GENERAL AIMS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALICANTE DEGREE COURSE IN ARCHITECTURE

1 Ability to create architectural projects that meet both aesthetic and technical requirements.

2 Working knowledge of architectural history and theories, along with related arts, technology and human sciences.

3 Understanding of fine arts as an influence on the quality of architectural conception.

4 Working knowledge of urban planning, zoning and the techniques involved in the planning process.

5 Ability to understand the relationship between people and buildings and between the latter and their environment, along with the need to relate buildings and the spaces between them to human needs and scale.

6 Ability to understand the architectural profession and its function in society, particularly with regard to designing projects which take social factors into account.

7 Working knowledge of project research and preparation methods.

8 An understanding of building project problems associated with structural conception, construction and engineering.

9 Working knowledge of physical problems, various technologies, and building function, to ensure that buildings are comfortable and offer protection against the weather.

10 Ability to conceive buildings which will satisfy the requirements of their users, respecting the limits imposed by budgetary factors and construction regulations.

11 Working knowledge of industries, organisations, standards and procedures, in order to turn projects into buildings and use building plans in the planning process.

• Credit structure of the degree course
• Distribution of credits per subject type
• General description of the course programme
• Optional subjects and routes
  

CREDIT STRUCTURE OF THE DEGREE COURSE

Subjects in the Degree in Architecture, each worth 6 and 12 European ECTS credits, are organised into semesters. Specifically, students are required to take 30 credits per semester, and 60 credits per year, for a total of 300 credits over five years, plus a sixth course of 30 credits which reads Final Graduation Project.

In order to make the course compatible with other activities, students are allowed to take a part-time course consisting of 30 credits per academic year.

DISTRIBUTION OF CREDITS PER SUBJECT TYPE

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE PROGRAMME

The course programme has been structured around the three main areas specified in the Royal Decree regulating the degrees required in order to practice as an Architect and the subject matters established therein.

The degree course consists of 330 ECTS credits distributed over 6 years (11 semesters), bearing in mind that the last semester is given over to the Final Project.

• Preparatory Block: 60  core credits in Graphic Expression (36 credits) and Basic Sciences (Mathematics and Physics) (24 credits).
• Technical Block: 42 credits in Construction, 24 in Structures and 18 in Installations. There are also 36 optional credits in Construction (18 credits) and Structures (18 credits).
• Project Block: 72 credits in Projects, 36 in Composition and 36 in Urban Planning.

Optional subjects are also offered in English, Computer Science and Work Experience. Lastly, the Final Project is worth 30 credits, once the previous 300 credits have been obtained. Prior to evaluation for the final project, the student must provide evidence of ability in a foreign language. Among other possible qualifications, at the University of Alicante the minimum necessary requirement is to have attained level B1 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages, and this requirement may be raised in the future.

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS AND ROUTES

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT (IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Students who study an undergraduate degree at the University of Alicante must confirm a minimum level of B1 in a foreign language (a B2 is recommended) in order to obtain the diploma.  

The required language level is in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

The language accreditation requirement can be obtained previously or at any time during university studies. However, the language requirement will be necessary in order to be able to assess the final year project.

The different forms of obtaining such language requirement can be consulted in the additional information in this section.  

+info

LANGUAGE TEACHING COMPETENCE CERTIFICATE

Students who want to have a career in non-university teaching when they finish their studies are recommended to obtain the teaching competence certificate (Valencian and/or foreign languages).

This certificate can be obtained by taking specific itineraries in your university studies or by taking the UA teaching competence course in Valencian, German, French and English.

+info

FINAL YEAR PROJECT (TFG)

All the official undergraduate degrees must be completed by preparing and defending a final year project, which must be done in the final phase of the studies and be aimed at the assessment of competences associated to the degree.

The final year project must be an original, independent and personal work. The elaboration of it may by individual or coordinated. Each student will prepare this project under the supervision of a tutor, allowing students to show the received training content in an integrated many, as well as the acquired competences associated to the undergraduate degree.

In order to register in the final year project, students must comply with the requirements established in the “Regulations for continuation studies for students registered in undergraduate degrees at the University of Alicante”. Among the requirements established to be able to register in the final year project, a minimum of 168 credits must be passed in undergraduate degrees with a total of 240 credits, and a minimum of 228 credits in undergraduate degrees with a total of 300 credits or more.

