Postgraduate Architecture: Q&A

CONTENTS

• What is architecture?
• Why choose this discipline?
• How do I become an architect?
• Pathways into architecture
• What postgraduate courses are available?
• What are the entry requirements for postgraduate architecture?
• Tell me about teaching, learning and assessment
• Career progression: what can this qualification lead to?
• Professional accreditation
• Funding

What is architecture?

Architecture is a multidisciplinary filed which combines elements of art, design, engineering and social science to create not just aesthetically pleasing but also sustainable, functional structures, be they residential or commercial. Whatever the project, an architect has a direct impact on the built environment as well as upon the communities and societies who use them or live around them.

Architects are licensed and trained professionals whose duties vary depending on their role and where they are employed. In general, they will be responsible for drawing up plans, explaining ideas to clients and contractors and are involved in various stages of a building project’s development. This can be from the inception of an idea through to its final build, or at intermittent points along a project’s trajectory. Architects plan, design and oversee projects and will work closely alongside other professionals, during the process, such as structural engineers, interior designers, city planner and so on. They must ensure a projects design falls in line with planning regulations, meets safety standards, and is both functional and environmentally sustainable e.g., energy efficient and eco-friendly.

Architecture is a multidisciplinary field, bringing together elements of design, engineering, social science and art. From the choice of materials to the shape of the walls or angle of the windows, architecture is concerned with the physicality of a building as well as much more. This could be accessibility, sustainability, local social and cultural impact, and emotional response that a building results in are also key considerations. 

Why choose this discipline?

Architecture is an exciting and fast-growing industry with high demand for professionals with expertise in this field. It is a creatively-driven subject and it’s no surprise that architecture is a highly competitive field. Students are drawn to postgraduate architecture degrees as a great way to develop specialist knowledge, stand out from other applicants, while paving their way to eventual chartered status. Studying architecture at postgraduate level will improve your employability prospects, enabling you to access more senior / varied roles as opposed to an undergraduate degree in the same subject. Not to mention, significantly increasing your earning potential.

Studying architecture at postgraduate level also offers opportunities to specialise within a specific area of interest, such as: residential architecture, commercial architecture, industrial architecture, interior architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, green design architecture to name a few. Therefore, pursuing this subject at postgraduate level will enable you to develop in depth knowledge within a specific area.

How do I become an architect?

Architecture is a regulated profession and takes around seven years to become a licensed architect. To qualify as an architect, you will need to complete a combination of practical work experience, academic study alongside professional examinations.  

Typically, students begin their journey to become a licensed architect but study this subject at undergraduate level, completing BA (Hons) degree in Architecture, recognised by the Architects Registration Board (ARB). These courses take around are around three to four years and require one year of practical experience.

Completing a bachelor’s degree in architecture provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to embark upon a career in this filed. At undergraduate level, students will learn the basics such as drawing and technical skills, building skills and project management.

After completing BA Architecture degree, students need to gain practical experience, such as internship or apprenticeship within an architectural firm. During this period, they will be expected to record their progress and work under the supervision of a mentor.

Following on from this, you will need to complete a further two-years’ full-time study at postgraduate level on a MA in architecture. Alternatively, it is possible to enter a career in architecture without completing an MA, but you will be expected to undertake further training and qualifications while employed in order to meet the criteria needed to become a licensed architect.

Pathways into architecture

The most common pathway to becoming an architect is via higher education. This route involves three stages or ‘parts’, which will eventually lead to registration with the Architects Registration Board (ARB). 

Part 1: The first step on becoming an architect will usually involve taking an undergraduate degree which is recognised by the ARB. This is then followed by 12 months of work experience logged by the employer to the Professional Experience & Development Record (PEDR), managed by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). 

Part 2: The second part of becoming an architect will continue to develop your skills with a further qualification, which could be a BArch, MArch or a diploma. You might choose to study at the same university where you received your first degree, or go to a different university. This will again be followed by 12 months of practical experience supervised by an architect. 

Part 3: The final part of becoming an architect will feature an assessment of the previous parts of your qualifications, as well as written and oral examinations. 

International students: If you have qualified as an architect outside of the UK, you will need to have your credentials validated by ARB in order to practice and call yourself an architect in the UK. In order to be eligible, you will need to complete part 3, of the above steps, in the UK in order to register with ARB.

What postgraduate courses are available?

Currently, there are 289 postgraduate degree programmes at 75 different institutions across the UK. There are several types of architecture degrees open to you as a graduate. Your study options will differ depending on whether your previous degree was in architecture or a related field. 

For graduates of architecture, a master’s degree such as the MArch is built around completion of the ARB/RIBA Part 2. This professional qualification paves the way to becoming a licensed ‘architect’ and access a range of architecture jobs. 

For graduates of other fields, they may be able to get an exemption from ARB/RIBA Part 1 due to the relevant expertise they have already developed in their previous degree. Some courses, like MSc programmes offer more research and technology focussed curriculums in contrast to the MA architecture which is more art-focussed and specialising in design.

