly be lecturers who would hate this kind of rulings and will leave the place in sheer disagreement.)

In addition, the lecturers who have left LUCT may not necessarily be good lecturers.


The SABD lecturers over here at Taylors may not be having higher "academic" qualifications other than just a degree or just about 2 or 3 with a masters ; however, that certainly do not stop them from acting superior, high & mighty, having a full load of ego, and behaving as the best out there; full of "elitism" and such. (They WILL FAIL you if they want to.) (I would prefer lecturers with lower qualifications, but are good, humble, & generous with knowledge anytime; who will not give you trouble.)


If Taylors is truly a high ranking/reputable/renowned institution or (IPTA) that is heavily subsidized by the government, then by all means feel free to be as hard or brutal to the students as you desire; because students are not paying ridiculously high fees, and they are also going to be getting a fully accredited degree as well as a cert that WILL get them employed & guaranty their success in the future. (There is nothing for them to complain at all; even if they failed; as it is understandable.)


As for the matter regarding the LAM- PAM accreditation;

Private candidates will definitely have to sit for the LAM - PAM Part 1 & the Part 2 examinations in simultaneous order after completing both degrees in architecture; to be legible for "legal" work permit in this country of Malaysia. (However, you would not need to sit for the exams if you would be working/practicing this profession in oversea countries.)


Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Jul 4 2011, 02:02 AM

1. this is basically where they will refer the school list. they already have most of the schools listing worldwide, and some of them are accredited. if u so happen to come from a school that is not in the list, they will ask for more details.

2. well, it has to satisfy the requirement set by them. the best way is to look at the minimum passing works in accredited schools to have some idea about it. and yes, this is where most people fail. but then they will have to take stage 3.

3. i'm not sure. if i'm not mistaken, it's a theoretical project that u must undertake, similar to the graduating design project at the end of part 1 or the design thesis at the end of part 2.

4. not sure.

5. well, no. the 2 year minimum working experience usually refers to part 3. for part 1, u just need to repeat the stages again and again each year till u pass.


sure, talking from cost point of view, LUCT may have its merits. however, did u know most of the senior lecturers from LUCT have run away to taylor's and UCSI? now that says a lot in academia. when an institution does not provide good enough environment to work and learn, people will just leave.

LUCT have enough graduates that they now rely on their own alumni to teach. mind u, these are non-accredited degree holders, teaching an unaccredited degree students. that's a whole lot of inbreeding i tell u. sure, they have part-time architects teaching there. but this is not enough to fulfill what LAM requires.

there are lots of down points in LUCT that will dwarf most IPTS out there. so i wouldnt count on them if i were u.

Is it possible to enter an architecture course after completing a degree in civil/structural engineering?

If it is so, do you enter into the part 1 degree or part 2 masters/degree?

How do you get accreditation in cases like this?

well, yes. but the credit transfer is subject to individual reviews. some people could skip 1st semester 1st year, but they'd still have to begin right from the beginning. the problem here is with design subjects. depending on the university, these can be between 6-15 credits each. there is no equivalent subject in engineering that would allow transfer of credits. and since the credit size is large for each, u just cant take two or more design subjects per semester.

i've seen students hospitalized just with one design subject per semester, let alone two.

and it will be part 1. design principles have to be taught from the beginning. architects and engineers see the same things differently. which is why architects too have to start fresh should they wanna take engineering degrees.

given a piece of land, how should we start? i got part 1 from USM but onli work as a 3D visualizer at a local developer. keen to someday be able to become a design architect or beyond.

You got your Part 1 in Architecture and have no idea how to start?
Unbelievable.

Work for Archect firm then u will know

This post has been edited by indahjaya: Jul 16 2011, 09:09 PM

can anyone tell me what is the market salary for fresh degree grad architect

RM2000 to RM2700 depending on office size and location.

This post has been edited by azarimy: Jul 18 2011, 01:00 AM

Hi Mr Azarimy, can i know the optimum specifications for a laptop to study architecture ?

processor : i5 ? i7 ?
ram : ?
graphic card : ?

need good cooling system ?

depends on what u plan to do with it. most laptops for gaming is good enough for architecture.

Two years ago, the lowest I heard from friends who graduated from IIUM are around RM2600 and RM3000 is from GDP. I'm not sure about graduate from other uni.

Last year, my friends graduated from Deakin, their starting at RM3000 at least. And last month, another friend who just graduate got an offer for RM4000 as starter.

Some well-known firm like Ken Yeang (TR Hamzah) have a high expectation to oversea graduates, yet they don't mind offer high starting salary. Well, it depends on how you perform as well.

Anyway, higher salary = higher spend.

Good luck. And wish me luck too..

firms with ties with universities tend to pay more for students that come endorsed by the lecturers. ken yeang and hijjas kasturi have strong links with australian universities. by the time a malaysian graduate comes back to msia, the lecturers are ready to put up good words for them.

like i said, the numbers are just estimation. no point to get hopes up just because one or two graduates managed to start with higher than RM3000. truth be told, my best friend graduated from UTM and started with RM4.5k at unit one design, a relatively small and unknown firm. but he's the ONLY one who got that, the rest averaged at about RM2.5k.