From TAFE diploma to university degree in Architecture

Since 1993 TAFE [New South Wales] NSW Diploma of Architectural Drafting graduates have been accepted into Architecture degree programs, with advanced standing, in numerous universities. This pathway was initially facilitated through an informal arrangement between TAFE teaching sections and the universities, but is now a formally-accepted articulation pattern. In 1993 only about 15 per cent of the TAFE graduates entered Architecture degree courses, whereas over the last five years, an average of 50 per cent of Diploma graduates from Sydney Institute have been accepted into university courses. This paper discusses the Pathway and Student Satisfaction surveys that the author has conducted with students from NSW's Sydney Institute of TAFE. The surveys confirm that the Diploma of Architectural Technology has become recognised as a second-chance qualification for entry into the Architecture degree course at any of the four universities in NSW and the one in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) which offers the Architecture degree courses. The paper analyses the survey results for both St George College and Ultimo College. The paper concludes that the Architectural Drafting Diploma course has been successful in meeting the objectives of the 2005 TAFE NSW/Universities credit transfer and articulation policy as well as the federal government's 2009 Programs and Pathway policy.

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