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Professional Practice PG Cert

1 year, starting in September 2025

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.

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

You will:

  • develop your commercial awareness, integrity and knowledge of processes and management
  • explore working with a range of stakeholders including clients, employers and industry
  • gain expertise in how to lead architectural and construction projects professionally

When you graduate, you'll be able to prove your competency to practice as an Architect.

2025/26 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 2025 and ends in 2026. Welcome week starts on 22 September 2025.


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.

Semester 2

Compulsory units

  • Practice and project management

    15 credits

Summer

Compulsory units

  • Professional case study

    5 credits

  • Professional experience

    10 credits

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 will gain statutory registered status with the ARB and Chartered membership of the RIBA.


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 BA (Hons) Architecture 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. Candidates will not be permitted to apply for or register onto the programme unless they have already obtained and uploaded with their formal application written confirmation from the Architects Registration Board that their Part 1 and/or Part 2 degree(s) (Bachelor and/or Masters degree) is acknowledged by ARB as a prescribed qualification. This is a prerequisite of entry for all students offering European or Overseas architecture qualifications.

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.

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.

We may make an offer based on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the degree.

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

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 will need to budget at least £100 for the cost of photocopying, printing and binding. You will also need to budget for the cost of textbooks.

Some courses involve visits away from campus and you may be required to pay some or all of the costs of travel, accommodation and food and drink.

If you’re on a placement, you’re responsible for your own travel, accommodation and living costs. You should also consider the financial implications if you go on an unpaid or overseas placement.

Application information


  • Course title
    Professional Practice
  • Final award
    PG Cert
  • Mode of study
    Part-time, online
  • Course code
    TDUAR-PP01
  • Department
  • Location
    University of Bath
    Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY
  • Home application deadline
    31 August 2025

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

  • Overseas application deadline
    30 June 2025

    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

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.

Professional case study

5 credits

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

Professional experience

10 credits

Prepare a career appraisal based on your academic and practical experience. You’ll record how your experience demonstrates how you’ve achieved the relevant, learning outcomes. You’ll also attend a professional interview to test your ability to evaluate, communicate and reflect on how you’ve met and applied learning outcomes through experience.