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Beyond Doctor, Engineer, CA

Chapter 7

Architecture and planning after 12th

B.Arch, 5 years

Is a five-year degree worth the slow pay?

  1. 1 Entrance

    NATA, JEE Main Paper 2A

  2. 2 Degree

    B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture), 5 years

  3. 3 Work

    Licensed architect

You study
Designing buildings and spaces, with a training semester
Open to
Physics, Chemistry and Maths, 45 per cent overall
Total cost
About 8 to 9 lakh at an NIT (National Institute of Technology); 5 to 25 lakh private

What it is really like

Midnight in a Delhi studio: a third-year student glues the roof onto a cardboard school before the morning review. This is the longest creative degree. Five years of studio design, drawing, materials and structures end in registration with the Council of Architecture, your licence. Early years in a firm feel like an apprenticeship of drawings, client meetings and site visits. The four-year B.Plan (Bachelor of Planning) leads to town planning, with weaker job results.

How you get in

  • NATA

    National Aptitude Test in Architecture: drawing plus visual reasoning; it runs more than once a season.

  • JEE Main Paper 2A

    The drawing paper of the engineering entrance: maths, aptitude and drawing, for the NITs and SPAs (Schools of Planning and Architecture).

  • IITs

    A JEE Advanced (IIT entrance) rank plus a pass or fail architecture test.

Where to study

Top, government

SPA Delhi; NITs

Under 2 lakh a year

State, government

Sir JJ Mumbai and others

Often under 60,000 a year

Private

CEPT Ahmedabad; Manipal

About 1 to 5 lakh a year

After the degree

Pay over time: Architect

Start

5 years

10 years

Yearly pay in rupees. Pay varies widely; treat every figure as a range.

Leads to

ArchitectInterior designerTown plannerM.Arch (master's)

About 12,000 start B.Arch each year, and about 8 in 10 are placed in jobs at a leading NIT. Income grows with experience, and most with your own practice.

Top colleges and what it takes

B.Arch and B.Plan at the NITs, SPAs and other centrally funded institutes admit through JoSAA on JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch) or Paper 2B (B.Plan) ranks; the IITs use the JEE Advanced rank plus a pass in the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT). NITs split seats into Home-State (HS) and Other-State (OS) quotas; SPAs are All-India. Figures are General (OPEN), gender-neutral closing ranks from the final JoSAA 2025 round (round 6). Colleges outside JoSAA (CEPT, Jamia, Sir JJ, state colleges) use NATA or JEE Paper 2 scores in their own or state counselling. A smaller rank is better.

  1. School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) Delhi

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #8

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch) / Paper 2B (B.Plan)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 207 and B.Plan at Paper-2B rank 233 (General, gender-neutral, All-India, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    2 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 207 (Open, AI quota, JoSAA 2025 round 6)
    • B.Plan (4 years)JEE Main Paper 2B rank 233 (Open, AI quota, JoSAA 2025 round 6)
  2. School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) Bhopal

    Bhopal · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #11

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch) / Paper 2B (B.Plan)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 474 and B.Plan at Paper-2B rank 756 (General, gender-neutral, All-India, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    2 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 474 (Open, AI quota, JoSAA 2025 round 6)
    • B.Plan (4 years)JEE Main Paper 2B rank 756 (Open, AI quota, JoSAA 2025 round 6)
  3. School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) Vijayawada

    Vijayawada · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #19

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch) / Paper 2B (B.Plan)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 566 and B.Plan at Paper-2B rank 825 (General, gender-neutral, All-India, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    2 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 566 (Open, AI quota, JoSAA 2025 round 6)
    • B.Plan (4 years)JEE Main Paper 2B rank 825 (Open, AI quota, JoSAA 2025 round 6)
  4. IIT Roorkee

    Roorkee · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #1

    JEE Advanced + AAT

    B.Arch closed at JEE Advanced AIR 17,665 (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6); you also need to pass the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Advanced AIR 17,665 + AAT pass (Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6)
  5. IIT Kharagpur

    Kharagpur · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #3

    JEE Advanced + AAT

    B.Arch closed at JEE Advanced AIR 19,141 (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6); you also need to pass the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Advanced AIR 19,141 + AAT pass (Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6)
  6. IIT (BHU) Varanasi

    Varanasi · Government

    JEE Advanced + AAT

    B.Arch closed at JEE Advanced AIR 20,792 (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6); you also need to pass the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Advanced AIR 20,792 + AAT pass (Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6)
  7. NIT Tiruchirappalli (NIT Trichy)

    Tiruchirappalli · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #9

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 227 for the Other-State quota and 470 for the Home-State quota (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 227 (OS) / 470 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
  8. NIT Calicut

    Kozhikode · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #2

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 289 for the Other-State quota and 241 for the Home-State quota (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 289 (OS) / 241 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
  9. NIT Rourkela

    Rourkela · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #7

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 550 for the Other-State quota and 1,621 for the Home-State quota (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 550 (OS) / 1,621 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
  10. Malaviya NIT (MNIT) Jaipur

    Jaipur · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #12

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 647 for the Other-State quota and 1,983 for the Home-State quota (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 647 (OS) / 1,983 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
  11. Visvesvaraya NIT (VNIT) Nagpur

