Overview
Programme handbook 2012/13 [pdf]
Duration: One year (part-time).
Start date: Early October.
Location: University of Bath.
Application deadline: 30 June (international) / 31 August (home/EU).
Entry requirements: evidence of Part 1 and Part 2 qualifications or letters of equivalence from the ARB; professional experience; current employer’s reference.
Language requirements: IELTS 7.0 (at least 6.5 in each of the four components) OR TOEFL internet 100 (at least 24 in each of the four bands).
PG Certificate Professional Practice - RIBA part 3
Professional purpose
This programme is validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) as conferring exemption from the Part 3 examinations of the RIBA, and is formally prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) for the purpose of admission to the Register of Architects. Admission to the Register is mandatory for all persons who wish to carry on business under the name, style or title containing the word 'architect'.
Successful graduates from the programme will be able to obtain statutory registered status with the ARB and attain Chartered membership of the RIBA.
The programme is unconditionally validated by the RIBA and prescribed by the ARB.
Practise-based
The emphasis is on an intensive, integrated, practice-based approach to the management of the practice of architecture.
The programme provides the opportunity for eligible candidates to qualify to practice within the profession within 12 months of commencing the course.
Who should apply?
All candidates wishing to register onto the programme must have already completed an established programme in architecture and gained a validated Part 1 and Part 2 degree qualification at a recognised university/institution within the UK.
Further programme details
Programme handbook 2012/13 [pdf]
Semester 1 (October - January)
Registration and introductory seminar - Friday 5 October 2012, 10am-4.30pm
Case study workshop - Thursday 22 November 2012, 10am-4pm
Semester 2 (February - March)
Taught lecture course - Monday 18 - Friday 22 March 2013
Written examinations - Wednesday 15 May 2013 (am) and Thursday 16 May 2013 (am)
Revision seminar - Thursday 2 May 2013, 10am-4pm
Summer Period (June - September)
Documentary submission - Monday 2 September 2013
Oral examinations - Thursday 19 September 2013 (pm) and Friday 20 September 2013 (all day)
Further information
Individual tutorials will be arranged from January to June at a time and place to suit the Director of Studies and the candidate.
All other sessions take place at the University of Bath. Applicants must be able to attend all sessions.
Semester 1 (October 2013 - January 2014)
Registration and introductory seminar - Friday 4 October 2013, 10am-4.30pm
Case study workshop - Thursday 14 November 2013, 10am-4pm
Semester 2 (February 2013 - March 2014)
Taught lecture course - Monday 17 March 2014 - Friday 21 March 2014
Revision seminar - Thursday 1 May 2014, 10am-4pm
Written examinations - Wednesday 14 May 2014 (am) and Thursday 15 May 2014 (am)
Summer Period (June 2014 - September 2014)
Documentary submission - Monday 1 September 2014
Oral examinations - Thursday 18 September 2014 (pm) and Friday 19 September 2014 (all day)
Further information
Individual tutorials will be arranged from January to June at a time and place to suit the Director of Studies and the candidate. Wherever possible, one tutorial will be held at the candidate's Practice. Other tutorials will be arranged at the University or at the candidate's Practice.
All formal teaching sessions and examinations will take place at the University of Bath. Applicants must be able to attend all sessions.
AR50326: Practice and project management
- An intensive lecture course held over five days, structured in response to the subject areas defined within the RIBA/ARB criteria.
- Lectures are delivered by members of the academic staff within the Department, the programme director and by visiting specialists from other parallel professions of law, construction law and statutory legislation.
- Candidates also attend a separate revision session.
- Assessment is by two closed book written examinations, which candidates must pass to be be able to progress to the oral examination. Candidates will be granted one attempt only to recover one or both of the written papers, and should the minimum passing standard not be achieved at this second attempt, the candidate is required to withdraw from the programme.
AR50327: Professional practice
- A) Documentary submission, comprising:
- Case study (8,000-10,000 words)
- Professional Curriculum Vitae
- Professional Career Evaluation (4,000 words)
- Professional Experience and Development Record (PEDR).
- B) Oral examination.
See programme catalogue for more information.
Academic qualifications
Minimum requirement: Architecture BA(Hons) or BSc(Hons) with exemption from RIBA Part 1, or equivalent; Postgraduate diploma in Architecture with exemption from RIBA Part 2, or equivalent.
For candidates who have gained a degree(s) in architecture at a European or other overseas university/institution, their degree qualifications must first be approved by the Architects Registration Board of the United Kingdom to be determine that they are the equivalent standard of the Part 1 and Part 2 qualifications above. This entails a further examination of the degree portfolios from the relevant university/institution which is undertaken by a separate examination Board of ARB. Upon successful attainment a formal letter, confirming that the relevant European/overseas qualification(s) have equivalence with the UK Parts 1 and 2 qualifications, is issued.
Professional experience
Candidates cannot be admitted to the examination until they have acquired at least two years of satisfactory experience, one year of which must be after the final degree or diploma (Part 2). It may well require much more than two years to obtain a sufficient coverage of experience and candidates are advised not to present themselves for examination until they are confident that their experience is appropriate for entry to the profession.
Reference
We require one employer’s reference from your current practice on practice headed paper, signed by a partner/director or the person who is your mentor as entered on the PEDR. It should include the following:
- a statement of the practice’s recognition and acknowledgement that you are embarking on the final programme of study leading to qualification
- the practice’s acceptance to provide the appropriate support required of them in accordance with the RIBA directive for the role of the employer within part 3 programmes
- confirmation of your readiness to undertake the part 3 programme (optional).
No decision will be made upon your application and your application cannot be progressed, until this supporting document is uploaded to your application tracker. Character or personal references are not acceptable.
English language requirements
Either:
- IELTS: a score of at least 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in each category
- TOEFL: 100 (internet-based test) with not less than 24 in each of the components.
Only English language tests taken up to two years prior to the date that you are due to start your studies are valid for entrance purposes.
All candidates are expected to hold a position of reasonable seniority within an Architects’ practice in the United Kingdom, and to demonstrate a minimum of 12-months experience in practice in the United Kingdom since gaining their Part 2 qualification. Candidates are therefore expected to be fully competent in written and spoken English within their practising environment.
All applications are made online.
- Select ‘Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice’ on the application page.
- If you are already a student at the University of Bath, use your current user name and password. If you are not a current student, follow the instructions to create a new user account.
- When making your application, you will be asked to upload supporting documents. This includes your degree certificates, professional reference, and the results of your English language assessment if applicable.
- You will be able to follow the progress of your application using Application Tracker. Once you have completed the online form, we will provide you with a username and password which will enable you to access Application Tracker. Please make sure you check this regularly.
