Postgraduate Certificate Professional Practice and Management in Architecture

Entry year
2025/26
Course code
K10A
Application
University
Level
Postgraduate
School
School of Architecture and Environment
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
One year, starts January with an Induction in December
Delivery
Part-time - three day blocks
Programme leader
Wendy Colvin ARB Architect

'Part 3' course

This course is open for applications

If you would like to study this course from January 2025 please see the 2024/25 course page.

Introduction

A fully accredited course designed to meet Architects Registration Board (ARB) and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) criteria as a Part 3 qualification in architecture.

Accreditations and partnerships:

Our Postgraduate Certificate Professional Practice and Management in Architecture is the last stage in formal academic training and practical, work-based learning for architects. It's designed and structured to lay the foundation for 'life-long learning' in the architectural profession, and its primary purpose is to enable you to show competence in practice.

It stands out for its reflection of current thinking of the RIBA and the ARB, the objectives of the EU Architects' Directive, and the RIBA Core Curriculum requirements of Continuous Professional Development (CPD). CPD is available through short course options, and further supports our excellent links with local architectural practices.

Direct industry and research input

This course is based in UWE Bristol's School of Architecture and Environment, and like other Architecture courses here, it's unique in offering a multidisciplinary environment that's geared towards the construction professions as a whole. The course team comprises qualified architects and a solicitor with a specialism in construction law, while the course content has contributions from lecturers across the department and industry specialists. This ensures the course is based on current and projected trends.

Architecture at UWE has a strong inter-disciplinary ethos and an excellent reputation in the industry. This course gives you access to the knowledge and Part 3 skills that relate directly to architectural practice, professionalism, and managing architecture's relationship with wider construction industry and society. These correspond to the requirements set out in the criteria published by the ARB/RIBA.

It also nurtures and develops the visual, written and oral communication skills vital to successful practice.

In order to register as an Architect in the UK, you'll need to have completed Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 qualifications as identified on the ARB list of accredited qualifications. Please contact us if you need advice about accredited qualifications and qualifying as an Architect in the UK.

Watch: The learning and teaching experience

Structure

Content

Architecture at UWE has a strong inter-disciplinary ethos and an excellent reputation in the industry. This course gives you access to the knowledge and Part 3 skills that relate directly to architectural practice, professionalism, and managing architecture's relationship with wider construction industry and society. These correspond to the requirements set out in the criteria published by the ARB/RIBA.

It also nurtures and develops the visual, written and oral communication skills vital to successful practice.

To achieve the final award, you must complete these Master's level modules:

  • Context for Architectural Projects
  • Context for Construction
  • Professional Experience in Architecture (Part 3).

These modules are taught in two block courses of three or four days each, through a series of lectures, seminars and workshops. They also require some distance learning, sandwiched around these blocks, to complement the topics and support your learning.

A number of options are available for glossary of assessment terms.

Features

Professional accreditation

The course, is accredited by the Royal Institution of British Architects (RIBA) and Architects Registration Board (ARB) as a Part 3 course, and satisfies the Part 3 Criteria for Validation, held jointly with both the professional bodies.

Study facilities

The Department of Planning and Architecture is based in UWE's award-winning new studios. There are excellent resources in terms of the campus infrastructure, its library, online databases and resources, and support for further CPD. The course is designed to help you take full advantage of our excellent facilities and resources.

You will have access to a wide range of learning resources through the department's intranet and directed learning.

Find out more about the facilities and resources UWE has to offer.

Take a personalised virtual tour of the Architecture facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.

Life

Postgraduate support

Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

The course promotes lifelong learning and career progression in architectural practice, so it's an excellent boost for practising architects. It also supports the department in developing excellent Knowledge Exchange, including employer links and CPD opportunities.

Successful completion means you can apply to the ARB to be on the Register of Architects. When officially registered, you can also apply to become an RIBA Chartered member.

Our award-winning careers service helps you develop your employment potential through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.

Fees

There is currently no published fee data for this course.

Supplementary fee information

For information on fees, managing your money and determining your fee status, please go to our fees and funding pages.

For information about funding options visit our postgraduate funding and scholarships pages.

Entry

Entry requirements

We normally require Part 1 and Part 2 qualifications prescribed by the Architects Registration Board or graduates of courses recognised for exemption from the RIBA Part 1 and Part 2 examination*.

Applicants will normally be invited to bring their portfolio of work to an interview to demonstrate their professional experience, and this is also an opportunity to discuss the course in detail.

*Note that graduates of Part 1 and/or Part 2 courses NOT prescribed by the ARB will not automatically be eligible for entry to the UK Register of Architects on completion of this course.

English Language Requirement

International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

*The University accepts a large number of UK and international qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section.

For further information

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