Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Patna, will introduce the bachelor in architecture (BArch) programme from this academic session.

The admission process for the five-year course has begun and classes would commence on August 10.

The Council of Architecture has approved the course and admission is being done on the basis of All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) merit list.

BIT, Patna, assistant registrar A. Narayan said: “The students’ intake for the five-year BArch course is 40. Admission to the course is being done on the basis of AIEEE score.”

He added that the institute has invited applications from students securing BArch score up to 25,000 in AIEEE. The admission process will continue till Saturday.

The new director of the institute, S.L. Gupta, who joined BIT, Patna, on Wednesday, emphasised on focusing on new courses. Gupta was working as the academic co-ordinator at BIT, Noida, before joining the Patna institute. He replaces B.N. Giri, who has been transferred to BIT, Deoghar, as director.

Gupta said: “The institute will focus on starting new courses. In this direction, we have started the BArch course this academic session. From the next academic session, the institute is planning to launch masters courses, which include full-time two-year master in business administration (MBA) and a five-year integrated course in MBA and MTech.”

He added that the institute would also promote research activities. The administration would upgrade the college infrastructure, the library would be digitalised and efforts will be taken to develop the faculty.

On the fee structure, the registrar said: “For the first semester, a student has to pay Rs 1.03 lakh, which includes tuition, lodging and other fees, while for the second semester, a student would have to pay around Rs 83,000.”

According to sources, the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Patna, charges Rs 32,650 for the first semester in BArch course, while for the second semester, a student has to pay Rs 18,500.

Veinesh Pratik, who has taken admission in BArch at BIT, Patna, said: “The course is in great demand because of a boom in the construction business. Many companies are hiring architects in large numbers.”

The BIT administration has taken three-year approval from the Council of Architecture for running the BArch course. It will be renewed after three years.

The administration has appointed four faculty members for the course. A placement cell will also be constituted for the students.