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Professional Practice PG Cert

1 year, starting in September 2027

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Take the final stage of professional and academic training to demonstrate your competency and qualify as a Chartered Architect in the UK.

Our course is the final step towards completing your studies in Architecture and becoming a qualified Architect in the UK. Our 12-month, part-time programme allows you to study the RIBA part 3 to prepare for final examination. This intensive, practice-based approach gives you the opportunity to enter the profession within a year.

Our course complements your ongoing professional experience. It builds on your knowledge, understanding, ability and skills to deal with the challenges of working in practice. It’s validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) so by successfully completing our course, you are exempt from RIBA’s part 3 examinations. Our course is prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) to enable you to qualify to register as a Chartered Architect. The structure follows the framework set out by the RIBA/ARB criteria for part 3.

As part of your course, you will access teaching sessions and complete examinations online and remotely, making it easier to balance your work alongside studies. This includes an online five-day intensive taught lecture course, covering a range of subjects that meet the RIBA/ARB criteria. You’ll also be able to arrange virtual individual tutorials with our Director of Studies during semester 2.

Key benefits

  • develop your commercial awareness, integrity and knowledge of processes and management
  • explore working with a range of stakeholders including clients, employers and industry partners
  • gain expertise in leading architectural and construction projects professionally
  • graduate able to demonstrate your competency to practice as an Architect

Learn from experts in the field

You’ll learn from academics based in our Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering. Their experience in practice, industry and academia informs our teaching and contributes to your learning. You’ll also attend lectures given by visiting specialists from related professions such as law, construction law and statutory legislation.

Where our graduates work

Our graduates have gone on to work at companies including:

  • Feildon Clegg Bradley Studios
  • Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
  • ADP Architecture
  • Purcell Architects

2027/28 Academic Year

Before you apply for a course, please check the website for the most recently published course detail. If you apply to the University of Bath, you will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

We understand that you will want to know more about the shape of the academic year. We work hard and plan for different scenarios, to be able to welcome you to the University of Bath at the start of each semester.

Course structure

This course lasts 1 year. It starts in September 2027 and ends in 2028.

Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Year 1

Semester 1

Compulsory units

  • Practice and project management

    15 credits

  • Professional case study

    5 credits

  • Professional experience

    10 credits

Semester 2

Compulsory units

  • Practice and project management

    Continued

  • Professional case study

    Continued

  • Professional experience

    Continued

Learning and assessment

Learning

  • 100% online lectures, seminars and practicals
  • Online resources

Assessment

  • Attendance
  • Coursework
  • Online assessment
  • Written examination

These lists are to give you an idea of some, but not all, of the learning and assessment methods used on this course. They are not exhaustive lists and methods are subject to change.

Professional accreditations and exemptions

Successful graduates of this course can gain statutory registered status with the ARB and Chartered membership of the RIBA. ARB accreditation is subject to periodic review and relies on the University’s ongoing compliance with the ARB Standards and any conditions attached to accreditation.

RIBA logo

This course is fully validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for the purposes of RIBA membership.
ARB logo

This course is currently prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB), subject to period review, for the purposes of entry on to the United Kingdom Register of Architects.

Recognition of professional qualifications

As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).

The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.

Entry requirements

Origin of qualifications

British qualifications

To apply for this course, you should have a:

  • Postgraduate diploma in Architecture with exemption from RIBA Part 2 or equivalent. For Chartered Membership of the RIBA, Part 1 will also be required.

If you have architecture qualifications from a European or overseas institution, the Architects Registration Board (ARB) must assess them to confirm that they are equivalent to UK Part 2 qualification. This assessment includes a review of your degree portfolio. If your qualifications meet the required standard, ARB will issue written confirmation of their equivalence.

To apply for this course, you must have already obtained this confirmation and upload it as part of your application. We cannot consider applications from candidates with European or overseas architecture qualifications unless ARB has confirmed that their Part 2 qualification (bachelor’s or master’s degree) is a prescribed qualification. This is a mandatory entry requirement.

You must submit eight fully signed off PEDRs at least one month before the final exams in September 2028. These should be signed by you (the candidate), Practice Mentor and PSA. In your application, you must declare how many fully signed PEDR quarterly records you have for periods up to July 2027. We require at least five fully signed PEDRs, with at least one quarter post-Part 2 and less than 12 months old, by October 2027. The PSA for the PG Cert will only accept records for periods ending between August 2027 and July 2028 for sign-off.

It could take more than two years to obtain enough experience. We advise you to only apply when you are confident that your experience will be sufficient to enter the profession within 12 months.

During the course, we require you to hold a position of reasonable seniority within an Architects’ practice based in the UK. You should be supervised by a Practice Mentor (an Architect with more than five years' ARB registration). You must also demonstrate at least 12 months of professional experience in UK practice gained since starting your Part 2 qualification. To meet ARB requirements, this experience must fall within the two years before your final interview in September 2028. In addition, you must be fully competent in written and spoken English for professional practice.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in all components
  • The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 62 with no less than 59 in any element
  • TOEFL IBT: 90 overall with a minimum 21 in all 4 components

You will need to get your English language qualification within 24 months prior to starting your course.

