School of Planning and Architecture

SPA Delhi campus is spread over 20 acres of land and has two libraries in both Planning and Architecture campuses. The library has journals, e-journals, and a large collection of books. The deemed to be university also has a cafeteria and a large auditorium. The library is equipped with computer facilities and electronic facilities such as online resources to support the teaching, learning, and research activities of the school. The campus also has a material testing lab, IQAC, and also has material testing labs. School of Planning and Architecture Delhi has separate hostels for boys and girls alike. School of Planning and Architecture Delhi hostels enable students to feel at home in an unfamiliar place.

School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) New Delhi, is a premier institute of architecture established in the year of 1941. It is deemed to be a university having recognition as an institute of National importance. The institute is ranked 5th among the top Architecture colleges in India by NIRF 2023. SPA Bhopal was established in 2008 and it is ranked 11th among the top Architecture colleges in India by NIRF 2023. Both institutes offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels programmes in Architecture, Design and Planning streams, namely, BArch BPlan MArch, MPlan MDes and PhD. The most popular course of the institutes is BArch admissions to which is done on the basis of the candidates merit in JEE Mains Paper 2.

SPA Delhi has its own charm. Life at hostel and campus is amazing. Its quite challenging sometimes in term of infrastructure. Being an institute of national importance, it should maintain the infra. But here it is -
Hostel life - fixed menu, but hygienic food
Hostel party - it used to happen on Friday night with DJ, food (once a month. Not sure about present situation)
Hostel celebrations - new years of all the states in their unique style, food and decorations, and all major festivals are organized. A major missing for all the alumni. Architecture campus - a good campus with a real feel of being in an architecture college. Planning campus - smaller then your imagination contrary to its brand. Faculty members are good and experienced.

SPA Delhi is considered one of the top architecture and planning colleges in India, and there are several factors that contribute to its reputation and make it stand out from other colleges:
1. Legacy and reputation: SPA Delhi has a rich legacy and a reputation for excellence in architecture and planning education. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges of its kind in India and has produced many successful architects and planners over the years.
2. Curriculum and teaching methods: SPA Delhi's curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong theoretical foundation and practical skills that are essential for a successful career in architecture and planning. The institute employs a range of teaching methods, including lectures, design studios, seminars, and workshops, to provide students with a well-rounded education.
3. Faculty: The faculty at SPA Delhi consists of experienced professionals and academics with expertise in architecture and planning. Many of the faculty members are practicing architects and planners who bring real-world experience to the classroom.
4. Research and consultancy: SPA Delhi is actively involved in research and consultancy projects that contribute to the development of the field of architecture and planning in India. The institute has a strong focus on sustainability and heritage conservation, and many of its research projects are aimed at finding innovative solutions to urban planning and development challenges.
5. Facilities: SPA Delhi's campus is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to support academic and research activities. These include computer labs, design studios, a library with a vast collection of books and journals, and a materials testing laboratory, among others.
6. Alumni network: SPA Delhi has a strong alumni network, with many of its graduates holding prominent positions in the field of architecture and planning in India and around the world. This network provides students with valuable connections and opportunities for networking and career development.
7. Industry partnerships: SPA Delhi has strong partnerships with leading architecture and planning firms in India and around the world. These partnerships provide students with opportunities for internships, mentorship, and exposure to real-world projects.
8. International collaborations: SPA Delhi has collaborations with several international universities and institutes, which allows students to participate in exchange programs and study abroad opportunities. This provides students with exposure to different cultures, design philosophies, and approaches to architecture and planning.
9. Focus on interdisciplinary learning: SPA Delhi emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, which means that students are encouraged to explore a range of subjects beyond architecture and planning. This helps students to develop a broader perspective and acquire skills that are essential for success in the field, such as communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
10. Emphasis on sustainability and conservation: SPA Delhi has a strong focus on sustainability and conservation, which is reflected in its research, curriculum, and teaching methods. The institute encourages students to think critically about the impact of their designs on the environment and society and to explore innovative approaches to sustainable architecture and planning.
11. Strong alumni network: SPA Delhi has a strong and active alumni network, which provides students with access to a range of resources, including mentorship, networking opportunities, and job placement assistance.
12. Strong industry connections: SPA Delhi has strong connections with the architecture and planning industry in India, which provides students with opportunities for practical training and exposure to real-world projects. The institute has tie-ups with many leading architecture firms, which offer internships and placement opportunities to its students.
13. Excellent infrastructure: SPA Delhi has an excellent infrastructure that is designed to provide students with a comfortable and conducive learning environment. The campus is equipped with modern facilities such as design studios, computer labs, a library, and a range of other resources that support the academic and research activities of the institute.
14. Multidisciplinary approach: SPA Delhi follows a multidisciplinary approach to education, which means that students are exposed to a range of subjects beyond architecture and planning. The institute encourages students to explore subjects such as humanities, social sciences, and engineering, which helps them develop a broader perspective and prepares them to tackle complex problems in their professional lives.
15. Focus on research and innovation: SPA Delhi has a strong focus on research and innovation and many of its faculty members are involved in cutting-edge research projects that aim to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the field of architecture and planning today.
16. Active student life: SPA Delhi has a vibrant and active student community, which organizes a range of extracurricular activities, including cultural events, sports tournaments, and competitions. This provides students with opportunities to develop leadership skills, socialize with their peers and engage in activities outside of their academic coursework.
Overall, SPA Delhi's strong industry connections, excellent infrastructure, multidisciplinary approach, focus on research and innovation, and active student life make it a top institution for architecture and planning education in India.

