Professional Practice Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 3 exemption) PgDip
Subject and course type
- Architecture and Interiors
- Postgraduate
Prepare to become a registered architect with Kingston University’s Professional Practice in Architecture PgDip. Achieve ARB/RIBA accredited Part 3 qualifications and master the skills essential for thriving in professional practice.
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Boost your architectural career with expert training
This course is your gateway to becoming a fully qualified architect.
Complete the final stage of formal education before gaining qualification and registration as an architect in the UK.
Achieve ARB/RIBA Part 3 accreditation and gain critical professional skills in architectural law, project management, and contract negotiation.
Taught by industry experts and established practitioners, the programme focuses on real-world application of knowledge. Gain the necessary insight and confidence to succeed in the fast-paced architectural field.
Glean the legal, procedural, professional and managerial competencies needed to engage in architectural practice. Apply to become a critical and reflective practitioner.
Delivered through a combination of well-structured lectures, events and practical workshops, this course has greatly expanded my knowledge and understanding of the professional aspects of the architectural practice, fully preparing me to enter the industry as a qualified architect.
Why choose this course
Kingston University's PgDip in Professional Practice in Architecture is designed for graduates ready to take the next step in their career. This course helps you to meet the requirements for Part 3, qualifying as an architect in the UK.
RIBA have described this course as 'rigorous, thorough and offering a high level of detail'. With no examinations at all, our focus is on scenario-based coursework to prepare you for professional architectural practice.
The curriculum is designed to support and inform your work-based professional experience. Key highlights of this programme include:
- Real-world learning: Develop skills in contract law, project management and professional ethics through case studies and live projects.
- Tailored support: Benefit from individual mentoring to guide you through your professional development.
- Flexible learning: Study part-time, enabling you to work while you complete your qualification.
- Cutting-edge facilities: Work at Kingston School of Art's award-winning Knights Park campus.
Kingston’s excellent reputation in architectural education, coupled with its close industry ties, ensures that you’ll graduate prepared for the challenges of contemporary practice.
Accreditation
This course is prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) at Part 3 level for the purpose of registration in the UK and validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) at Part 3 level for the purpose of eligibility for membership of the RIBA.
The Art School Experience
As part of Kingston School of Art, students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where we encourage collaborative working and critical practice.
Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
Course content
The curriculum has been devised to support and inform your work-based professional experience, providing modules in law, professional practice and relevant management issues. You will undertake a variety of individual assignments throughout each module; however, you must supplement this learning with your work-based experience in practice. You will be provided with scenarios and taken through the progress of several projects. These will extend and test your knowledge base and its application. You will build on and further develop the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired during your first degree, subsequent graduate education and periods of work-based learning.
You are expected to complete four compulsory modules, valued at 30 credits each.
Modules
The course consolidates your existing skills and learning: you gain core legal, procedural, professional and managerial competencies throughout the year. The course is one of continuous assessment and offers opportunities for you to critically evaluate your professional experience.
Core modules
30 credits
Architecture is a profession as well as a discipline. This module will develop the candidate's critical awareness of the concepts of professionalism and of a profession. It will analyse the institutional structures and processes involved in establishing and maintaining a profession, with particular reference to the architectural profession and the development of other professions within the construction and development sectors. It will relate theoretical concepts, techniques and operational methodologies to the current complex social, legal and economic environment. Areas for consideration will include the development of statutory frameworks in the construction and development industries, the development of public and private sector initiatives for regeneration and new build projects and the potential conflicts and synergies in the current systems and anticipated future. Assessment is through a series of scenario-based assignments and a critical review of learning gained.
30 credits
This module will develop the candidate's critical awareness of the processes involved in delivering architectural designs. These will include the economic, social, organisational, regulatory and ethical context. It will explore and critically evaluate the techniques and criteria for creating, managing and maintaining quality, within a design project, from inception to completion. Assessment is through a series of scenario-based assignments.
30 credits
The aim of this module is to develop the candidate's critical awareness of the processes involved in delivering architectural projects from design, through to fabrication and completion. Students will explore the relationship between the design process and the construction process and the techniques and criteria for creating, managing and maintaining quality. Students will analyse how different procurement routes and methodologies are evidenced in contract forms and current and future trends for construction as an industry. Students will compare and critically evaluate current procurement systems and how these modify the role and responsibilities of the architect. Students will look at how time, cost and quality are balanced and how risk is appropriately apportioned. Assessment is through a series of scenario-based assignments.
