Architecture Degrees Online

Entry Requirements
All candidates wishing to sit for the professional practice examination are required to have successfully completed the School’s examinations at degree and diploma level in Architecture (or their equivalent), which give exemption from Parts I and II respectively of RIBA’s own examination.

In addition, and in accordance with RIBA’s practical training requirements, all candidates are required to have completed a minimum of 24 months full-time professional practice experience and development before being permitted to sit for the final examination.

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.

Professional Recognition And Further Study Opportunities

The course is recognised by ARB and RIBA for exemption from the Part II Examination for those who have passed, or been exempted from, RIBA Part I. Students without RIBA Part 1 exemption are not eligible for the course, but may be eligible for the MA Architectural Studies programme which is specifically designed for students in this situation.

Attendance
The course lasts for two years in full-time mode (excluding the Diploma 1 year out) and is three years in part-time mode. The part-time mode requires all students to be employed in a suitable design practice, and this experience supplements for attendance, thus resulting in an attendance pattern of one full day per week. Consistent weekly attendance is mandatory in this mode. For full-time students, two formal days of studio teaching are provided along with a third day, in which students visit local architectural practices for tuition.

This first degree in architecture is unique in its approach to addressing issues of management in architectural design during the first three years of study. It aims to produce graduates able to undertake creative design and management roles within the built environment as well as progressing to the next stage of an architectural education.

Students undertake a series of design projects which increase in complexity as the course progresses. Alongside studio projects, students examine both academic and practical aspects of architecture such as architectural history and theory, as well as construction, sustainable design and management. The course has a particular strength in the teaching of vocational management skills. This gives graduates a firm understanding of the construction industry and the place of architecture within it, as well as the practical management aspects of architecture itself.

In recent years graduates have had an excellent employment record far in excess of the industry standard. The architecture course is accredited under the conditions set out by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and is prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) at Part I level.

Studio-based design projects are central to this course and are designed to stimulate an imaginative response to a series of significant issues or themes. Project work occupies half of the programme and is underpinned by the taught modules. Much of the work in these supporting modules is related to projects work.

Students examine management issues to develop an understanding of the impact on the design process, providing valuable preparation for work in practice. Field study visits are an important feature of the programme. Both first and second year students go on European study visits.

Modern studio facilities are provided with good access to CAD facilities and resources. Numbers are limited to ensure that students have a work space within the design studio. Students learn the broader context of the Built Environment by working with other programmes in the School. There are also significant links with the Interior Design programme, which is run jointly with the School of Design.