Ecole Polytechnique d’Architecture et d’Urbanisme was established in 1970. It was designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer as the first architecture school in independent Algeria.
The school is located in El Harrach, a suburb of Algiers, the capital of Algeria. Algiers is the country’s cultural, economic and political centre. It is built on the slopes of the Sahel Hills along the Bay of Algiers.
There are two diplomas offered by the school: diploma of architecture and a master’s diploma. The first two years consist of basic training, an introduction to architectural language, drawing and the architectural project that all students must complete. The second year is a pivotal year for the students’ chosen architectural project. The final two years are for those studying the master’s diploma and are focused on deepening the first three years of knowledge while specialising in a specific subject area.
Outside the classroom there are a number of clubs and societies on offer such as the NOMAD Club, the CHARTER Club and the SpaceCraft Club.
In 2014 it joined the ERASMUS+ programme and the Mixed Algerian-French Network of RME Schools to facilitate academic and scientific exchanges. The school has developed partnerships with several other higher education institutions across the globe, providing students with the opportunity to study abroad.