that's not A question. those are many questions



actually, UTM have both systems. currently UTM has a full 5 year (no breaks) course for architecture, a compressed previous syllabus that used to span 6 years (3+3), after SPM. with STPM intakes, UTM shortened it into 5 years. due to PAM accreditation constrains, we cant immediately break the course into two. this is primarily bcoz the previous is a diploma+degree, the new one will be degree+degree. so u cant just dissolve the diploma into degree. well it's a procedure thing.



to put things short, the 3+2 system will be implemented if i'm not mistaken next year (2008). so if u managed to grab a place in UTM this year, u'll get to ride architecture for 5 years non-stop! so it's a temporary thing. UTM will follow 3+2 system (similar with USM and UM) soon enough.

advantages of 5 year system: u dont have to worry about ur 2nd degree. it's straight away PAM part 2 baby!

disadvantages of 5 year system: u dont have any breaks. if u fail at final year, u only have ur STPM.



the percentage of 1st year > final year for the 5 year system is 100%. it is usually 60% of ur friends from the same batch will get into degree. for UTM, we have a cut off point at 2.70cgpa. lower than that, u'll need 2 years experience to get in. usually students below 3.00cgpa will have a hard time applying due to most people scoring 3.00 and above.

there is no reservations for 2nd degree or any post graduate degrees. u see, the gvment policy of having bumiputra quota is only applicable to 1st degrees, using intake from matriculation to mask the quota. for 2nd degrees and above, it's all meritocracy.

currently in UTM, the 5th year architecture batch have a chinese majority of about 60-65%.

however, be aware that UTM intakes for 2nd degree gives absolute priority to its ex-students, while allocating about 10-20% outsiders. so if u're applying from abroad, make sure ur grades are good enough to squeeze into the 10-20%.

Thanks for the answer.
When I typing one Q, suddenly more Q pop out. So made quite a few finally.

From your answer, it seem those who not really do well in part 1, can still progress into part 2 with 2 years experience.

I just knew that my friend, her batch July 06. None of them score dean list, even 2nd upper are rare.

So in USM now, it is degree part 1(3 years) + degree part 2(2 years)?

And I read ur previous post, without part 2 he/she cannot be called as an architect.
Then what should we name a people with just degree part 1 then?

What about non-local Unis like Taylors and so on?

i. yes, those who do not do well in part 1, can still progress with experience. architecture is a course primarily based on skills, awareness, empathy and experience. we acknowledge that there are different ways of learning. some people learn from examples of others, some learn by making mistakes. either way, all should be able to learn n practice architecture. in the system we're in, we just "favor" the students who learn "from examples of others" (eg: reading books, studying theory, understanding concepts) and not the other (eg: learning by doing, hands on experience etc).

so if u're the kind of guy who learns more during practice than in class, we should give u a chance to advance too! but be aware, 2 years is a minimum. what is required is a log book of works that u've done within those 2 years. some people need more than 4 years to complete a logbook, bcoz of its various requirements.

ii. yes. dean's lister are quite rare in architecture. this is primarily due to the weightage of the design subject. every semester, u take about 14-16 credits. 6 of them is design. others are usually 2 or 3 credits. some are only 1 credit.

imagine if u only scored a B (3.00) for ur design. even if u scored all As (4.00) in all other subjects, u wont be able to score dean's list (3.70).

remember, design is like cooking. even if u use the exact same ingredient with the exact same technique, u wont achieve the same taste. sometimes u get an A, usually B, but most often is C.

iii. yes. USM is 3 years degree + 2 years second degree after STPM.

iv. part 1 holders are "architect's assistant" or "junior architect". we call the N00Bs. :lol:part 2 holders are "architects", and part 3 are "professional architects".

what about them? i'm not sure i understand ur question.

This post has been edited by azarimy: Jan 7 2007, 02:56 AM

Other than Taylors, what other non-local Unis offer architecture?

All must go overseas?

u're asking about non-local unis offering architectural degree for part 2? i've listed accredited universities here. check the spoiler in the first post.

taylor's is a local college offering a partner/franchise programme with univ of melbourne. taylor's is considered local college. and yes, anybody studying in taylor's MUST study overseas according to the partner/franchise programme in order to acquire Part 2. using any other path outside taylor's suggested might not land u a Part 2 within 6-7 years after SPM.

Another question to ask ....After STPM what is the requirement result to selected into public U like UTM and USM for architecturing course ? Isit very hard to enter ? (scince I am a non bumiputra ?

i need to know the emphasis of UTM, USM, UM, UKM, UPM on architecture. like USM is housing and planning? wat bout others?

its almost 4.00 ....
So if u get into matriculation, higher chance to enter UTM/USM

to reply to both, i need to elaborate on meritocracy system:

currently, there arent anymore racial quota for IPTAs. but now they use matriculation quota. it is now 50% matrics and 50% STPM. the minimum requirement of both intakes is the same as established in UPU forms.

however, achieving the minimum result doesnt guarantee u will get in. it all depends what u're competing against. if in that same year 200 applicants with 4.00cgpa applied for 100 seats, and u're 3.70, u know u're not gonna get in.

in UTM, we have a simple cut-off point system. we offer 100 places. we rank the all the applicants into a list, which includes they detailed results, co-curricular activities and priority of choices. we short list them to about 400 candidates and interview all of them. after getting the interview results, we then divide them into 3 tiers.