30 credits
This module brings together the work based learning and professional experience which underpins the programme and the academic skills and acquisition of knowledge which have developed in the earlier modules. The module is the capstone module and constitutes the culmination and summation of the programme. Candidates are required to demonstrate their knowledge, skill and ability to critically appraise professional practice as well as an ability to determine and manage their professional development.
Career opportunities
Kingston University’s Professional Practice in Architecture PgDip equips you with the expertise to excel in roles such as:
- Registered Architect.
- Project Leader or Manager in design studios.
- Consultant in construction law and dispute resolution.
Kingston’s links with industry leaders and a focus on employability mean you’ll graduate with a competitive edge.
This course is a part-time course designed for candidates who are working in practice. Your professional relationship to the industry and contemporary work experience is an important element of this.
Course leaders and tutors are experienced architects and expert guest speakers present lectures on a regular basis. Part 3 assessors are drawn from renowned architecture practices and partner universities. Guest lectures stem from organisations including: Orms, JTP, Foster Lomas, BDP, Hawkins\Brown, Amin Taha, Edwin Heathcote, Wilkinson Construction Consultants, ARB, Sense Studio, Bow Arts Trust, Allies & Morrison, DMH Stallard LLP, John Robertson Architects, Robin Lee Architecture. These live industry connections ensure your learning is relevant to your future employment.
Teaching and assessment
You'll be assessed through coursework, enabling you to get a thorough grounding in the issues throughout the year.
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically involves reading and analysing articles, regulations, policy documents and key texts, documenting individual projects, preparing coursework assignments and completing your PEDRs, etc.
Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the University's online virtual learning platform.
At Kingston University, we know that postgraduate students have particular needs and therefore we have a range of support available to help you during your time here.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- 8% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Assessment comprises coursework (such as essays and reports), volumes of professional development and case studies, as well as the final viva. The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose.
Type of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 100%
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
This course normally enrols 30 to 40 Part 3 candidates. However this may vary.
The course is second to none, as it places the future professional in case scenarios similar to what is experienced in practice. The teaching structure instigates research and discussion with added support from experienced tutors leaving the student well prepared for the final professional interview.
Fees and funding
| Fee Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | Part Time £3,840 |
| International | Part Time £9,200 |
| Fee Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | Part Time £3,690 |
| International | Part Time £8,850 |
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Professional Practice in Architecture PgDip at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
The Inspire the Future Scholarship offers a 40% reduction in fees for taught masters or postgraduate diploma courses with September start dates. 20 scholarships are available for progressing Kingston University graduates.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Inspire the Future Scholarship page.
International postgraduate students could receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in their first year of study.
For more information on how to apply for these scholarships, visit the International Scholarship page.
If you are a Kingston University 2024/25 undergraduate progressing to a 2025/26 postgraduate degree (taught or research), you could get a 15% reduction in tuition fees.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Postgraduate Progression Scholarship page.
Kingston University offers a 10% discount on full and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees to our alumni.
For more information on how to apply for this discount, visit our alumni discount page.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Specific courses may require uniforms, specialty clothing, or specific equipment like lab coats and safety shoes.
Some courses may require professional memberships.
Apply for this course
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Information required to confirm your place
If English is not your first language, we will require proof of your proficiency to allow us to confirm your place on the course. This will generally be either an IELTS or TOEFL test certificate, which can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application. If you do not hold a formal English language qualification, please indicate how you have acquired your proficiency in written and spoken English.
After you have applied
For courses that select on application alone, applicants should normally receive an initial decision or a request for more information within four to six weeks of receipt of their application. Our admissions team will notify you of the decision by email.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
What our students and graduates say
This is an excellent course, combining practical guidance, experienced speakers, and detailed feedback... And no examination!
It's been a great experience. The course is well structured, with coursework helping to cover and prepare you for your own professional experience. The tutors and external professionals have been engaging and extremely helpful throughout.
A comprehensive course that runs parallel to work in practice, allows the application of fictional scenarios on real life practice events. Although intense at times, it enables learning in real time with the added bonus of no exams!
