What is First-Year Experience

The first year of tertiary studies is vital for students, as they must adapt and settle into university life. First-year students must explore learning challenges and make positive transitional adjustments. The unprecedented pandemic has changed students' learning experiences from the physical classroom to the online realm. This chapter seeks to identify first-year architecture students' learning experiences in an online environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. A set of survey questionnaires is used to collect data on their learning experiences with architectural studio-based learning. The elements considered for the research are learning experience, learning platforms, and the student's readiness with the virtual architectural studio learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study's findings suggest that students positively impact learning experience, have high satisfaction levels on learning platforms, and are well prepared for online learning. This study will help schools of architecture in Malaysia to develop appropriate responses in the post‐COVID-19 settings.