Course overview
Our ARB prescribed and RIBA validated programme is long-established and consistently achieves high first pass rates (85%+). The course combines two in-person recall days (at the Nottingham campus) with online lectures, study groups and self-led learning that combines knowledge and understanding of the professional criteria in the context of your life in practice. Our team includes architects, part 3 specialists and academics, with inputs sought from a range of industry experts and professional examiners from within practice.
Supported throughout the year by your PSA (Professional Studies Advisor) the assessment of the course is via individual and group assignments, an open-book, ‘in the office’ exercise designed to reflect the real, and varied, world of architectural practice, and a case study based on a live project you’re involved in in at the office. Our student cohort has a range of experience and, working within your study groups, you will benefit from that shared knowledge, ensuring that your ‘world view’ is not confined to that of the practice you are working in.
The course content covers professional practice from the macro to micro level; the way political/social/economic changes affect the profession and practice, down to the detail, such as how to fill in an Architect’s Instruction or the process of awarding an extension of time.
Completion of the course is the final stage in becoming an architect. You will demonstrate competence, knowledge and understanding across both the ARB Professional Criteria and the RIBA work stages, forming a strong foundation for your career (and life-long learning) within the architectural profession.
Course content
This programme runs from the end of September 2023 to the beginning of November 2024, and is structured around the professional criteria, as set out by the ARB, namely:
- PC1 Professionalism
- PC2 Clients, users and delivery of services
- PC3 Legal framework and processes
- PC4 Practice and management
- PC5 Building procurement
Modules
The course comprises two 30-credit modules.
Course Content
Starting with an in-person recall day on campus in Nottingham in September, students will meet their cohort, be allocated a study group and receive an overview of the course. Our key-note speaker will then introduce professional ethics, values and consider the future of practice and the profession.
The majority of the course is then delivered via 30+ lectures which are accessed remotely on Wednesday afternoons (1-4:30pm) between September – April. Four written assignments are completed alongside the lectures, building on experience in practice to demonstrate knowledge and understanding across all five of the professional criteria, and the 'academic' component of the course concludes with a 3-day office-based assignment in May which aims to reflect the variety experienced in an architectural practice. Between June-August, the focus is on completion of an 8000 word case study which is based on live project experience in the student's practice.
In preparation for the professional interview in November, candidates prepare a 2000-3000 word critical reflective career appraisal, CV and criteria mapping exercise that documents and reflects on their experience to date. This is accompanied by a minimum 24 months of completed PEDRs.
The course concludes with a 45-minute professional interview which is conducted by professional examiners from in practice and seeks to determine a candidate's competence across the professional criteria determined by the ARB.
Throughout the course, candidates are supported by their dedicated PSA (Professional Studies Advisor) via 1:1 tutorials, by their peers via the study group format and in study sessions with the whole cohort (usually 30-40 students).
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.
Professional qualificationApplicants should have parts 1 and 2, and experience of working in an approved practice.
Professional qualificationApplicants should have parts 1 and 2, and experience of working in an approved practice.
IELTS IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6 in any element).
English language requirementsAs well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.
Meeting our English language requirements
If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course.
Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language.
Our Centre for English Language Education
is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of
English in the UK.
If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required
level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that
you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.
For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI
to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE
webpages for guidance
Visa restrictions
International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period
where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying
full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time
courses. The Standard Visitor visa
route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and
Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.
Alternative qualifications
We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.
We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.
If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us.
Applying
The programme, Professional Practice in Architecture K10G, is available to Part 2 graduates from any UK ARB/RIBA prescribed and validated school of architecture.
Candidates who completed their Part 2 qualification at the University of Nottingham should apply for the MArch Conversion K109. This course is for graduates who have achieved an average final mark of at least 60%, including a mark of at least 50% for the final year of the course.
Teaching for both programmes is identical and students form a single cohort.
Applicants should have parts 1 and 2, and a minimum of 12 months working in practice, as well as IELTS 6.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element). Candidates should be currently working in an approved practice and will require a minimum of 12 months experience post-Part 2 before they can sit the professional interview. For further details, see our course information.
Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.
How to apply