If you need to improve your English language skills before starting your studies, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course to reach the required level.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding information for Professional Practice PG Cert

Fees

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home or Overseas student.

Learn how we decide fee status

Tuition fees

See the most recent fees for postgraduate courses.

Extra costs

If you receive an offer, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of £500 when you accept to secure your place. This will be deducted from your tuition fee when you register.

How to pay

Payment options

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card or bank transfer. You may also be eligible for a student loan to help you pay your fees.

Read more about your payment options

Budgeting

You'll need to budget for remote studying costs such as:

  • photocopying
  • printing
  • binding
  • an internet-enabled computer with webcam

You'll also need to budget for the cost of textbooks and project-specific contract documents.

As the course is fully remote, you're responsible for your own travel, accommodation and living costs.

Application information

  • Course title
    Professional Practice
  • Final award
    PG Cert
  • Mode of study
    Part-time, online
  • Course code
    TDUAR-PP01
  • Department
    Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
  • Location
    University of Bath
    Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY
  • Home application deadline
    31 August 2027

    We recommend you apply early as we may close applications before the deadline if a course is full.

  • Overseas application deadline
    31 July 2027

    We recommend you apply early as we may close applications before the deadline if a course is full. We may consider late applications but if you need a Student Visa to study in the UK, you will need time to apply for and receive your visa to be in the UK by the start of the course.

  • Application eligibility
    Home and Overseas students are eligible to apply
  • Regulator
    The Office for Students (OfS)

Course enquiries

On this page

Practice and project management

15 credits

Develop your professional competence and capability in five areas: professionalism; clients, users and delivery of services; legal framework and processes; practice and management; and building procurement.

This unit spans the following periods of study:

  • Year 1 - Semester 1
  • Year 1 - Semester 2

Assessment detail

  • Practice and project management - Part 1 (Open-book written examination 50%)
  • Practice and project management - Part 2 (Open-book written examination 50%)

Learning outcomes

By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
  • RE2: Work with clients and other stakeholders to gain a mutual understanding of constraints and opportunities, identify immediate and long-term interests, set project agendas, define desirable and feasible project outcomes, and develop appropriate briefs for projects.
  • RE4: Locate, evaluate and apply relevant legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and policies related to the development of the built environment.
  • M2: Understand the financial and resource management aspects of running an architectural practice including the means of professional remuneration and fee setting.
  • M5: Manage the inter-relationships of individuals, organisations, statutory bodies, and professions involved in procuring and delivering architectural projects, recognising how these are defined through contractual and organisational structures.
  • M6: Select appropriate procurement routes and means of delivery, recognising their relative risks to contractual parties, their implications for sustainable design outcomes and how these influence the selection and management of construction contracts.
  • M7: Apply the principles of risk management, liabilities, and insurance to architectural projects.
  • M8: Apply the principles of cost management, control, and budgeting to architectural projects.
  • PE6: Recognise the responsibilities and duties of care that architects have towards their clients, users, the public and those with whom they work.

Unit detail

This unit covers key professional competencies of an Architect in the UK. This will include:
  • defining the attributes of professional competence and the ability to behave with integrity, in the ethical and professional manner appropriate to the role of architect the architect's obligation to society and the profession, and a sufficient awareness of the limits of their competence and professional experience to ensure they are unlikely to bring the profession into disrepute.
  • the range of services offered by architects and delivering those services in a manner prioritising the interests of the client and other stakeholders.
  • the briefing process, forms and terms of appointment, the means of professional remuneration, relevant legislation, and the execution of appropriate programmed and coordinated project tasks.
  • the legal context within which an architect must operate, and the processes undertaken to ensure compliance with legal requirements or standards
  • the business priorities, required management processes and risks of running an architectural practice, and the relationship between the practice of architecture and the UK construction industry.
  • the principles of UK construction and contract law, construction procurement processes and the roles of built environment professionals.

Professional case study

5 credits

Combine material from academic taught sessions with your professional experience through a case study of a project at your practice. You’ll demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours of an Architect.

This unit spans the following periods of study:

  • Year 1 - Semester 1
  • Year 1 - Semester 2

Assessment detail

  • Professional case study (Report Individual 100%)

Learning outcomes

By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
  • D12: Use appropriate digital systems for creating, modelling, processing, presenting, and sharing design, building and project information.
  • RE4: Locate, evaluate and apply relevant legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and policies related to the development of the built environment.
  • M1: Make use of the principles of sustainable, responsible and ethical practice, and recognise how they relate to running an architect’s practice.
  • M4: Manage and structure projects, administer construction contracts and resolve common construction-related challenges.
  • M7: Apply the principles of risk management, liabilities, and insurance to architectural projects.
  • M9: Plan, manage, monitor and communicate health and safety arrangements for construction projects as required by current legislation.
  • M10: Resource, plan, implement and record project tasks to achieve stated goals, either individually or within a team.
  • PE3: Work constructively with and within a broader team, exercising leadership, effective communication and personal responsibility.
  • PE4: Uphold the architect’s obligations to the health and safety of the public and building users and building constructors.
  • PE8: Acknowledge and work within the limits of their competence, expertise, and experience.

