Do you need 'A' level maths to become an architect?

[Successful Selling]

Bit of a weird question i know, but thought i would throw it out to the forum just in case any of you are in the industry.

I'm working with a young person who would like to become an architect, but is not studying 'A' level maths. Most uni's want this, but I was just wondering if it was essential?

I will reseach it in more detail this afternoon and phone a few uni's, but knowing how good you guys are at giving advice i thought i would throw it out to you as well?

All advice welcome.

thanks

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

I am not particularly sure I would want to use an architect that didn't have at least a level maths.

But that's just personal opinion.

 

[da8iwr]

My degree was product design and i dated a girl for a long time who was a fully qualified architect who qualified in Budapest (one of the best places in the world for it) and one of my closest friends wife is an architect from Moscow.

The both struggled extremely badly, and couldnt get work, so my ex is now a teacher, and my friends wife is now a photographer.

Many of the modules on my degree were overlapped with the architect students at uni, as the physics/maths on structures and materials were the same. We still had to design bridges and other stress loading structures and the 3D software we use is basically the same to design things.

I got into with my apprenticeship as a HGV mechanic qualification NVQ 4 (same as 4 x A Levels), and GCSE maths grade C, but there was others that got in with just the GCSE and amazing portfolio work. But rule of thumb for a good uni is they will need A Level maths, physics, and a good strong art background.

But it is also worth noting that the architect industry is the first to go into a recession and the last to come out. People stop designing property as soon as they hear anything at all and then wont start until they know it is all clear, and by the time they get money and everything else in place to use an architect, it is usually quite a long time.

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/recession/
Loads of into here.

Hope this helps
Ian

 

[da8iwr]

I am not particularly sure I would want to use an architect that didn't have at least a level maths.

But that's just personal opinion.

Once somebody is qualified past the point of A Level, like Degree or Masters, then anything before that such as GCSE, A Level, HNC, HND, NVQ, City and Guilds etc wont even be asked for. As any examination you have done during that higher exam will supersede the one previous and will be assumed you are of at least that standard anyway.

 

[alanc]

I would have thought that UCAS were the people to ask
www.ucas.com

 

[fisicx]

Once somebody is qualified past the point of A Level, like Degree or Masters, then anything before that such as GCSE, A Level, HNC, HND, NVQ, City and Guilds etc wont even be asked for. As any examination you have done during that higher exam will supersede the one previous and will be assumed you are of at least that standard anyway.

Ha! try becoming a teacher. Despite a BSc in Physics and an HNC in aeronautics they still wanted to see my O-level certifictes from 1974.

Any back to the OPs' question, it's all here: http://www.architecture.com/EducationAndCareers/BecomingAnArchitect/Becominganarchitect.aspx
If you ain't got the maths you will struggle.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Around here, you need not only the equivalent to 'A' level maths but extensive university maths. Courses are usually found at the top engineering universities.

 

[Faith28]

A level Mathematics is highly valued in the work place. It is a real struggle for undergraduates to perform to their best if they do not have A level maths in subjects like architecture, civil engineering, physics etc.

During my years as a Physics undergraduate there were several of my peers who never completed their maths A level. This set them at an immediate disadvantage during the end of year exams as a result they became very demoralised and some even dropped out unfortunately. In my first year physics I found it relatively 'easy' when it came to complete the exams because I had already studied Pure and Applied Maths for A level.

Some unis may say it is not essential but it is a great advantage if you have it and could potentially make or break you.

 

[Liybpg]

YES! Study Maths! Not only to get into uni but to get a job! I am a student and I am applying to different finance, analytical and consulting jobs. Half of them (at least) ask for mathematics as an A-level. In fact, it is very useful to get an A in maths.

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

Once somebody is qualified past the point of A Level, like Degree or Masters, then anything before that such as GCSE, A Level, HNC, HND, NVQ, City and Guilds etc wont even be asked for. As any examination you have done during that higher exam will supersede the one previous and will be assumed you are of at least that standard anyway.

But if you've got a Degree in knitting, that doesn't superceed an A level in maths!

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

If A level maths is too hard, and that's the reason for not wanting to take it, then how you going to cope with the complex calculations about load bearing etc. Or will it simply be a case that you'd rely on a computer program and never actually understand what goes into those calculations.

 

[Duke Fame]

YES! Study Maths! Not only to get into uni but to get a job! I am a student and I am applying to different finance, analytical and consulting jobs. Half of them (at least) ask for mathematics as an A-level. In fact, it is very useful to get an A in maths.

I couldn't agree more, ther is a bit of an issue with graduates coming out with degrees but not still not up to A level standard in the core subjects that make up the degree. The broadbase degrees seem to be able to circumnavigate these shortfalls with choosing easier modules.

 

[Jeff FV]

As a maths teacher it gladens my heart to see so many people recommending the subject for A-Level.

I wholeheartedly endorse this (but then I would, wouldn't I!)

 

[Liybpg]

maths is not hard, I got an A, but I don't consider myself a maths expert. Just study a little

 

[da8iwr]

Ha! try becoming a teacher. Despite a BSc in Physics and an HNC in aeronautics they still wanted to see my O-level certifictes from 1974.

Thats what i went to uni for in the first place, to be a Design and Technology teacher Keystage 3 and 4.

They wanted trade people in, so drafted in Electricians, Builders, carpenters, Engineers etc, as teaching from real life experience is far better than theory from a text book.

One of my closest friends, who was one of the most talented carpenters i have ever met, was told off, for holding a saw wrong when cutting a piece of wood!!!

That pretty much epitomised the entire education system to be honest.

I changed after the first year to Product Design as i HATED other teachers, they just complained constantly and many have never had any life outside of education and think the world owes them everything.

