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Can I enrol in the BAS programme on a part-time basis or by distance learning?
This degree is not offered by distance-learning and we also do not have a part-time option, since the curriculum is highly integrated between courses, and thus is difficult to pursue course-by-course.  In special cases, with justification and approval from the degree convenor, students may be allowed to split the first year of study over two years, but one must still complete two years of study within three calendar years. 

Is the BAS degree internationally accredited?

Yes. The Wits BAS is accredited by the (SACAP) nationally and is a direct signatory to the . Having a reciprocity agreement with NCARB (USA) means the Wits BAS degree is of an international standard and that Wits graduates will be allowed registration reciprocity in many countries.

How do Wits BAS graduates perform?
µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø considered one of the continent’s top architecture schools. Wits architecture students have won various national and international design awards, and graduates are highly sought after by professional firms.

Do I need to write a National Benchmark Test to be accepted to the BAS?
No

What are the minimum academic requirements for admission?
Although your academic performance is scored based on the Wits APS system, there are 3 minimum criteria, measured by NSC (matric) results: an APS of 29 or above; a Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy) mark of 50% or above; and an English mark of 50% or above. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee a place for any applicant. 

I will only complete my Grade 12 studies this year and do not have results yet. Can I apply now?
As long as your final results will become available by January of next year, yes, you can apply by uploading Grade 11 marks. These are treated as provisional, and no one is eliminated based on Grade 11 results.  When final Grade 12 results become available, they are used to make a final decision.

My grade 11 marks do not meet the requirements, but I’m hoping to boost them for matric. Can I still apply?
Yes, the final decision will be based on Grade 12 results. 

Am I eligible if I had less than 50% for Mathematics, or had a good mark in Mathematical Literacy but did not take Mathematics?
No. In both cases, you can seek out tutoring or a bridging course in order to write a matric Maths exam in next cycle in order to gain eligibility for the following academic year, or take an equivalent-level course.

My academic marks don’t meet the criteria, but I have experience in architecture or architectural draughting. Can the academic requirements be waived based on experience?
No. No amount of architectural experience will override the entry requirements.

What are the steps to apply?
Applicants must first apply online to Wits by June 30, then submit an application exercise by the 31st of July. These applications are evaluated by academic staff. Applicants with high scores on the exercise will be invited to an online interview via email. The final step, which requires the applicant’s active participation, is an opportunity for the student to present a small portfolio of additional work and respond to and ask any questions they may have. From there, we determine the strength of the full applications; each applicant will be either declined, placed on a waiting list, or sent a provisional offer. Firm offers can only be made after receiving final Grade 12 results. For more details, download the BAS Application Process document from the 'DOWNLOAD' link at the top of this page.

How do I know the status of my application?
Always check the email you used to complete the online application to Wits; changes to your application status will be sent to you by email.  Additionally, applicants must always check their application status using the Wits .  Check the status there before contacting the School. Be sure to double-check your trash box also, around the time of interview emails are due. 

How many applicants will be accepted?
The BAS programme targets a new intake of approximately 65 students.

How are the application exercises evaluated?
Understand that there is no right or wrong answer!  Your response enables us to evaluate your suitability for architecture. We do not want to see technical drawings; an imaginatively drawn exercise which communicates as many layers of meaning as possible scores well. Clear, logical, but evocative graphic communication is important.

How will I know how I’ve done in the exercise?
Applicants who score well on the exercise will be invited for an interview; those who do not will be declined. You should receive an email with either result around the date that the interview emails are due. Please note that Specific evaluation scores are not released to applicants. 

How are applicants ranked for admission?
We use an internal scoring system which gives equal weight to the three criteria: the exercise score, the interview score, and a score based on your Grad 12 APS. This is to ensure that we attract students who perform well academically and have a high aptitude for the skills required in this field of study. 

When are the interviews?
Not all applicants are invited to interviews.  If you are invited, you will be informed by 28^th August. 

What if I don’t hear anything by the date interview invitations are sent out? 
First, check your status using the Wits ; it will show your current status.  If it shows that your application has not been declined, then check both the email you used for the online application and the email you listed on the Exercise submission form, if different.  Check both your inbox and your spam/junk mail folders for any communication from a Wits email address (ending in @wits.ac.za).  After checking your status on the application portal and looking through both your inbox and spam/junk mail on any email address you may have used to communicate with Wits, if you still do not see any communication, you may email us at applications.bas@wits.ac.za.  

Can I apply for admission into the second or third year of the BAS based on my previous work or academic experience?  
Not directly.  All new applicants are treated as incoming first years, but once accepted one can pursue applying for recognition of prior learning (see the next question below).  Because a Wits requires that at least 50% of the credits must be completed at Wits in order to obtain a Wits degree, there are no circumstances in which a new student can gain credits which would place them beyond the second year of study.  

Can I get credits from Wits for architecture courses I have completed elsewhere, such as another university or technical college? 
It is technically possible to obtain credits through recognition of prior learning (RPL), but it is subject to rigorous review. This process is undertaken only after an applicant has applied, been accepted, and registered.  One must first apply as if an incoming first-year applicant; one cannot transfer into a later year of study directly. 

Once a student is registered, they may apply for RPL and present evidence that substantially similar content, credit weighting, and NQF level have already been completed for some courses.  This is handled on a case-by-case basis, and credit approval is not guaranteed. 

Generally, courses at other programmes (SACAP), or by professional bodies with which there is an international agreement, are more likely to have covered substantially similar content, but there is never a guarantee.  It is rare, but not impossible, for technical college courses to count towards RPL. 

Are there any other courses at Wits outside of architecture that will count for credits towards BAS?
Yes. The following courses would count towards our curriculum:

APPM1000A Applied Mathematics
CIVN2018A Civil Engineering Theory I
CIVN3029A Civil Engineering Theory II
CIVN3030A Civil Engineering Theory III

What else can I do in the meantime to educate myself about architecture?
Architecture is a broad discipline requiring many types of knowledge, so there are many ways to prepare for it.

One may participate in our online course What do which can be done for free. 

Read books and serious international journals on architecture, such as Architect; Architectural Review; Architectural Record; or A+U. Please note that some popular magazines such as Visi and Dwell are not considered serious architectural journals. You can also look through architecture books in a local library or bookstore, or casually browse architecture websites; some of the most common ones are and , which features new projects every day.

Check our Events page to see if there are any upcoming public lectures, exhibits or other events that may interest you.  Other universities may have similar offerings.  Within Gauteng, these are often advertised through the , and elsewhere in South Africa there are equivalent associations (called voluntary associations) which may offer similar events.  

Start thinking critically about the world around you: look at buildings you like, or buildings by famous architects, and try to understand what you like about them. Carrying around a sketchbook in which you can draw what you see is a useful tool.

Where can I find more information about architecture degrees?
Check our website:  www.wits.ac.za/soap/architecture/