Faculty of Architecture

About the faculty

The Faculty of Architecture is one of the scientific institutions that laid the foundation of architectural education in Azerbaijan. The faculty, which has a history of more than 100 years, has always been selected among our universities and other universities that teach architecture due to its deep-rooted traditions. The faculty has been operating since 1920 as a branch of the Faculty of Construction Engineering within the present Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry. In the following periods, it continued to operate as a branch of the Faculty of Construction Engineering of the present Technical University, and in 1968, an independent Faculty of Architecture was established. During the existence of the faculty it was headed by well-known architects of the country: B.G.Revazov, H.A. Majidov, E.I.Kanukov, R.H.Abdulrahimov, R.M.Sofiyev, N.H.Nagiyev, T.T.Teyyubov, S.H.Orujov, T.A.Abdullayev, H.A. .Jafarov.

The most famous scientists and practical architects of the republic were engaged in architecture at the faculty: academician M.A. Useynov, academician A.A. Gasimzade, prof. L.S.Bretanitsky, prof. G.M.Alizade, prof. D.A.Akhundov, prof. M.N. Najafov, prof. N.A. Aliyev, prof. T.H.Muradkhanova, prof. R.H.Aliyev, prof. R.M. Hasanov, docent T. Mehdiyev, docent N. Kangarli, prof. N. Rzayev, docent G.A. Salimkhanov and others directed their knowledge and skills to the formation of a new generation of architects.

The vast majority of professors and teachers of the faculty are well-known specialists and scientists of the republic in the field of architectural design, urban planning, design, restoration of monuments. At present, 1 corresponding member of ANAS, 11 doctors of architecture, 17 professors, 29 doctors of philosophy in architecture, associate professors share their deep theoretical and practical knowledge with our students at the faculty. One of them was awarded the title of "Honor", 2 - the laureate of the Order of Glory, 14 - "Honored Architect", 1 - "Honored Teacher", 1 - Laureate of the Republican State Prize, and 2 - "Presidential Fellow".

Education at the faculty

Applicants wishing to enter the faculty take part in the entrance (test) exams held by the State Student Admission Commission after the selection of aptitude and take the aptitude test on drawing and painting. Education at the faculty is conducted in Azerbaijani, Russian and English languages.

 
The faculty trains Bachelors and Masters in Architecture, Design and Urban Planning for various areas of the country's construction and design sector, where more than 1,300 students study at both levels of education. The faculty has a high international rating. More than 200 students majoring in Architecture and Design are foreign nationals.  Students from Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other countries predominate. The university has a three-level education system - Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral. The leading departments of the faculty train specialists at the doctoral level including doctoral students from foreign countries.
A new educational building of the faculty was built to expand the material and technical base. Large and well-lit auditoriums, a computer laboratory, a mock-up workshop, photo and prototyping studios were established, as well as project studios were provided with modern computer equipment with the financial support of the Turkish TCCA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency) organization.
At present, the faculty trains specialists in "Interior Design" and "Graphic Design" at the Bachelor's level, as well as "Design" and "Visual Design and Media" at the master's level. The purpose of the University is to raise the level of design education in Azerbaijan to an exemplary level, based on the experience of the Polytechnic University of Milan, and to train specialists in all areas of design - environment, industry, printing, visual design, objects. For this purpose, teaching is provided at the bachelor's level in the dual degree program with the Polytechnic University of Milan on the basis of a pilot curriculum since 2018.
In 2017, the training of specialists was launched in the field of "Urban Planning", which is very important for modernizing and renewing Azerbaijan at the bachelor's level.

Organization of education

Classes at the faculty are conducted in the format of projects, lectures and practical classes. Depending on the specialization, project-oriented subjects consist of a course project, a course work, which consistently complement each other throughout the entire teaching process.

The student's knowledge is assessed with a maximum of 100 points. The student gets 50 points during the semester and 50 points in the exam. The 50 points collected during the semester include:

for attendance - 10 points

for individual work - 10 points

according to the results of classes, seminars or laboratory classes - 30 points

If the course work (project) on the subject is envisaged, then 20 points are given for training (seminar) and laboratory classes, 10 points for preparation and defense of the course work (project).

The student's score on the exam should not be less than 17 points. A student who does not participate in more than 25% of all hours allocated to the subject will not be admitted to the exam in that subject.

According to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), a student's knowledge of the final score on a subject during the semester is assessed as follows:Less than 51 points

Less than 51 points	- "insufficient" (F)
51-60 points	- "fair" (E)
61-70 points	- "satisfactory" (D)
71-80 points	- "good" (C)
81-90 points	- "very good" (B)
91-100 points	- "excellent" (A)

4th year students undergo a 14-week Technological Manufacturing internship in the last (VIII) semester under the supervision of an internship supervisor appointed at the relevant specialties, and are evaluated by a commission established at the university on a 100-point scale.

Students are considered to have graduated from the university by passing the State Examination on Final Certification or defending their dissertation.

Examinations are organized by the university in a centralized test and written format, and examinations in project-oriented and skill-intensive subjects such as drawing, painting, sculpture and modeling are held at the faculty. Student works (course projects, models, drawings, etc.) are coded and evaluated by the commission according to special criteria developed by the faculty. Academic debt arises if students studying in relevant specialties do not pass the semester exam in any subject during their studies. Participates in individual and subgroup classes for the relevant semester on the basis of the student's application to the dean's office to cancel the academic debt, and an exam is held at the end of the semester. According to item 3.2.14 of the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 24, 2013 No. 348 "On approval of the Rules of organization of education at the bachelor's and master's levels of higher education institutions and master's level of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences" On the basis of the student's application to the dean's office for cancellation, there is an opportunity to cancel the academic debt by re-examining with 25% of the credit of the relevant subject for the relevant semester.