SPA Delhi is one of the most desired colleges for studying Architecture among students, one of the reasons being that SPA Delhi is a government institution and another reason being that the institute is hard to get into, meaning only of cream of students can get admission to SPA Delhi. The institute is one of the top-ranked architecture institutes in India. As for how good the college is, there are certain determinants like faculty that are teaching the students, curriculum that is being taught, and placements provided to students that help ascertain that. The BArch Programme at SPA Delhi is a 5-year long course and is an internationally recognised course. In order to get admission to BArch at SPA Delhi, JEE Mains score is accepted. To understand better whether the college is a good choice for BArch, well dive into the factors like faculty, curriculum, and placements.Faculty at SPA Delhi:The faculty at SPA Delhi involves renowned individuals in their respective fields. The staff teaching the students also happens to be employed working professionals who are actively working in the field. Students getting taught by actual architects help them understand more about the workings of the industry. This also impacts the way the students are taught. The students are taught more with the practical approach than the theoretical one, which is more effective for a BArch course. The teachers have a more hands-on constructive way of teaching. The teacher-to-student ratio is well balanced, making it easier for the students to reach out and clear doubts, ask questions etc. As BArch focuses on both technique as well as design, teachers conduct regular assignments and judge the abilities of the students on that basis.Curriculum:It is important for a college to provide its students with a curriculum that caters to relevance as well as aids in the progress of a student. A good curriculum ensures that the students are taught in such a way that helps the students gain skills and prepares them for a professional setting. Since architecture is a nice blend of art and technique, the course curriculum for BArch involves subjects that focus on art like visual arts as well as technical subjects that focus on the engineering aspect of architecture like the Theory of Structures. The curriculum also involves research-based subjects along with computer training for software. The students have regular industrial visits, seminars and study visits. An internship is also mandatory in the curriculum since it helps students get industrial training and they also get a better perspective of working in a professional atmosphere.Placements at SPA Delhi:The placement rate at SPA Delhi is average. The college does have an actively working placement cell, however, the students pursuing BArch either opt for postgraduation while some look for a job on their own. Many people prefer to work on their own after graduating from the course or enhance their skills by pursuing a master's in the field. However, that does not mean that companies are not visiting the campus to hire students. Several companies in the IT field, MNCs, and students are also offered jobs in the government sector. Around 33 students from BArch were placed according to the NIRF 2023 report and the median package provided by the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi was INR 6 LPA. Some of the top recruiters that visited the campus include Deloitte, Havells, Whirlpool, E&Y etc. The college saw an improvement in median package trends, while the number of students that got placed has seen a decline.Conclusion:In conclusion, there are some positive as well as some negative points when it comes to studying at SPA Delhi. One of the negatives is that the faculty consists of actively working professionals, meaning that they constantly change which may break the rhythm of the learning experience for the students. Another negative is the placements. Not a large number of students get placed at the School of Planning and Architecture. The trends in placement are declining and the salary packages are not great. Also, the college does not help with internships for industrial training, and in most cases, the students have to search for companies to intern for on their own.The positives of studying at SPA Delhi include learning from teachers that are working in the field and who have a hands-on approach while teaching. Another positive is that the course curriculum is relevant and caters to students skill enhancement. Another addition to the positives of studying at SPA, Delhi is that many top companies like Deloitte, Whirlpool and Havells visit the college for campus placement and of course SPA, Delhi is one of the most top rated colleges for architecture and is best for the BArch programme.