i did architecture for a week...
I made this thread ages ago when i was deciding what i was going to do:
http://community.boredofstudies.org/593/general-university-newcastle/80037/architecture-uncle.html
As you will notice, no architects replied. Why? my theory is because there is A HELL OF A LOT OF TIME-CONSUMING, DETAILED AND STRESS-INDUCING WORK and they simply dont have time to bum around on internet forums. I read somewhere that "no-doze" is the friend of an architecture student.
Architecture at UNCLE has no exams and whilst that may seem great it means that all the assessments are weighted higher. All of the assessments i was told about required some sort of technical drawing (as one would expect) as a result, previous experience in technical drawing would be very much beneficial. I didnt have that so i sort of freaked out a bit...ok, a lot.
The course at UNCLE is very much more focused on the construction side of architecture than the design focus adopted by other universities. The uni justifies this by saying that "A building might look great on paper, but an engineer has to be able to build it". This didnt make me happy because as far as i was concerned that was the resposibility of the engineer, not me. I'm guessing that the course is more construction-based because it is cheaper to shove the architecture students in together with the construction management students as it cuts down on the number of courses required and thus staff. The Uni, as you probably know, isnt renouned for it's brilliant finances...
Apparantly the career prospects for architects arent that great in australia. Furthermore, whilst the course is 5 yrs the uni does encourage students to take a break after 3rd yr to experience the workforce... one of my tutors when i did the course spent two years working in sydney and said it was horrible because the pay was terrible and you arent really given a great deal of responsibility to do anything major (after all you're 'just a student')
You really have to love what you're doing, because 5+ years is a long time to hate something. the rest of your life is even longer. Obviously, i am bias in my description because i didnt enjoy the course. Unfortunately, the architecture course doesnt appear much in the university open days so whenever you get a chance to chat to someone take advantage of it.
The is no portfolio needed nor an interview.
And "Newcastle" is one word.