    Nagpur · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #10

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 715 for the Other-State quota and 505 for the Home-State quota (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 715 (OS) / 505 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
  12. Maulana Azad NIT (MANIT) Bhopal

    Bhopal · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #17

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 967 for the Other-State quota and 3,688 for the Home-State quota (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    2 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 967 (OS) / 3,688 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
    • B.Plan (4 years)JEE Main Paper 2B rank 581 (OS) / 2,659 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
  13. IIEST Shibpur

    Howrah · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #4

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 985 for the Other-State quota and 725 for the Home-State quota (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 985 (OS) / 725 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
  14. NIT Raipur

    Raipur · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #35

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 1,070 for the Other-State quota and 3,672 for the Home-State quota (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 1,070 (OS) / 3,672 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
  15. NIT Kurukshetra

    Kurukshetra · Government

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 1,109 for the Other-State quota and 2,110 for the Home-State quota (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 1,109 (OS) / 2,110 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
  16. NIT Patna

    Patna · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #13

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 1,187 for the Other-State quota and 4,364 for the Home-State quota (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 1,187 (OS) / 4,364 (HS), Open, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6
  17. Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesra

    Ranchi · Deemed · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #22

    JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch, via JoSAA)

    B.Arch closed at Paper-2A rank 1,016 for All-India seats (General, gender-neutral, JoSAA 2025 round 6) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Arch (5 years)JEE Main Paper 2A rank 1,016 (Open, AI quota, JoSAA 2025 round 6)
  18. CEPT University

    Ahmedabad · Private · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #6

    NATA or JEE Main Paper 2A, then CEPT's own process

    No published closing rank: CEPT ranks applicants on NATA or JEE Paper-2 scores plus its own assessment, so aim for a strong NATA score(approx.) source

    2 programmes
    • B.ArchNATA / JEE Paper 2 score + CEPT process; no published cut-off
    • B.Des (Interior) / B.Plan / B.Tech (Construction)Own process per programme; no published cut-off
  19. Faculty of Architecture & Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #5

    NATA or JEE Main Paper 2A score + Class 12 (Jamia merit)

    No national closing rank: Jamia draws a merit list from NATA/JEE Paper-2 scores and Class 12 marks; about 40 B.Arch seats(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • B.ArchJamia merit on NATA / JEE Paper 2 + Class 12; no published cut-off
  20. Sir J.J. College of Architecture (Sir J.J. School of Art, Architecture and Design)

    Mumbai · Deemed

    NATA or JEE Main Paper 2A (Maharashtra CAP / institute admission)

    No national rank: B.Arch seats have historically gone through Maharashtra's CAP rounds on NATA/JEE Paper-2 scores and are among the most competitive in the state; it became a deemed university in 2024-25, so check the current process(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • B.ArchNATA / JEE Paper 2 merit; very high scores needed for open seats (approx.)
  21. Jadavpur University, Department of Architecture

    Kolkata · Government · NIRF 2025 Architecture & Planning #16

    WBJEE / JU admission process

    No national rank: admission on West Bengal's own merit process; highly competitive for home-state students(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • B.ArchState merit process; no published all-India cut-off

Cut-offs move every year and differ by category, quota and home state. Use them to judge the level, then check the official counselling data.

Which branch can my JEE rank get?Every IIT, NIT and IIIT branch against your rank, from the last JoSAA final round.Open Rank Finder

How to prepare

  • Aim for 75 per cent in Class 12, which NITs need, or a place in your board's top 20 percentile.
  • Practise perspective, light and shade, and drawing from memory.
  • Sit both NATA and JEE Main Paper 2A.

Is it for you?

Good fit if

  • you like drawing and maths together
  • you want a licensed, respected profession

Think twice if

  • you need good pay quickly

Official links and free study material

Architecture and planning: common questions

How do I get into Architecture and planning after 12th?

NATA: National Aptitude Test in Architecture: drawing plus visual reasoning; it runs more than once a season. JEE Main Paper 2A: The drawing paper of the engineering entrance: maths, aptitude and drawing, for the NITs and SPAs (Schools of Planning and Architecture). IITs: A JEE Advanced (IIT entrance) rank plus a pass or fail architecture test.

Which stream do I need for Architecture and planning?

Open to PCM. PCB students need Mathematics in Class 12. B.Arch needs Physics and Mathematics. B.Plan (JEE Main Paper 2B) is open to any stream with Mathematics. Physics, Chemistry and Maths, 45 per cent overall.

How much does Architecture and planning cost in India?

About 8 to 9 lakh at an NIT (National Institute of Technology); 5 to 25 lakh private. By college: SPA Delhi; NITs: Under 2 lakh a year; Sir JJ Mumbai and others: Often under 60,000 a year; CEPT Ahmedabad; Manipal: About 1 to 5 lakh a year. Fees change every year; confirm in each official notice.

What is the salary after Architecture and planning?

Architect: about 2.5 lakh to start, about 6 lakh after 5 years and about 14 lakh after 10 years (yearly, in rupees). Pay varies widely; treat every figure as a range.

Is Architecture and planning a good career for me?

A good fit if you like drawing and maths together, and you want a licensed, respected profession. Think twice if you need good pay quickly.

Source: Chapter 7 of the book. Notes and sources