Honours in Architecture

At a glance

Duration: Full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years)

Applications open: 5 May 2026 – 31 October 2026

Apply online: UKZN application portal

Portfolio submission: Coming Soon

Queries: Dlaminin7@ukzn.ac.za

Check you meet the entrance requirements — see the Entrance Requirements section below.
Decide full-time or part-time. If you are currently employed, you must apply for the part-time program and provide a letter from your employer (see the Documents Checklist).
Submit your online application via the UKZN application portal before 31 October 2026.
Pay the non-refundable application fee using the correct reference (see Application Fees) before the closing date.
Prepare your Architectural Design Portfolio (digital, A3 format, max 20 pages, single PDF under 20MB) — see Portfolio Requirements.
Submit your portfolio and supporting documents via the Teams link (engineering to provide)
Await outcome. Your portfolio is assessed by the Architecture Admissions Committee. Meeting requirements does not guarantee a place — final selection also depends on available places and academic results.

You are eligible to apply if you hold an undergraduate architecture qualification at NQF Level 7, and meet ONE of the following:

A minimum 60% average across all modules, AND a minimum 60% in Architectural Design and Theory of Architecture modules at exit level;
OR an academic average between 50–60%, plus at least two years of relevant work experience in architecture.

All applicants — regardless of average — must also submit a satisfactory Architectural Design Portfolio (see below).

Format: electronic, A3 layout, single PDF, maximum 20 pages, under 20MB.
Content: selected projects demonstrating your design process, research approach, technical resolution, documentation and professional practice ability.
Assessment: reviewed by a panel of the Architecture Admissions Committee using a criterion-based rubric.

Applicant category	Application fee
South Africa — on-time applications	R210
International — SADC & rest of Africa	R490
International — outside Africa	$530

Reference: use APPN followed by your student number (e.g. APPN123456789) — an incorrect reference may delay processing.

SA payments: Standard Bank, Business Current Account 05 308 0998, Branch Westville, Branch Code 045426.

International payments: Standard Bank (UKZN Foreign Deposit), Account 05 308 2826, Branch Westville, Branch Code 045426

Certified copy of ID / passport
Certified copy of National Senior Certificate / Matric certificate
Full academic record and degree certificate(s), if you studied at another institution
Proof of financial clearance and certificate of conduct, if you studied at another institution
Proof of Universities South Africa (USAf) recognition, if you are an international applicant (saqa)
Architectural Design Portfolio (see above)

Letter from your employer supporting study leave and attendance, if applying part-time

Full-time: on-campus lectures throughout the year; completed in 1 year.
Part-time: completed over 2 years; requires an employer support letter confirming study leave; involves interaction and presentations during office hours, so time away from work is needed.
Credit load indicates workload — e.g. 32 credits ≈ 320 hours of study.
Part-time students based outside Durban must still attend in-person portfolio exams at the end of Year 1 and Year 2, and visit campus at least twice a year.

	Full-Time Semester 1	Full-Time Semester 2	Part-Time Semester 1	Part-Time Semester 2
Year 1	Arch701 Architectural Design and Urbanism; Arch7RM Architectural Research Methods	Arch703 Advanced Architectural Technology; ARCH7RP Architectural Research Project; Dev703 Environment and Development	Arch7RM Architectural Research Methods	Arch701 Architectural Design and Urbanism
Year 1 Annual Module	Arch702 History and Theory of Architecture and Urbanism		Arch702 History and Theory of Architecture and Urbanism
Year 2				Arch703 Advanced Architectural Technology Dev703 Environment and Development
Year 2 Annual Module			ARCH7RP Architectural Research Project;

Academic Services

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Architecture