How do students prefer architecture internships in India? Is practical training meant for just learning or beyond it? Do firms offer 360° internships to promote self-sufficiency and self-dependency? Think wisely.

In a university with multi-disciplinary streams such as engineering, management, psychology, architecture, and many more. The cross-disciplinary bonding & interaction often leads to discussions about internships and their pay scales in other fields. Does this influence architecture students to find architecture internships that offer BETTER COMPENSATION?

Despite being essential for course completion, architecture internships in India often become a choice between a few thousand in metropolitan cities. Many students lean towards large corporate companies rather than studio-based or smaller firms.

YOU KNOW WHY…

To gain what you need from an architecture internship, clarity is essential. Here are some tips for getting recruited as an architectural intern in India. GO AHEAD, & FIND WHAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR YOU.

SURVIVAL MATTERS…

1 WHY APPLY?

Get a taste of professional practice.

Although a degree is sufficient to LOG-IN into your career, an internship provides a closer understanding of what an architectural project entails. Designing something beyond the design brief is challenging. To tackle such difficult tasks, gaining hands-on experience and training at architecture firms is crucial.

2 HOW TO CHOOSE?

Find your interests and location to learn.

Both choosing and selecting reflect clarity on what you desire and where you land. Take your time to understand what is important in the architecture internship. Know your area of interest before applying. If not sure, go ahead with other parameters like location, scale, type of projects, and pay scale. It’s always better to take what comes first rather than what you don’t or want to get.

3 WHAT TO CHOOSE?

Large or small companies?

Once an individual is clear about the area of interest, the next question is whether large or smaller companies should join. Both types of companies have their pros and cons. For example, if an individual is interested in working on green building projects, he/she can opt for small or medium-sized firms to gain in-depth knowledge from the certification process to handover operations. If pay scale is a priority, he/she can choose larger companies.

4 HOW TO APPLY?

Customized applications are preferred.

If you want a firm to seriously consider your application, please note down the following points:

• Send a single application to a specific firm, and don’t send mass emails.
• Show some knowledge about the firm to which you are applying.
• Phrase your application on your own and sound sensible.
• Please attach your CV along with your portfolio.
• Keep your portfolio file less than 5 MB or provide a link to view it on other platforms.
• Be specific about your availability, and long-duration internships are preferred.

5 WHEN TO APPLY?

3-6 months in advance for bigger goals.

Firstly, the positions get filled very quickly in popular firms. Secondly, most of the firms prefer the ones who applied earlier, and the late ones are given lightweight. I would suggest you apply well in advance to increase your chances of getting shortlisted. This means your research on the interests and firms would begin 10–8 months before your internship start date. Those who want to intern abroad have to apply a minimum of 6 months before the start of the internship.

6 HOW SHOULD MY PORTFOLIO LOOK?

Prioritize Visual Strength Over Text

First impressions matter, right? It is essential to create a visual identity for your portfolio. Make sure the portfolio is not visually cluttered. Keep your pages long if you have sufficient details to show rather than an edge-to-edge congested composition. Keep in mind the following points while making your portfolio:

• Include a cover image that reflects your style of work.
• Organize your work using the table of contents.
• Remember that your quality of work will be judged based on the visuals.
• Add projects that reflect your interests and align with the practice.
• Make extra effort when rendering the drawings.
• Maintain consistency in font sizes and styles.
• Use quality materials, like high-quality images that look good on various devices.

7 HOW TO PRESENT IN AN INTERVIEW?

Define yourself

If shortlisted by a recognized firm, please put up your head and be proud. It is not easy among the thousands of competitors to be identified. Keep the following points in mind before appearing for an interview:

• Be punctual.
• If there is any emergency or change in plans, communicate well in advance.
• Carry a printed copy of your portfolio (if an offline interview).
• Make sure the network connections are fine, and provide a hassle-free experience for the evaluators.
• Present a full screen of your portfolio and consolidate your presentation within 5 minutes.
• Communicate genuinely with the questions asked, and don’t try to bluff.
• Think before you answer about the remuneration you desire.
• Additionally, show genuine interest.

8 PAID OR UNPAID INTERNSHIPS?

Paid is the better choice.

Beyond learning and other things, it’s important to consider the increasing cost of living across cities and towns in India. Some students may not be able to afford to rent a place to stay. Some students may be able to cover all the essentials.

Keeping this in mind, the students who cannot afford the cost of living might prefer or request a better stipend. Others can lend parents help without an option. Ultimately, everything boils down to the type of practice you want to join.

9 STIPEND SCALE IN INDIA.

A Severe Limitation to Student Survival

What’s the point of claiming to be an architect in your final year if you are unpaid or unable to sustain yourself? You can learn anywhere, whether from studio firms or large corporations. Ultimately, it is all about whether you can SURVIVE before you start training and learning. It’s high time to rethink the stipend scale in India. The following outlines the current average stipend scale for architecture interns:

Location:

• Metropolitan Cities: In cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and a few others, you can expect 5,000–10,000 INR per month, depending on the size of the architecture firm. Do you think you can survive on the mentioned stipend in an expensive city like Mumbai?
• Smaller towns and cities: Although places like Kochi and Trivandrum are developed, it’s unfortunate that some students report that many firms in these regions either don’t pay stipends or offer only 2,000 INR per month. Generally, in Tier 2 cities and towns, you can expect stipends ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 INR per month, or sometimes none at all.

Size of the firm:

• Large Firms: You can expect stipends ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 INR per month, depending on their location.
• Small and Emerging Firms: You may be UNPAID or receive a stipend between 2,000 and 4,000 INR per month.

Considering that stipend pay scales are a serious concern for architecture students in India, architects, designers, and firms must reassess their compensation practices to ensure students’ survival.

Firstly, we strongly advise students not to accept unpaid internships under the misconception that they offer significant learning opportunities. Learning can occur in any environment, whether at studio firms or large corporations.

Secondly, we urge firms in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and New Delhi to provide stipends of at least 10,000 to 15,000 INR per month, or more depending on the firm’s size.

Additionally, we urge firms in Tier 2 cities and towns to offer a minimum stipend of 10,000 INR per month.

10 WHAT TO EXPECT?

Embrace the opportunities as they come.

You should not expect to be assigned a full project as a student. Instead, student interns are expected to play a supportive role in establishing the overall workflow within a team. Never say no. To get better assignments, fulfill the tasks that come to the table with patience.

Be a sponge! Absorb the knowledge as it comes. Observe your colleagues’ communication, working styles, design methodology, and many more. To attain clarity, here are some of the key roles and responsibilities:

• Prepare detailed drawings like wall elevations, conceptual sections, carpentry drawings, landscape details, BOQ, and many more.
• Model the necessary 3D components and groups to support the junior architects.
• Make a project, furniture, lighting, or sanitary ware presentation.
• Modify the necessary changes in the GFC drawings.
• Help co-interns with physical modeling prototypes.
• Edit DPRs and write the necessary content (applicable to urban design-based firms).
• Coordinate with the junior architect during site visits.

Therefore, assess your software compatibility with the required software before applying.

To wrap up, I would like to request that all aspiring architects get a taste of professional practice during your preferred time. Completing two architecture internships before graduation is a valuable addition. Setting the right tone, from choosing an area of interest and location to selecting the size of the company, is key for the architecture internship. Furthermore, customize your application and portfolio to reflect your style, and apply well in advance. Define yourself well in the interview, and if you have identified the right company, accept the offer.

To all aspiring architects, carry out architecture internships with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. ALL THE BEST!

Content Writing and Research By: Ar. Baarat Krishna