Ananya Jain

BA (Hons) Architecture

Ananya Jain has made it one of her life’s goals to challenge conventions. Moving from India to Birmingham at aged 17, she harnessed her creative talents by pursuing a BA (Hons) Architecture course, determined to become a fully-qualified female architect in a traditionally male-dominated field. She’s now well on her way to achieving that, all the while giving back by providing mentorship support to architecture students.

“I have always been curious about pursuing a creative career but in India, where I am from, creative professions are not usually seen as lucrative career choices. I found myself drawn to architecture as it combined creativity with technical skills and problem solving.

“I was fortunate to receive the GREAT India Scholarship in 2018, which would cover my full international tuition fees for the first year. It made studying abroad a reality. However, moving to another country at age 17 was a huge decision and I had to think carefully about which university would be right for me.

“BCU appealed as it offered the opportunity to do hands-on learning, while getting to work in a host of excellent facilities and spaces. The University’s international student community was also a positive factor. Knowing that there would be a supportive network around me made the decision easier. 

“At BCU, I loved that I could start with a sketch, turn it into a model, test an idea, receive feedback and then rethink it. The iterative process of making, reviewing and trying again became a big part of how I learned.

“Architecture is, traditionally, a male-dominated industry – in the UK, only 31 percent of architects are female. As a woman starting out in the industry, I became more aware of the importance of finding supportive people. I was grateful, then, to receive a valid perspective and insights from a female architect through BCU’s mentoring scheme. Across four sessions, we fine-tuned my CV and portfolio, explored job opportunities, and discussed how to tailor applications to different practices. If you’re considering a career in architecture, I’d really recommend finding a mentor.

“I also helped set up part of the Birmingham Architecture and Design Women’s Network, set up in 2020 to support and connect female and non-binary students across the architecture and design industries.

“During my second year, I undertook a two-week placement with 3DReid Architects – my first opportunity to experience practice first-hand. Taking part in design reviews and contributing to a feasibility study helped me understand how architectural ideas are tested against real clients, projects and constraints. It confirmed my desire to pursue architecture professionally. 

“BCU also held super studio sessions every Wednesday, which brought together software and modelling workshops with professional development activities like CV preparation, presentation skills and preparing for life in practice. There were also wellbeing sessions, which encouraged me to recognise that sustaining a career in architecture requires more than technical and design ability.

“Since graduating from BCU, I have secured a role as an architectural assistant at Hamilton Architects in Belfast, where I have contributed to large-scale public projects across Northern Ireland. The collaborative design process and group work I experienced at BCU provided a strong foundation for working within larger, multidisciplinary teams in practice.

“Alongside this, I completed my Master of Architecture at Queen’s University Belfast and am now undertaking my Part 3 qualification at the University of Westminster to qualify as an architect.

“Having benefitted from having amazing mentors during my own studies and my professional journey, I wanted to create a similar opportunity for others. I am proud that I have since organised a mentoring evening for architecture students. The evening paired the latter with practising architects to gain valuable advice on CVs, portfolios and more.”