In order for the final year project to be assessed, a B1 level of a foreign language (B2 is recommended) must be confirmed.

+info

• Access routes
• Procedure for applying for admission
• Number of places and court notes

ACCESS ROUTES

Admission to this degree course is open to any applicant who meets one of the following entrance requirements:

1. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMINATION (Selection Examination). Although admission will be granted for all high school diploma disciplinary routes, it is recommended that applicants have studied the following disciplinary routes: Science and Technology.

Applicants’ admission grades for this course can be improved by taking the corresponding specific subject paper in the university entrance examination.  Papers for specific subjects with their corresponding weightings can be consulted in the table below.

High School Diploma Subjects

Academic Years 2010-11 2011-12

0.1

0.2

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Academic Years 2012-13 2013-14

0.1

x

x

x

x

x

0.2

x

x

x

x

x

 2. PREVIOUS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATIONS FROM PREVIOUS EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURES WITH OR WITHOUT UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMINATION: 

Applicants who have passed the previous entrance examination, or applicants who have not passed the previous entrance examination but hold one of the following qualifications: LOGSE high school diploma, COU, Pre-university course certificate, or any other qualification equivalent to the high school diploma, may take the new entrance examination.

Applicants who have passed the previous entrance examination may take a specific subject paper in order to improve their admission grade, but must still take the general examination.  Applicants who have not passed the entrance examination must take the general examination and may, if they wish, take the specific subject paper in order to improve their admission grade.

For specific subjects, the weightings indicated in the previous section must be taken into account.

3. VOCATIONAL TRAINING: Qualifications in Advanced Vocational Training, Advanced Technician in Plastic Arts and Design or Advanced Technician in Sports: admission is granted for any vocational area. 

Applicants’ admission grades for this course can be improved by taking the corresponding specific subject paper in the university entrance examination.  Papers for specific subjects with their corresponding weightings can be consulted in the table 1.

4. STUDENTS FROM EUROPEAN UNION EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS OR OTHER STATES WITH WHICH SPAIN HAS A RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT.  AN ACCESS CERTIFICATE IS REQUIRED, issued by the UNED (Spanish National University for Distance Education). Applicants may take the specific subject paper in order to improve their admission grade.  They may also take the complete university entrance examination.

5. STUDENTS FROM FOREIGN EDUCATION SYSTEMS, FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR HOMOLOGATION OF THEIR ORIGINAL HIGH SHCHOOL DIPLOMA WITH THE SPANISH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMINATION ORGANISED BY THE UNED.

6. ADMISSION FOR APPLICANTS OVER 25 YEARS OF AGE Specific university entrance examination.  From the total places offered, a minimum of 2% are reserved.  Preference is given to Engineering and Architecture. + info

7. ADMISSION FOR APPLICANTS OVER 40 YEARS OF AGE who do not hold academic qualifications but have accredited work and professional experience in accordance with accreditation criteria and the work and professional experience concerned.  An interview will be held.  A series of places are reserved for applicants over 40  years of age, of between 1% and 3% of the total places offered.  +info 

8. ADMISSION FOR APPLICANTS OVER 45 YEARS OF AGE. Specific university entrance examination.  This access route is open to applicants who do not hold a qualification which would qualify them for admission by another route, and who cannot accredit work and professional experience.  A series of places are reserved for applicants over 45 years of age, of between 1% and 3% of the total places offered. + info

9. UNIVERSITY DEGREES OR EQUIVALENT. 3% of the total places offered are reserved.

PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR ADMISSION: PRE-ENROLMENT AND REGISTRATION

• Anticipated number of places offered during the first pre-enrolment session: 120
  

• In order to apply for a place, the procedure and pre-enrolment periods established each year must be observed. Information concerning the application procedure  (Pre-enrolment).

• Applicants admitted to a course must formally register within the timescale established annually in the enrolment calendar. Registration Information.

NUMBER OF PLACES AND PASS MARKS

• "Pass Marks" indicated correspond to the results of the first adjudication of June.
  