School > College > Uni > Teacher

How many times have you heard teachers say, we deserve 6 weeks holiday in the summer plus all the other half terms etc.

Tell you what try full time self employment for a year, see if they think its hard then.

Out of 33 people in my course, only 1 person made it through to being a teacher, and that person was straight from college, everybody else hated it, and left.

 

[da8iwr]

Sorry i went off on one there didn't i lol

But your right, some industries will ask for all previous qualifications etc, those are mainly public sector though, in fact i cant really think of any in the private sector at all.

Maybe medicine?

 

[Ryan T-Mobile]

A good friend of mine is in his last year of Architecture at Liverpool Uni. He took A-Level Maths and also A-Level Art. It seems both are pretty essential. I'd suggest he reconsiders, as from what I've heard it's very, very crowded in Architecture at the moment, and there aren't that many jobs going at the junior levels. Architecture is one of those glamour jobs which lots of people want to do, which in reality means it can be difficult to get work due to the competitive environment.

I'm no expert at all (this is just what I've learned over the past few years of feedback), so get him to look into it really thoroughly before he commits. It's a long course and a lot of commitment, and you do need maths, so tell him to be absolutely certain before making the jump. Good luck to him though!

 

[da8iwr]

The glamour is probably the TV programs, Grand Designs etc. Apparently Forensics is hugely over subscribed as well, for the same reason, CSI, Silent Witness and other police programs.

 

[Ryan T-Mobile]

I think you're right. Funnily enough, a friend of mine wanted to go into forensics for that exact reason.. I also had a friend who dropped everything to become a doctor after seeing series one of Scrubs. Needless to say, he didn't last long.

 

[da8iwr]

There was a program on about it the other day on BBC4, all about silent witness. They were saying that each police station have about 2 employees that are forensics, but every uni is running a course and these poor kids and graduating with not a hope in getting a job.

 

[Ryan T-Mobile]

so, uni's fault for supplying the course or student's fault for not looking into career prospects afterwards?

 

[da8iwr]

Unis for taking people on to make a "sale"

My lady is head of finance for a well known north east uni, she will say the same as they all know what is going on.

 

[independentSO]

No you dont - my friend is an architecht technologist and she doesnt have A Level maths and to become an Architecht she just has to transfer onto another course for two years

 

you would need a level maths ,that said most of the architects i deal with dont know there arse from there elbow.
only kidding just 60% lol

 

[Lorro2]

Your quantity surveyors and engineers and technicians will do all the maths for you.
Being a good architect is all about management, communication, delegation, people skills and assembling the right team around you. You need a great understanding of things like building homes to withstand flooding, climate change, and that have a low carbon footprint. The old school ideas of needing maths and science to get on is so out of date.

 

[Cornish Steve]

you would need a level maths ,that said most of the architects i deal with dont know there arse from there elbow.
only kidding just 60% lol

In the context of the discussion, don't you mean 60.12 (+/- 0.04) %?

 

[Cornish Steve]

One of the top engineering schools in the world (Georgia Tech) is right on our doorstep, so I visited their website. Here's a typical architecture course schedule. I'm surprised there is not more maths - just Calculus I and Calculus II (which I'd say are equivalent to A-level maths and a first-year university maths course in Britain).

 

ha ha very good steve , you lost me though mate im more or less innumerate

 

[KM-Tiger]

Your quantity surveyors and engineers and technicians will do all the maths for you.

True, but when you haven't a clue what your Structural Engineer is talking about, how are you going to resolve a problem that is compromising your design?

Architecture is tough, aspiring to be mediocre in it isn't going to work.

 

[paulears]

An architect, as opposed to a draughtsman or CAD technician is expected to be able to calculate material strengths and handle fairly complex number crunching. As has been said, maths is a critical component of the process - and an architect with iffy maths skills will find it very difficult to complete the qualification. It's a bit like a doctor who hasn't got a decent grounding in biology or a solicitor who doesn't have A Level Law.

Nothing stops people applying, but if you don't fit the typical profile, unis may not wish to take the chance.

 

[James.Dunford]

(Not really on topic..!) How i hated maths at A Level! The stats part of it fine, but i just struggled to see how it would relate to the real world, and how any of it would be of any use. GCSE maths i just missed an A (So yes a B ) but at A Level - i didn't even pass! I think you need to really be able to put in 100%, whereas i was more interested in my other three subjects.

Back on topic, even if you don't "need it" it is a case of having to have it to be succesful in that field, my parents had a major mess up due to an arcitecht not being able to do maths and scales properly - without anyone realising until the plans had gone through and the sale was going through..!

 

[Successful Selling]

Thanks for all the replies.

We are going to have to look into this a lot more.

thanks guys

 

[Ryan T-Mobile]

Let us know what he decides to do in the end. Would be nice to hear the end result.

 

[Barnie]

you dont have to do straight maths

some colleges offer mechanical engineering which is maths for engineers and will be accepted

if you are doing straight maths choose mechanics as a mudule though as it will make uni much easier

 

[KDMINX]

I would strongly recommend 'A' Level Maths (as well as Further Maths) to anyone!

It's the part of my Further and Higher Education that I use the most.

 

[zimple]

My understanding is that you would not get a place on uni architecture course without A level Maths and Physics.

And...



A mathematician, a physicist and an engineer were asked what is 2+2.

The mathematician said the answer is precisely 4.

The physicist answered 4 plus or minus the tolerances of the question.

The engineer said 4 but we'll call it 20 just to be on the safe side!

 

[YoungMoneyChina]

I studied architecture without a level maths.

It very much depends on the university you apply to as some are more art based than other. There are afterall 2 sides to architecture - art and engineering, most schools waver in one direction.

I would look into project management for a more secure job though.