COUNCIL OF ARCHITECTURE

REVISED GUIDELINES ON ADMISSION TO THE FIRST YEAR OF 5-YEAR FULL-TIME

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE ([Link].) DEGREE COURSE FROM THE ACADEMIC
SESSION 2007-2008 AND ONWARDS.

(These Guidelines are approved by the Executive Committee of the Council of Architecture at its 90th Meeting held on June 06,
2007 and supercedes the previous Guidelines on the same subject)

1.0 Introduction

1.1 In exercise of the powers conferred by clauses (e), (g), (h) and (j) of sub-section (2) of Section 45 read
with Section 21 of the Architects Act, 1972 (20 of 1972), the Council of Architecture, with the approval
of the Central Government, framed the Council of Architecture (Minimum Standards of Architectural
Education) Regulations, 1983. These Regulations were published in the Gazette of India, Part III, Section
4, on 26th March, 1983 and 27th August, 1983.

1.2 These Regulations prescribe the minimum standards of architectural education to be maintained by
colleges or institutions, required for granting recognised qualifications by authorities in India, including
admission to the architecture course.

1.3 These Regulations stipulate that admission to the 5-year B. Arch. course should be made at 1st year level
through an aptitude test specially designed to assess the candidates' aptitude.

These regulations do not provide for lateral admission to any other stage/semester of the 5-year course in
Architecture.

1.4 In terms of these Regulations and the decision of the Council of Architecture, pursuant to the
Regulations:

a. The conduct of aptitude test is mandatory for admissions to the 5-year B. Arch. course by all colleges
or institutions where Architectural Education is given, leading to grant of Recognised Qualification
by authorities. Such Colleges or Institutions include a University, its department, its constituent
college and its affiliated college; a deemed to be University; institutions established by Act of
Parliament; and National Institutes of Technology and institution for higher education declared to be a
University.

b. No admission shall be made under the Minority Institution/Management/Non-Resident Indian/Person

of Indian Origin or any another Quota unless a candidate is subjected to the aptitude test in
architecture.

c. A separate aptitude test in Architecture should be conducted and such test should not be combined
with the tests for admissions to Engineering, Pharmacy, Medicine and other disciplines. Similarly,
admission counselling are to be conducted independently.

1.5 The candidates admitted to 1st year of a 5-year course without appearing in the aptitude test in
architecture and who have been granted B. Arch. degree or other qualifications shall not be deemed to
 have attained recognised qualification listed in the schedule of qualifications appended to the Architects
Act, 1972. Such candidates will not be eligible for registration as an architect with the Council of
Architecture.

1.6 It has been held by the High Court of Judicature at Madras, vide its Judgement dated 21.07.2003 in Writ
Petition Nos. 8806 and 9707 of 2003 [IIA Tamilnadu Chapter, Chennai V/s State of Tamilnadu, Anna
University & Council of Architecture and Council of Architecture V/s State of Tamilnadu & Anna
University] that guidelines on Admission to Architecture Course prescribed by the Council of
Architecture have statutory force.

1.7 As per the Judgement, dated 08.09.2004, of High Court of Judicature at Bombay in the case of Shri
P.S.M. Boarding House’s College of Architecture, Kolhapur & ors. V/s State of Maharashtra and ors., in
Writ Petition No. 5942 of 2004, the Council of Architecture is the final authority for the purposes of
fixing norms and standards for architectural institutions.

As per the Judgement, dated July 12, 2005, of the High Court at Delhi in the case of [Link]
[Link] V/s Union of India and ors. in Writ Petition No.2669 of 2005, the Council of Architecture
1.8
(Minimum Standards of Architectural Education) Regulations, 1983 shall govern the eligibility for
admission to Architecture Courses.

2.0 ELIGIBILITY for Admission

No candidate, with less than 50% marks in aggregate, shall be admitted to the architecture course unless he/
she has passed an examination at the end of the new 10+2 scheme of Senior School Certificate Examination
or equivalent with Mathematics as subjects of examination at the 10+2 level.

or

10+3 Diploma (any stream) recognised by Central/ State Governments with 50% aggregate marks.

or

International Baccalaureate Diploma, after 10 years of schooling, with not less than 50% marks in aggregate
and with Mathematics as compulsory subject of examination.

