What’s Up With Money: Don’t Study Architecture If You Don't Have a Trust Fund

My baby sister just finished her first year in Architecture at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and the bills we collectively got from this single year were massive!

For context, Praise is not extravagant. The only problem is that she is taking an extravagant course, Architecture. Many Nigerians know architecture is a money-swallowing course because architectural resources are pretty pricey, but we never expected the expenses it involved.

I decided to interview her to get some student insights. The thing is that we never quite know how much expenses students have to handle. We just know that they demand a lot of money because, let’s face it, they do.

So, let’s get a student side of the story for a change.

In this episode of What’s Up With Money, Praise breaks down how much it cost her to survive her first year in a public university and how her perspective on money has changed since then.

Describe your first year as an architecture student in one word.

Any word that defines stress!

Money stress, physical stress, or mental stress?

It’s a collabo of all of them.

Before you started university, what was your idea of how much it would cost to study architecture?

I already knew architecture was an expensive course, so I expected it would cost a lot and not consume much of my time and strength. But I was so wrong. I underestimated how much it would cost because tell me why I will be spending ₦120k on tracing pencils. Pencils! My pocket money was wiped out most of the time.

It also consumed all my time, making it difficult to have any moments for myself. Architecture does not respect your social life.

How much did it cost to survive your first year in architecture school?

The money was so expensive that I can’t even bring it to a sum. But, if I were to give an estimate, it would be between ₦1-1.5 million.

And can you give us a rough breakdown of the expenses?

First, I had to pay my house rent, which was ₦360k. It would shock you how much student apartments cost in Awka. However, I got a roommate, so we split the cost. The furniture and house furnishings cost almost ₦300k.

The acceptance fee was ₦62,500, the school fee was ₦162,500, and the general studies fee was ₦21k.

Getting a full package of basic architectural instruments cost over ₦60k, matriculation expenses were around ₦45k, transportation was over ₦50k, and miscellaneous expenses were over ₦150k.

As for feeding, I can’t even put a price on that because inflation wanted to finish my life.

A lot, huh?

Let’s just say that breakdown was exhausting.

It was taxing to listen to as well.

I see what you did there.

What's the most expensive item you had to buy for school that you never expected?

My set square and T-square amounted to over ₦45k. This is because we were at entry level, though. I hear that we will need to buy a tracing pencil set of ₦120k in our second year.

This is the second time I’ve heard about that pencil set. Is there something you are trying to tell me?

Is there something you hear?

Not at all. Moving on…

Did you have any financial support systems in place?

Oh, sure! My financial support system is that I am a last-born. So, my parents and siblings collectively fund my education.

In other words, you are like a trust fund baby.

Maybe… Your words, not mine.

Was there anything you spent money on that you now feel was a waste?

Yeah, a textbook titled Archi-Data. We were told it was a mandatory assignment handbook, but we never used it throughout my first year. It costs around ₦10k.

Did you ever consider dropping the course at any point because of the costs involved?

Sure, we all did. But I always remembered my passion and the fact that my parents would chase me out of the house if I tried it. That set me straight.

That is a good point, especially the parents part.

Yeah, that part always gets me back to my senses.

Talking about senses, what about your mental health? How much mental stress went into your first year?

97% of my mental health was on the line. I was always negotiating the remaining 3%. One crazy thing was that my lecturers usually gave a longer timeline for simpler assignments and a stiff one for strenuous assignments. I spent most of my nights bent over my drawing board and sketch pad. I always turned up to class looking like I was on antidepressants. And this is just the first year.

It’s going to get wilder, for sure.

“Wilder” is surely an understatement for the rumours I’ve heard from my seniors.

I’m sure you will be fine.

How did your perspective on money change from before you started university versus after you began your studies?

Before uni, I always thought that no matter how much the value of Naira fell, there would still be some value. But now… omo, there is no value anywhere. The money always disappears as soon as I get it.

How did you learn to cut costs, then?

I learned the hard way. It was hard to manage at first. But I eventually learned how to plan properly by prioritising my needs over my wants.

So, what's your current strategy for managing money as a student? Do you stick to a budget, or is it a "spend and pray" situation?

Honestly, it's a spend-and-pray situation because I can’t control where the billing comes from. But I usually keep the money I don’t want to touch or the money I have made plans for in a separate account, while the money for food and other expenses is saved in another account. That way, I can manage them separately.

If you had to advise someone considering architecture, what would you tell them about the financial and mental costs involved?

Hmmm… They just have to come financially and mentally prepared because it is not funny. And if they are not up to it, no just put body. You might end up in a week-in-week-out combat with brokeness, sleep deprivation, and exhaustion, but you will be alright in the end.

Knowing what you know now, would you still choose architecture as your course of study?

A definite yes! Like I said before, it is my passion. And, even though it wants to take my life, I know this passion will always keep me going.

Aww, that’s so sweet and inspiring.

That’s the goal. To sound sweet and inspiring.

Finally, are you ready for your second year?

Ehm… Honestly, no. But, then again, who’s ever ready? Let’s do this, baby!