Frequently Asked Questions

Architecture is a profession where one can design and supervise a building or building complex by considering aesthetics, technical principles and users’ criteria. It is one of the oldest institutionalized professions in the world. Architects study on such a wide spectrum from a small-scale house project to mega structures (airports, hospitals, etc.) and create their design in a domain spreading out from human scale to urban scale. An architect considers many technical details such as structure, material, air conditioning, and acoustics of a building and ancient or modern aesthetics principles. Architects can specialize in several areas such as building science and technology, architectural history, theory and criticism, practical application and digital technologies. 

A general tendency regarding the definitions of the professions is ‘Architect designs the outside whereas Interior Architect designs the inside the building’. However this assumption is very wrong. It is very important to be aware of that Architect and Interior Architect are parts of a team and most of the cases they work together. To explain by professional terms, Architects and Interior Architects work on different spatial scales. While Interior Architects are equipped with knowledge about characteristics and interior quality of space; the practice of Architecture consists of designing a building from scratch to a complete project with its narrative, design philosophy, enclosure (façade), structural systems, construction materials, etc. Professional and educational services of Architecture are in connection with town planning, civil engineering, art, history, conservation and restoration. Shortly, Architectural profession and education intersects with  Art and Engineering. 

Both Architectures and Civil Engineers are involved in planning and designing structures. However, Architecture focuses on spatial planning, functionality and aesthetics of the work whereas Civil Engineering concentrates on the structural elements of the design, making certain that the structure can endure normal and extreme conditions such as earthquakes etc. Civil Engineers’ responsibility is making the required calculations for buildings’ and users’ safety. Architects and Civil Engineers mostly work together in such projects whose main focus is space development however; Civil Engineers also concern with megastructures such as bridges, dams, roads, power plants. 

Architecture is art, science and business of building. An architect is trained and experienced not only in the design and construction of the built environment, but also in endeavors ranging from concept development, problem-solving, project management. Candidates who have an interest for Architecture should have:

• Advanced communication skills to be able to express ideas orally in front of a group of people,
• High levels of creativity and imagination to be able to present ideas through a variety of visual materials (drawings, sketches, photography, and three-dimensional models),
• An interest in the built environment, cities, social, economic and political dimensions of the society,
• An analytical mind with excellent problem-solving and mathematical ability,
• Willingness to work long hours and eagerness to refresh their ideas constantly.

Drawing is an important medium for expressing ideas and projects in the Architecture profession. As a consequence of this, it is aimed to gain the necessary knowledge and ability in the 1^st and 2^nd grade drawing courses. By its professional nature, Architecture is based on visualization of abstract ideas and thus drawing is essential both for educational and professional life. If student’s drawing skills are low, it is possible to advance in those skills by making effort in courses and personal time. Furthermore, it is important to note that having good drawings skill is not an objective but an agency to express ideas.    Today, CAD sketching and drawing Softwares give new opportunities to Architects to realize their ideas. 

İzmir and surrounding, where ancient civilizations were born and raised, has a structure that reflects Architectural artifacts of many historical eras. Being close to ancient cities Ephesus, Pergamon, Erythrai, Teos and in the center of the Smyrna region that accommodates Agora and Tepekule, makes İzmir an urban museum that shows how architecture was developed throughout ages. İzmir has been a cosmopolite structure wherein different religions and cultures have met since antiquity. The results of this rich structure can be seen in history and also today. In modern times, an interesting urban pattern, which is contemporary architectural examples are being evolved/developed in, occurs due to reconstruction of the city center. It is a great advantage for a student, who wishes to study Architecture Major, to choose the city of İzmir with this rich background and potential. 

In IUE Department of Architecture, there is an interactive education based on learning by constructing in digital based studios. The main difference of the Department is being a part of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design where both faculty and students interact and collaborate in a lively atmosphere of interdisciplinary design culture. Cross-departmental courses in the Faculty, inter-disciplinary researches, exhibitions, conferences and other design events contribute to this end. The studio courses are supported by a range of supplementary courses from architectural technology and computing to the history and theory of art, design and architecture.  IUE Faculty of Fine Arts and Design provides extensive facilities in support of courses and studios including Photography Studio, Print Studio, CAD Laboratory, MAC Laboratory, and Maker Laboratory. Furthermore, most undergraduate programs offer a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree plus a 2 year Master’s Degree. IUE Department of Architecture has a 4-year professional Bachelor in Architecture with an opportunity of 4+1 (M. Arch) degree, too.

The four-year Architecture program is challenging to prepare the student for a professional career. Architectural education at IUE Department of Architecture consists of theoretical and applied courses which offer a creative program which intends to create an advance perception of space through architectural design and construction practice. As a consequence of this, Department of Architecture places curricular emphasis on the design studio where architectural skills are required to develop by perceiving and criticizing architecture and its effects in social and economic context in global and local scale.  The education is supported by dense program of class work, architectural presentations, juries, as well as advance level of architectural representation materials and visualization techniques.  

Studying Architecture Major requires a lot of materials, equipment use and drawing & printing which can be costly. However, material costs vary depending upon the individual design solution and the student’s choice of materials and model-making method.  

There are three mandatory summer trainings required in the Department of Architecture. At the end of first year, students improve their knowledge on nature of different materials production processes, or surveying and model making skills with “ST 100-Workshop Internship”. At the end of the second year, students have to complete “ST 200-Construction Internship” which aims to improve students’ awareness on construction of projects and gain experience on construction sites. As the third summer training students have to complete “ST 300-Office Internship” at the end of their third year in the university. This summer training teaches students every step of the project from concept phase to construction phase and the potential problems that may occur during the course of a project.

Students have to find workplaces for summer training with their own effort. However, the faculty may give recommendations as they have strong connections and valuable experiences in the sector.

For more information please visit https://mmr.ieu.edu.tr/en/stajlar

The Department of Architecture has an ERASMUS partnership with several universities in Europe. For more information please visit https://mmr.ieu.edu.tr/en/erasmus

IUE funds for student organization of undergraduate levels. In the Department of Architecture “Mimarlık Kulübü” and “CUT PAPER” have been founded by students. For more information about CUT PAPER, please visit https://www.facebook.com/pg/CutPaperCommunity/about/?ref=page_internal

IUE offers Double Major and Minor degrees. For more information please visit https://mmr.fadf.ieu.edu.tr/en/cift-anadal-ve-yan-dal-programlari

IUE Alumni Association lists all graduates along with information on their graduate school and careers. For more information please visit https://mmr.ieu.edu.tr/en/mezunlarimiz

Construction is a growing sector in Turkey. Therefore, the need for Architecture is growing correspondingly. Architecture is a profession which can be conducted with teams and without being a part of an institution. Hence, graduates can start working both independently and as a team member of national and/or international architectural offices. Graduate architects have a chance to take place in public and private sectors in design, control and construction stages. The ones, who prefer being in public organizations, can work at Ministry of Public Works and Settlements, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Ministry of Transportation or municipalities. Moreover, an academic career also can be pursued.  

In IUE, students with Bachelor degree of Architecture have many options of graduate programs to register. For the profession of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design provides 6 Graduate Programs as listed below:

• Advanced Architectural Design Master Program (Without Thesis)
• Master of Architecture Program (With Thesis)
• Design Studies (With Thesis)
• Ph.D. In Design Studies
• Design Management (Without Thesis)
• Yacht Design (Without Thesis)

For more information please find Academic > Graduate Programs on the main menu.