Postgraduate Diploma Professional Practice in Architecture (RIBA Pt III)
ObjectivesThe Postgraduate Certificate of Professional Practice in Architecture is the third stage of architectural education with exemption from RIBA III, leading to registration at ARB and membership of RIBA. The Postgraduate Certificate of Professional Practice in Architecture is a one-year modular course with a single entry point at the start of the academic year and assessment at the end of each semester. Many candidates find after starting the course that their work commitments change and it is possible to spread the course over eighteen or twenty four months.
Entry requirementsStudents must have passed a recognised UK Diploma course in Architecture with RIBA Part II exemption, or otherwise have RIBA Part II exemption. Students should also be employed in their second period of professional experience and should have completed a Professional Experience and Development Record for the first period. In exceptional circumstances students with ten years of practical experience post Part II may apply for accreditation of prior learning, and exemption from part of the course
Academic titlePostgraduate Diploma Professional Practice in Architecture (RIBA Pt III)
Course descriptionCourse Content
The Professional Practice course consists of four modules.
4ARC750 Law, Regulations and Professional Services: A series of twelve evening lectures (6pm-9pm), covering Law, Planning, Building Control, Property Law, Law of Contract, Law of Tort, Professional Services Contract, Procurement Routes and Tendering, Standard forms of contract and their administration, NEC/Partnering and Dispute Resolution. Students will be expected to do some preparatory reading. There will be one daytime session for revision prior to a written exam.
4ARC751 - Case Study: A written analytical account of an area of work in which students have been engaged. Students must have observed and participated in the standard styles of a building. The extent of personal involvement with each stage is to be discussed with the Case Study tutor. The case study is 7 – 8,000 words in length, and may be illustrated and have related information appended. A high standard of well-edited and compact text is expected. This is taught in group seminars and individual tutorials.
4ARC752 - Architectural Project Management: This is a one week course requiring full time attendance. The course introduces generic management principles and specific management procedures. There will be an evening session for revision prior to a written exam.
4ARC753 - Professional Experience and Viva Voce: Throughout the second period of professional training students will be keeping a detailed Professional Experience and Development Record (PEDR). At three monthly intervals students should meet their Practical Training Advisor at the University to discuss progress, and sign log-sheets. Students should identify a ‘supervisor’ within their office who can act as both mentor and signatory on the Professional Experience and Development Record. In addition to keeping the record, students will be asked to provide a detailed curriculum vitae and a Critical Self-Appraisal to evaluate their own education and experience to date.
The final examination is the Viva Voce in which two examiners interview the candidate, and may discuss any part of their previously presented work in the course. The interview will include detailed discussion on the practical training experience as described, and its preparation of the candidate for entry to the profession.