Alternatively, students who have completed part 1 and part 2 qualifications as prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) can complete their last stage of academic training through PGCE or PGDip programmes which are the third and final part of mandatory training.

Research qualifications and doctoral qualifications range from MRes to MPhil or PhD programmes which will allow you to develop your research skills and conduct investigations into new processes, technologies and policies which can be applied in the architectural field. 

Examples of postgraduate architecture programmes:

There are a wide range of architectural degrees to choose from as a prospective postgraduate, such as: 

• MArch Architecture 
• Architecture MA 
• Landscape Architecture (Conversion) PGDip 
• Architecture Mphil 
• Architecture and Sustainability MSc 
• Architecture (Reading the Neoliberal City) MRes 
• Architecture, Interiors & Urbanism PhDs and Mphil 
• Professional Practice and Management in Architecture PGCert 

What are the entry requirements for postgraduate architecture?

To successfully enrol on an architecture master’s degree, you’ll typically need an undergraduate qualification in architecture with a good grade. In most cases students will have completed the RIBA/ARB Part 1, but this isn’t a requirement for all courses. Depending on your previous education, you may be able to get an exemption from this certification or simply apply anyway. Professional experience in an architecture setting is often a requirement for postgraduate study. 

Tell me about teaching, learning and assessment

A taught master’s in architecture will typically involve a combination of studio-based design projects, lectures, seminars, workshops and site visits. The design studio is the core component of an architecture education and provides hands-on experience with the design process. Research students will have fewer contact hours and will instead focus more on independent work in studios, labs and digitally, working on an extended project or thesis. 

Assessment methods in architecture courses vary depending on the institution and program, but will usually include a mix of coursework, exams, and design projects. Your design projects are a key component of your assessment, allowing you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a practical context, and are helpful additions to your graduate portfolio when you apply for graduate architecture jobs.

What Modules will I study?

While each architectural course will have its own unique blend of compulsory and optional modules, you could expect to study topics such as:

• Design, process and communication 
• Construction technology and environmental design 
• Cultural context 
• Comprehensive design 
• Sustainable building assessments 
• Research skills

How will I be assessed?

• Presentations
• Written and drawn assessments
• Exams
• Critiques by faculty and peers
• Major project: dissertation

Career progression: what can this qualification lead to?

Completing a postgraduate course in this field is an excellent way to prepare for a wide range of architecture jobs and roles in a variety of related industries. 

Architecture graduates are sought-after by employers in many sectors due to their extensive training and interdisciplinary skillset. Bringing together design, management, engineering and sustainability knowledge, they can turn their hand to a number of different job types and excel in them. Architects can find themselves working in a variety of areas ranging from research and academia, sustainable design, historic preservation, urban planning and development, among other areas. While key employers include architectural firms, engineering consultancies, government agencies, property developers and non-profit organisations.

Architectural jobs include:

• Architect 
• Architectural technologist 
• Interior designer 
• Urban designer 
• Spatial designer 
• Town planner 
• Building surveyor 
• Building control surveyor 
• CAD technician 
• Construction manager 
• Estimator 
• Estates manager 
• Landscape architecture 
• Structural engineer 

Transferable skills

• Creativity
• Project management skills
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving
• Ability to work under pressure
• Attention to detail
• Commercial awareness
• Time management
• Maths and engineering skills
• Budgeting
• Leadership

Professional accreditation

The two main professional bodies responsible for regulating and accrediting architects in the UK are:

• The architects Registration Board (ARB): ARB is the statutory regulator in the UK that sets standards for architectural training, education and professional conduct. In order to practice in the UK or call yourself an ‘architect’, you must be registered with ARB. It is important to check that the degree you are planning on studying is recognised by ARB.   
• Royal Institute of British architects (RIBA): RIBA is a global professional membership body responsible for setting educational standards and criteria on most architectural programmes. RIBA provides chartered practice status for architects who can demonstrate they have met RIBA’s standards in training and education.

Funding

Funding options for postgraduate architectural students include scholarships, grants and bursaries offered by universities as well as student loans. Find out more about scholarships for architecture on our site. RIBA also offer scholarships. Check out their page here to learn more. It is also worth emailing the student finance office at the universities you are interested in to find out more about their scholarship opportunities. To learn more about funding, check out our ULTIMATE guide to postgraduate funding. 

You may be interested in …

Before you get stuck into an architecture postgraduate journey, you might also wish to consider similar subjects, such as:  

• Structural engineering  
• Civil engineering 
• Interior design 
• Products design 
• Spatial planning 

View all subject guides.

Universities offering postgraduate architecture include …

• London Southbank University
• Liverpool John Moores University 
• University of Bath 
• Arts University Bournemouth 
• University of Greenwich 
• De Montfort University
• Newcastle University 

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