i. the top 100s (50 from matrics, 50 from STPM) for 1st tier. these will be offered a place immediately.

ii. the backup list - usually about 100-150 candidates. these will be kept in the faculty in case any of the top 100 rejected the offer. if one of them did, the person on top of the list will be offered. then the other, and the rest until it goes down to the last person in the backuplist. this list includes those who chose architecture as the number 4 or 5 in the UPU form.

iii. the rejected list - these are those who did not manage to compete with the others, although they fulfill the full requirement.

the backup list is ranked without priority to STPM or matrics. only the first 100 are. so sometimes in the end we might have more STPM than matrics students or vice versa. another thing worth to note:

when u know offer letters have been given out, and u didnt get any, do try to contact the faculty. ur name might be in the backup list. make urself known and that u're absolutely interested in doing architecture. if the dean and head dept agree, they'll give u another interview on the spot. if they like, u'll be moved on top of the backup list.

the reason for this is, we want the empty places filled as soon as possible. although it is not a policy, this is done to ensure students did not miss any classes and opportunities. in architecture specifically, we believe that we should offer people who're really interested, motivated and enthusiastic rather than give top graders who had to do architecture bcoz their parents wanted to.


these replies below are gonna reek with generalization. i'm just going to attempt an overview of my perspective. do not mistaken my opinion as a FACT!


UTM is a school of tradition. its emphasis is to produce specialized designers, strong in both theoretical designs as well as practical measures. UTM's specialization is theoretical & experimental design, CAD, environmental architecture, regional & vernacular architecture, conservation & restoration, and urban design. UTM graduates often see themselves as their own brand of designers rather than architects.

UiTM follows a different template, one that i believe evolved from the american system. they emphasis on what the students want to do, allowing personal developments while concentrating on technical aspects of architecture. UiTM graduates are good all-round architects.

USM specializes in management, housing and planning. they are also quite involved with environmental architecture, conservation & restoration as well as city/regional planning. overall, USM graduates are good managers, and usually have a good grasp in architectural practice as soon as they graduate.

UM is a new school that have already achieved PAM Part 2 accreditation. infact, they are the first school in msia that have received RIBA part 2 accreditation. graduates from UM has the exact same qualification just like graduated from the UK. this is the highest level of certification that could be obtained for an architecture school outside UK. however, the students are relatively new and lacks tradition. UM produce good all-round designers, and they're internationally recognized.

UKM and UPM are relatively new school. even newer than LUCT. UKM is the latest school of architecture amongst the IPTAs. they are still groping around trying to make a stand in malaysian architecture education.

This post has been edited by azarimy: Jan 8 2007, 02:28 AM

so honestly, do u think that UPM and UKM's architecture course are not worth a try? the quality lacks very far behind those established ones like USM, UTM etc???

and btw, u din state the emphasis of UM on architecture. wat's their specialty???

UPM and UKM arent accredited with either Part 1 or Part 2. even if u finish ur first degree, in order to obtain Part 2, u will need to join other schools with part 1 at 2nd year level (3rd if u're good), then graduate with part1, then continue for another 2 years for part 2.

seriously? it takes longer. not that i'm against them or anything. everybody's making fuss about how matrics makes people graduate faster, so i just gear all my suggestions towards "fastest possible way to become an architect"




frankly i'm not sure of UM's emphasis of architecture. i know several top people in housing are there, but i havent heard they setup anything yet. however they're THE school of architecture if u wanna involve with famous local architects, bcoz they're based in KL. i have a friend teaching in UM, and once i've asked him the same question. his reply was...

"we can do whatever UTM can do now..."

"waah berlagaaakkk...."

When u do an architecture course, will you be so occupied that you have little time for everything else? Do you rarely watch TV? What about EPL, F1 etc? Don't get to watch?

yes. but u will make time by not sleeping much. typically, sleeping time is between 6am - 8am and 8pm - 10pm daily. so u wont miss any EPL, F1, NBA or whatever live telecast there is out there

What is it or what part of the assignment which takes so long to do?

ur design work for one. Contrary to popular belief, design takes a couple of critique sessions which would span a couple of weeks to churn out da best design you could come up with.

After you have a final scheme, to develop and produce the architectural drawings for your design will take another couple of weeks.

imagine u're a chef, and u need to make the best dessert ever for a king, and u have 1 week to do it. so u start on ur first day planning out what u wanna do. u came up with a recipe, and decided to try it out. so 2nd day, u start working on the dessert. end of the day, it's done, and u think it's perfect. u showed it to ur tutor. he said it's crappy.

u went back into the kitchen next day. redo everything. showed ur tutor. he said it's a little better, but not suitable for a king.

then u go back and redo again. and again. and again. when it nears submission, u'll be doing it day and night trying for perfection.



at the end of the week, u did ur best, and u dont even know if that's good enough. the king tastes ur dessert and said... "ini macam goreng pisang belakang istana aje...", and ur heart drops.

next semester, same thing all over again. for 5 miserable years.

We just had our AGM.

As usual speeches bla bla bla and installation of the new comittee for the Architech Society.

By da way, our latest project's site is at Malacca, near Jalan Bunga Raya and Jalan Hang Tuah. 10acres and our brief is to develop a masterplan of a medium rise housing.

is there a lot of maths and physics involved?