• The definitive marks can be inferior to the here collected.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

The degree in Architecture entitles the holder to practice professionally as an Architect. The professional contents of the degree are regulated by Law. Professional practice is supervised by the Professional Architect Associations.

The principle STANDARDS WHICH GOVERN THE PROFESSION OF ARCHITECTURE include the following (in chronological order):

a) Royal Decree 2512/1977 of 17 June approving the fees of architects in the exercise of their profession, ratified except in its economic aspects by the revocatory provision of Act 7/1997 of 14 April on liberalising measures with regard to land and professional associations. 

b) Act 38/1999 of 5 November on Building Planning.

c) Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications.

d) Royal Decree 314/2006 of 17 March approving the Building Technical Code (CTE).

These regulations not only presuppose the existence of the degree, but also endorse its importance in contemporary society, ascribing it responsibilities which are of great importance in developed economies. These include:

a) Drafting of building projects for new buildings, extensions, modifications, renovations, reformations and interventions in listed buildings.

b) Management of building projects for new buildings, extensions, modifications, renovations and reformations and interventions in listed buildings.

c) Supervision of building projects for new buildings, extensions, modifications, renovations and reformations and interventions in listed buildings, in those cases contemplated by existing regulations.

d) Drafting of urban planning instruments such as General Zoning Plans, Partial Zoning Plans, Detail Studies, Urban Development Programmes, Special Plans of all types, Secondary Zoning Regulations, Complementary Zoning Regulations and Projects for the Demarcation of Urban Land.

e) Drafting of urban management instruments, such as subdivision, re-division and expropriation projects.

f) Participation in the drafting of territorial management projects.

g) Drafting of development projects.

h) Consultancy and other development work.

i) Boundaries of land, plots and buildings; redrawing of boundaries; measurement of land, plots and buildings.

j) Appraisal and evaluation of land, plots, buildings and real property rights.

k) Drafting of reports, expert opinion and certificates regarding architecture, buildings, development and heritage; issuing of appraisal reports before courts of law and arbitration courts, both orally and in writing.

l) Drafting and management of decoration, furnishing and interior design projects for buildings and premises; stage, industrial and craft design.

m) Building and structure demolition projects.

n) Development and sizing of facilities.

o) Drafting of documents for building permits.

TIMESCALE FOR IMPLEMENTATION

The course programme proposed here for the University of Alicante Degree in Architecture will be implemented on a year-by-year basis. This involves replacing each year of the programme leading to the qualification of Architect currently being run by the University of Alicante Higher Institute of Engineering (1996 programme). Those subjects taught on the current degree will be completely phased out as soon as those of the new Degree Course in Architecture are implemented.

Implementation of the new University of Alicante Degree in Architecture course will begin in the academic year 2010-2011.

CREDIT EQUIVALENCE PROCEDURE

 Credits taken by Architecture students not listed in the above table may be validated by means of:

1. Degree course optional credits, up to the maximum number of optional credits established for each degree course.

2. Recognised free-elective credits validated for university, cultural or representational activities will be validated for the degree course, with a maximum of up to 6 academic credits to be validated for various activities, as set out in Art. 12.8 Royal Decree 1393/2007 (participation in cultural, sporting, student representation, charity and cooperation activities).

In addition to the adaptation table for subjects in the proposed programme and subjects in the Architecture programme being phased out, the terms and regulations for remaining and progressing at Alicante University must be respected.

Also aplicable is the Second Transitional Provision of the regulations oa Alicante University, which reads: "Students who do not wish to take the new degree course subjects are entitled to sit four examinations at the end of the following two academic years. Any students wishing to continue their studies after sitting and failing these examinations will be required to follow the new plan, according to the adaptation system established in the new programme. A one-to-one equivalence will be applied to LRU and ECTS credits, although overall limits will be established for the credit validation system".

DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE. SYLLABUS SUMMARY

Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC) of the Title

• Structure of the Centre for Quality
  • Comission of Internal Quality Guarantee
  • Other Commissions  
• Handbook SGIC
• Procedures
  • Strategic (PE)
  • Key (PC)
  • Support (PA)
  • Measurement (PM)

• Management of the SGIC (Access to ASTUA)

Follow-up of the Title

• Self-reports UA
• External reports AVAP 
• Other reports
• Improvement Plans
• Progress and Learning Outcomes