The tuition fee

The tuition fee for the specialtie of Architecture is 2,500 azn, and for the specialty "Uban Planning" is 2,000 azn. The tuition fee for foreign students is 2,500 USD. According to the existing rules, according to the results of the session, scholarships are allocated up to the number of students studying by state order, and paid students participate in the competition and receive schol-arships accordingly for their excellent, good and satisfactory marks. Each semester, students are provided with additional scholarships, while students who do not have academic credit debts have the opportunity to receive scholarships.

International accreditation

2019 was another successful year for the Faculty of Architecture. Thus, the faculty, known for its high level of education not only in our country, but also far beyond its borders, received a 5-year accreditation for Architecture speciality at the Bachelor’s level from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), a world-renowned institution in the field of architecture.
The main goal in the preparatory phase of RIBA accreditation was to radically change the requirements for complex course projects and graduation theses, to update the content of project assignments, and to consolidate the knowledge and skills acquired by the student during his university studies.

 

International relations

The international educational relations of the faculty are wide. In 2006, an inventory of Icheri Sheher monuments was conducted by UNESCO in cooperation with the University of Minnesota of the United States. Joint projects have been implemented with the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation of Italy, the University of Florence and the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Vienna, Austria. In 2008, the staff of the faculty and students majoring in restoration together with professors and students of the University of Florence participated in workshops in Florence and Baku organized by UNESCO. The project was dedicated to modern research methods of architectural monuments on the example of Icheri Sheher.

AzUAC has extensive relations with Italy. According to the intergovernmental agreement signed in 2018, the "Italy-Azerbaijan" Design Center was established together with the Polytechnic University of Milan. In recent years, on the initiative of the Italian Embassy, meetings of teachers and students of AzUAC with Italian architects and designers have been held. Thus, in March 2017 and 2018 "Italy's Design Day" which is held in more than 100 countries, took place at Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction. The event held on the basis of AzUAC was organized by the Embassy of Italy in Azerbaijan and the Organization for the Promotion and Internationalization of Italian Enterprises (ICE). 
The faculty has extensive relations with architectural schools of Turkey, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Florence, Milan Technical University, Lisbon University, French School of Architecture. As a member of RAS Association, the faculty participates in international competitions within the association.

International competitions

Graduation works and dissertations of the graduates of the faculty at the bachelor's and master's levels are worthily represented at the CIS Architectural Universities (MOOCAO), at the festivals of the International REA Association of Eastern European Schools of Architecture organized by France. In different years, the graduation works were awarded honorary places at the regional festivals of the Italian "Del Bianco" Foundation held in Baku. The university, which has been participating in MOOCAO graduation competitions since 1971, has always been very successful.

In October 2014, on the initiative of the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction and the Union of Architects of Azerbaijan, the XXIII International Review Competition of Graduation Works was held. 57 higher schools of architecture, as well as republican universities training specialists in architecture and design took part in the competition. The faculty annually successfully participates in the international review-competitions of architectural and design graduation works organized by MOOCAO.

Master classes

The organization of lectures has become a tradition at the faculty within the framework of "master classes" of well-known specialists (honored architects Nariman Imamaliyev, F. Miralayev, famous Italian architect Laura Peretti, professor of Columbia University Mark Hidekel, professor of the USA Phillip Mitchling, professor of the University of Bucharest Catalin D. Constantine, as well as Fabien Bellat, associate professor of Paris Seine School of Architecture in France, Gulchin Kucukkaya, professor of Istanbul Yeditepe University, Karel Smejkal, professor of Prague Technical University, Gintaras Stauskis, professor of Gediminas State Technical University of Vilnius, and others).

Areas of cooperation

The faculty maintains close practical and scientific relations with non-governmental companies in the field of architecture and design, the Republic Committee for Urban planning and Architecture, the Ministry of Emergency of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Baku City Executive Power, Administration of Icheri Sheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve, the Institute of Architecture and Art, Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences, “Azerbarpa” Research and Design Institute.

Production ties

Students and masters of the faculty gain production experience and successfully work in “Azerberpa” Research and Design Institute, “Azerdovletlayihe”, “Azertikintilayihe”, “Bakidovletlayihe” design institutes, “Icheri Sheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve,“ PASHAINSHAAT ”, PMD,“ Embawood ”,“ Aksessuar ishaat ” They have in well-known companies and work successfully.

The Faculty of Architecture is the oldest scientific and educational institution of our university. The 100-year history of architectural higher education in Azerbaijan is connected with this faculty. Almost all advanced forms and methods of teaching are used here.
Teachers and students of the faculty are also active in organizing individual art exhibitions, graduation works and master's dissertation exhibitions. Students are closely involved in events, celebrations, charity events, which are considered significant in the socio-political life of the republic and the university.

Career opportunities

Students and masters of the faculty have internships and work successfully in such well-known companies as  “Azerberpa” ETLI, “Azerdovletlayihe”, “Azertikintilayihe”, “Bakidovletlayihe” project institutes, “Icheri Sheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve,“ PASHAINSHAAT ”, PMD,“ EmbaWOn ”,“ Accessory ” .

The Faculty of Architecture is the oldest scientific and educational institution of our university. The 100-year history of architectural higher education in Azerbaijan is connected with this faculty. Almost all advanced forms and methods of teaching are used here.

Teachers and students of the faculty are also active in organizing individual art exhibitions, graduation works and master's dissertation exhibitions. Students are closely involved in events, celebrations and charity events that are considered significant in the socio-political life of the republic and the university.