All Admissions to Architecture degree course shall be subject to passing of National Aptitude Test in
Architecture (NATA) conducted by the Council of Architecture.

3.0 Aptitude Test

The National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) conducted by Council of Architecture is mandatory for
admission to first year [Link]. course for all architectural institutions in the country, including NITs, IITs,
Government Institutions, Government aided Institutions, Universities, Deemed Universities and Private
Universities established by a Central or State Legislature and other private institutions, for the academic
session 2007-2008. It shall be mandatory for every architectural institution imparting 5-year [Link]. degree
course in the country to join the NATA and to admit students on the basis of valid NATA marks in the said
course.

The test shall consist of 2 papers:

(i) Test - I – Aesthetic Sensitivity - 100 marks - duration of test: One hour.
(ii) Test - II – Drawing - 100 marks - duration of test: Two hours.

3.1 Test - I

Aesthetic Sensitivity is to evaluate candidate’s perception, imagination and observation; creativity and
communication; and Architectural awareness. The test shall comprise of :

(i) Visualising three dimensional objects from two dimensional drawings

(ii) Visualising different sides of three dimensional object
(iii) Identifying commonly used materials and objects based on their textural qualities
(iv) Analytical Reasoning
(v) Mental Ability
(vi) Imaginative comprehension and expression
(vii) Architectural awareness

3.2 Test - II

The Drawing aptitude of the candidate shall be judged on the following aspects :

(i) Ability to sketch a given object proportionately and rendering the same in visually appealing manner
(ii) Visualising and drawing the effects of light on the object and shadows cast on the surroundings
(iii) Sense of perspective drawing
(iv) Combining and composing given three dimensional elements to form a building or structural form
(v) Creating interesting two dimensional composition using given shapes or forms
(vi) Creating visual harmony using colours in given composition
(vii) Understanding of scale and sense of proportion
(viii) Drawing from memory through pencil sketch on themes from day to day experiences

4.0 Weightage

The following shall be the weightage :

Architectural Aptitude – 50% (Maximum)

Qualifying Examination – 50% (Maximum)

i.e. 10+2 OR 10+3 years
Diploma recognised by the
 Central / State governments OR IB Diploma
and/ or other test.

Note : In order to pass the Architectural Aptitude Test, a candidate must obtain a minimum of 40% marks.

5.0 Competent Authority and Conduct of Aptitude Test

The admissions shall be carried out by the Competent authority i.e. the Government or University, or such
authorities/ institution concerned [School/ College of Architecture]/ Association or Federation of Institutions
[Schools or College of Architecture], as approved by the Government / University, based on the marks
obtained in NATA and the qualifying examinations as mentioned above, in the ratio of 50:50.

All architectural institutions in the country shall be required to submit a list of students admitted in the
[Link]. degree course, mentioning the total NATA score and total marks in qualifying examination, to the
CoA.

6.0 Admission Counselling

The Admission Counselling for the candidates who have applied for admission to the 5-year Degree Course
in Architecture should be held independent of the counselling for Engineering, Pharmacy and / or Medicine
and other disciplines.

The word ‘independent’ does not imply that the admission counselling to architecture course is to be done
on completion of the admission/counseling process for all other streams. It means that the counselling for
architecture should not be combined with engineering courses. The CoA insists that the
admission/counselling process for architecture degree course be done first i.e before all other streams or on
the same date(s) as fixed for other streams but independently/separately/simultaneously without mixing
with other disciplines.

7.0 Structure, Percentage and Reservation of Seats

The fee structure and admission of students to architecture course under various categories / admission quota shall be as
determined by the concerned Government, in accordance with the Judgement of Supreme Court, dated 14.08.2003 [Writ Petition
(C) No.350 of 1993 – Islamic Academy of Education and Anr. V/s State of Karnataka and Ors]. The reservation policy for
admission as applicable shall be followed.

8.0 Commencement of Course

Classes for 1st year of a 5-year [Link]. Course shall not commence later than the 1st working day in the
month of September of a calendar year.