Unit detail

The Case Study Report should outline details of the practice within which the student works and their role. Define the physical and contractual context and constraints of the project. Describe the process/es utilised to manage and deliver the project such as design options explored or design workshops held. Identify which colleagues or specialist consultants contributed to the design development and what their role was. Describe how the learning outcomes attributed to this unit are met and demonstrated. Show examples of work undertaken during the case study including text, annotated sketches, diagrams, drawings or digital models, notes, specifications, schedules, visualisations, photographs, physical models. Conclude with a reflective appraisal of process and result explaining how the output met the brief.

Professional experience

10 credits

Prepare a career appraisal based on your academic and practical experience. You'll record how your experience demonstrates your achievement of the relevant learning outcomes. You'll also produce a CV and complete your PEDR to evidence your experience to date. Finally, you'll attend a professional interview to test your ability to evaluate, communicate and reflect on how you've met and applied learning outcomes through experience.

This unit spans the following periods of study:

  • Year 1 - Semester 1
  • Year 1 - Semester 2

Assessment detail

  • Coursework (Report Individual 50%)
  • Presentation (Oral presentation Individual 50%)

Learning outcomes

By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
  • RE2: Work with clients and other stakeholders to gain a mutual understanding of constraints and opportunities, identify immediate and long-term interests, set project agendas, define desirable and feasible project outcomes, and develop appropriate briefs for projects.
  • RE4: Locate, evaluate and apply relevant legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and policies related to the development of the built environment.
  • M1: Make use of the principles of sustainable, responsible and ethical practice, and recognise how they relate to running an architect’s practice.
  • M2: Understand the financial and resource management aspects of running an architectural practice including the means of professional remuneration and fee setting.
  • M3: Recognise the ethical and legal impact of practice structures, recruitment and employment terms and their impact on work/life balance, health and the wellbeing of colleagues.
  • M4: Manage and structure projects, administer construction contracts and resolve common construction-related challenges.
  • M5: Manage the inter-relationships of individuals, organisations, statutory bodies, and professions involved in procuring and delivering architectural projects, recognising how these are defined through contractual and organisational structures.
  • M6: Select appropriate procurement routes and means of delivery, recognising their relative risks to contractual parties, their implications for sustainable design outcomes and how these influence the selection and management of construction contracts.
  • M7: Apply the principles of risk management, liabilities, and insurance to architectural projects.
  • M8: Apply the principles of cost management, control, and budgeting to architectural projects.
  • M9: Plan, manage, monitor and communicate health and safety arrangements for construction projects as required by current legislation.
  • M10: Resource, plan, implement and record project tasks to achieve stated goals, either individually or within a team.
  • M11: Communicate effectively with both specialists and non-specialist audiences through a range of media.
  • PE1: Recognise the significance of the Architects Code of Conduct, and the need for architects to act always in an ethical and professional manner.
  • PE2: Display a committed approach to equity, diversity and inclusion, including in their approach to designing environments and in their relationships with colleagues, employees, clients and communities.
  • PE3: Work constructively with and within a broader team, exercising leadership, effective communication and personal responsibility.
  • PE4: Uphold the architect’s obligations to the health and safety of the public and building users and building constructors.
  • PE5: Uphold the architect’s obligation to the environment, society, and the wellbeing and quality of lives of current and future generations.
  • PE6: Recognise the responsibilities and duties of care that architects have towards their clients, users, the public and those with whom they work.
  • PE7: Adopt a reflective approach to their work by identifying individual learning needs required for further development within the profession, ensuring they are up to date with current standards and best practice.
  • PE8: Acknowledge and work within the limits of their competence, expertise, and experience.

Unit detail

The Career Appraisal should refer to the candidate's academic and practical experience to demonstrate how each of the learning outcomes have been met and applied. The document should include sections on:
  • Candidate's introduction to the profession
  • Academic experience- Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3
  • Practice Experience
  • Current role and project work
  • Self-evaluation analysis
  • Career strengths & weaknesses
  • Any specialist career interest
  • Career professional development strategy including future professional development goals
The document should be provided as narrative text, illustrated with drawings, photographs, graphics and visuals, along with descriptive annotations as required. The learning outcomes should be covered in the section(s) that illustrate how they have been met and applied.
The questions asked by the panel in the Professional interview will vary depending on the review of the previously submitted Career Appraisal but the following outline is provided as guidance:
  • Clarify the evidence in the Career Appraisal and verify that the student was the author of the Career Appraisal submitted
  • Confirm and validate understanding of the behaviours
  • Explore the practical application of knowledge, skills and behaviours including the use of software