Architecture Degrees Online

Examination
The examination is structured in six parts;
4 week open paper on The Context for Practice
4 week open paper on Practice Management and Business Administration
Open book written paper on Construction Management
Records of experience in the form of PEDR sheets, CV and self-appraisal
Case study
Oral examination

All candidates are encouraged to liaise with the Course Director, especially during the twelve months within which the examination is to be taken.

Course Content

The professional practice course, which is run in association with West Midlands RIBA CPD, is structured to address key areas of both job and practice management.

The course is assembled as a thematic series of lectures and seminars delivered over a period of eight days in total. To assist candidates in practice, the eight day course is arranged in two separate blocks, each of three days’ duration, and a further single block of two days. The eight days can be taken in sequence either as

March 3 days
September 3 days
October 2 days

or

September 3 days
March 3 days
April 2 days

The grouping of the course dates in the calendar is arranged to enable two separate examination sittings to be held in any one twelve-month period, but the eight day course must be taken in full as part of the examination sequence. Attendance at the respective course dates should be agreed individually by candidates with the course director.

The course is presented by a range of external speakers, often specialists in their own fields. The core content is in the following modules :
The context for practice
Practice management and business administration
Construction management

The course concludes with an afternoon session with the examiners to take the candidates through their reasoning of the previous examination papers.

The lectures and seminars are delivered at the level of ordinary competence, and as such the course is promoted to, and attended by, local practitioners who wish to augment their continuing professional development programmes.

Birmingham City University School of Architecture’s (the School) professional practice course and examination are the concluding elements for candidates who have successfully completed their BA (Hons) Degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Architecture, or equivalent awards holding recognition for Parts 1 & 2 respectively. The course and examination are both fully recognised and validated internally by the University (hence the above award), and externally by the ARB and the RIBA.

The course is open to all candidates, irrespective of age or background. Candidates who wish to sit for the course and examination should consult with the Course Director, normally twelve months in advance of the examination date being targeted.

Entry Requirements
Normally students are expected to have a first or second class degree in Architecture along with RIBA Part 1 exemption. Evidence of satisfactory completion of at least nine months of practical training is normally required for acceptance on the full-time course or, exceptionally, evidence of considerable previous experience in the industry. In the part-time mode practical training experience may be counted during the first year of attendance depending on their employment.

Applications and visits
You are welcome to visit the School and discuss the relevance of the course to your own situation with the course director. After application you will be invited to an interview at which a portfolio of your work should demonstrate design invention, maturity and breadth of thinking.

Overseas applicants are asked to send examples of their work suitably reduced in scale, with an appropriate description to the International Office. Applications will not be considered without such examples of work.