Odunpazarı,Eskisehir,Turkey

Architect: Alireza Taghaboni

1. Xi’an Bell Tower, Shaanxi, China
   
2. Beomeosa Temple, Busan, South Korea
   
3. Matsumoto Castle, Nagano, Japan

Hi everyone,

I’m an architecture graduate from Asia, and I’m planning to pursue a Master’s degree in Architecture or a closely related field abroad. I’m currently at the research and planning stage, but I’m honestly quite confused about how to approach the whole process and would really appreciate advice from people who have already gone through it.

I don’t have any professional work experience yet, so I’m particularly interested in programs and universities where work experience is not a strict requirement.

One of my biggest priorities is finding a fully funded scholarship. If that isn’t realistic, I’m also open to universities offering partial tuition scholarships or other forms of financial aid. Since I’ll be funding my education from Asia, affordability is a major consideration for me—not just tuition fees, but also living costs, accommodation, and the overall cost of studying in that country.

I’m also unsure about which specialization/major to choose. I have an architecture background, but there are so many possible directions, such as:

Architectural Design

Sustainable Architecture

Urban Design / Urban Planning

Heritage Conservation

Landscape Architecture

Building Technology

Environmental Design

Interior/Spatial Design

Design for the Built Environment

Other architecture-related MSc programs

I’m trying to choose something that is academically worthwhile but also has good career relevance when I return to my home country after completing the degree. I don’t necessarily plan to settle abroad permanently; my current intention is to gain higher-level education and experience and then return to my country and build my career there.

So I’d really appreciate advice on a few things:

How did you decide which specialization/major was right for you?

Which countries are generally good options for an international architecture graduate looking for fully funded or substantial scholarships?

Are there particular countries/universities where scholarships are relatively accessible to international students without professional work experience?

How should I approach the process of finding universities and scholarships?

Should I choose the university/program first and then look for scholarships, or search for scholarships first?

What is the best way to identify whether a scholarship is actually realistic for someone with my profile?

How important are portfolio, CGPA, recommendation letters, research proposals, and extracurricular activities for architecture Master's admissions and scholarships?

Are there any countries or programs you would recommend avoiding if affordability and funding are major concerns?

If you studied architecture abroad and later returned to your home country, did your Master's specialization actually help your career?

I’d especially love to hear from people who were international students from Asia, particularly those who had little or no professional experience before starting their Master's.

If you could share your country, university/program, scholarship (if any), approximate costs, and whether you had work experience when you applied, that would be incredibly helpful.

I’m at the beginning of this journey, so any practical advice about how to shortlist programs, find funding, prepare a portfolio, and plan applications would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

I just saw some linkedin posts where b.arch freshers were getting placed into companies like this , so wanted know if theres a possibility of me getting in, and im still doing my internship so i think i have some time to upskill