Architecture MArch
The School hosted career days, where practitioners would come in and talk about working for architectural companies and what they expected from candidates
The degree had a balance of design, technology and cultural modules and I was attracted by the scope of knowledge it offered across building design, as well as theory and history. Also, the campus seemed like a relaxing place to study.
The degree taught me to be intuitive and think outside the box in terms of creativity. The lecturers are knowledgeable and have years of experience, so I was in good hands and didn’t ever feel stuck. You learn a lot from the assignments, but, more importantly, you grow and mature as a person. It helps you to realise what you’re capable of.
My particular interests were in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and how that could be integrated into a project. At Kent, I was able to use my software strengths and even ran teaching sessions for younger students. Also, my dream was to do my final-year project abroad, looking at adapting architecture to different urban environments. Kent supported me in doing that: I was able to go on an exchange programme in the US for a term.
One or two evenings a week, we’d have a film evening or go out in town. The place really did suit student life: there was always something to do – a sport or society to take part in.
In the final year, I was formulating my own design briefs and was more aware of the technical implications through the various project stages. By the time I graduated, I had a portfolio I was proud of. I felt ready to use my skills, particularly my software and graphical skills, in a professional environment.
One of the important things to learn is that building designs are always critiqued; and that was exactly how our assessments worked – through oral presentations. I managed to conquer my stage fright and became more confident in pitching my ideas. I valued the feedback of the tutors and was quickly able to realise what my strengths were, as well as areas for improvement.
The School hosted career days, where practitioners would come in and talk about working for architectural companies and what they expected from candidates. We also had seminars to get feedback on our CVs and portfolios, and tutors would review our applications if we needed help.
I find myself in a good place in my career. My knowledge of the field is constantly growing as I’m exposed to real-life projects. There are days when I’ll be doing research; at other times I’ll be juggling multiple drawings and projects, all with deadlines close to each other. Some days I’ll be in the office, other days I’ll be visiting sites or on the phone to external parties. Having a varied role certainly keeps me on my toes but I’ve learnt how to have the right mindset on a day-to-day basis, especially when under pressure. I enjoy meeting clients and building a good rapport with them. I feel that I am making a real contribution.
Getting the qualification to practise as an architect is just the beginning. I hope to gain experience in running projects of various sizes, and I’d like to work abroad. I love the idea of mentoring and teaching and would like to be a design lecturer or tutor and encourage younger people.
Be prepared to be thrown in at the deep end – and don’t forget to communicate with everyone around you. Most importantly, believe in everything you work on. Have confidence in your talents.
