Professional Practice Part 3 RIBA

The course comprises the following modules.

• Lecture series and examination
  This module provides the 20+ series of lectures that cover all topics in the Professional Criteria at Part 3, and the two limited-open-book written examinations. The written examinations take the form of a 1.5 hour paper comprising 20 short questions, and a 3-hour paper comprising 5 questions based on an unfolding scenario.
• Case study and records of professional experience
  This module is work-based and comprises an illustrated 8,000 word study of a project of your choice with which you have been directly involved. It allows you to demonstrate your judgment, understanding and knowledge of the professional and legal circumstances of the project through analysis, critical evaluation and personal reflection.
  
  The module gives you Professional Development and Experience records demonstrating, at the date of taking the examination, a minimum of 24 months’ appropriate professional experience. The records of professional experience may, in specific circumstances, take the form of the Certificate of Professional Experience, the use of which is subject to the agreement of the Course Director
• Career evaluation and professional interview
  This module comprises a work-based component consisting of a professional Curriculum Vitae and an illustrated 2000-word personal critical self-appraisal. You'll do a professional interview – the viva voce – covering your experiential learning and professional judgement and knowledge based on study and experience to allow you to demonstrate an appropriate level of competence to practice

The final qualification in the study of architecture is the Part 3, in which 5 years’ academic education and a minimum of 2 years’ professional experience is crystallised and evaluated against the minimum standards set by the profession for the competence and conduct of an architect.

The RIBA Professional Practice Part 3 course is prescribed by the ARB and validated by the RIBA, and validation cycles ensure that course content and outputs remain completely relevant and retain close appropriateness to professional practice. The course was commended by the RIBA in its re-validation in 2018.

Whilst the university has no means to ensure the economic situation nationally and globally will guarantee employment, the work graduates will have completed at the end of this course is intended to make them competitive in employment.

Employability Service

We are University of the Year for Graduate Employment for the second year in a row - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, 2019.

At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:

• An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
• Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.

Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.

Students are supported throughout their studies by a range of approaches to teaching and learning. Small group tutorials provide a high degree of contact with students to assist the development of their case studies, and reviews of their experience. Further support is provided through large group seminars, tutorials and role-playing workshops at which role-play.

Students are strongly encouraged to set up informal study groups with others planning to take the Part 3 examination. The Course Director will provide contacts at the start of the course, but individual candidates should take the initiative in setting up such groups, which are known to be helpful in sharing experience and understanding of practice issues, providing mutual support in examination revision and focussing effort on priorities.

Alongside the support offered by academics and technicians in the school, the University offers a range of services to help with learning support needs.

The Skills for Learning Team (S4L) is a division of the Centre for Research Informed Teaching (CRIT). The team provides a flexible service to all students enrolled at LSBU and supports you to develop your academic literacy and enhance your academic and professional performance to achieve your full potential. Our academic practices, English language development and maths and stats provisions are taught by experienced teachers.

The course and examination are open to students who have obtained their ARB/RIBA Part 1 and Part 2 qualifications, or their equivalents as recognised by the Architects Registration Board.

At the time of entry into the examination, candidates should have recently completed a minimum of 24 months' suitably recorded appropriate professional experience under the direct supervision of a professional working in the construction industry which should include at least 12 months working in the EEA, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, under the direct supervision of an architect.

For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.

See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 136 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 102 KB).

Possible fee changes

The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.

The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.

Postgraduate loan (PGL) for Masters study

If you are starting a Masters course, studying either full- or part-time, you may be entitled to apply for a postgraduate study loan. Find out more at our postgraduate fees and funding section.

Scholarships

We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.

Fee status

Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.