PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
1
The Bartlett Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice
and Management in Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 3)
2
The Bartlett Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice
and Management in Architecture (ARB Part 3)
Note: The different awards respond to different admission
requirements for the two professional bodies have different
requirements for registration/membership. Criteria, experience
requirements and learning outcomes are identical.
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
The Bartlett School of Architecture Post Graduate Diploma (This is a
‘short course’ leading to professional registration with the ARB and
Chartered status with the RIBA)
n/a
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
2012 intake onwards
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
Teaching institution:
This is a short course currently awarded by The Bartlett School of
Architecture, Faculty of the Built Environment
The Bartlett School of Architecture, Faculty of the Built Environment
Faculty:
Faculty of the Built Environment, BEAMS
Parent Department:
The Bartlett School of Architecture
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time/Part-time/Other
http://www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/architecture/programmes/professionalstudies/new-professional-studies-course
Part time, over 12.18 or 24 months
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
ARB/ RIBA part 1 and or part 2, registered architect in EU or
internationally, equivalent qualification/ registration
1
The Bartlett Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice
and Management in Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 3).
Applicants must have already obtained UK ARB/RIBA Part 1 and Part
2 exemption or ARB Part 1 and 2 through the ARB Prescribed
Examination.
2
The Bartlett Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice
and Management in Architecture (ARB Part 3).
This is for non-UK applicants, who may have obtained RIBA Part 1
and/or Part 2 at outside UK or have architectural or built environment
qualifications from non-UK Schools, and have yet to obtain Part 1
and/or Part 2 through the ARB Prescribed Examination. Applicants
who are EU nationals may be registered architects in their country of
origin.
Applicants for either award submit a 1000 word summary of their
professional and educational background with their application, some
applicants may be interviewed.
Candidates are expected to have a high standard of written and
spoken English. All applicants to Bartlett/UCL courses whose first
language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence that
their command of spoken and written English meets the UCL
language requirements at the Standard level.
To sit the examination, candidates must currently have a minimum of
two years’ (twenty-four months) approved and monitored practical
work experience in accordance with the regulations published by the
Architects Registration Board (ARB) and Royal Institute of British
Architects (RIBA). Candidates are advised to check any changes to
this requirement.
Length of the programme:
12, 18 or 24 months
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Level 6
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Not applicable – Part 3 professional criteria and experience set by
RIBA and ARB
The ARB/ RIBA awards are benchmarked against the QAA
benchmark for Architecture part 1 and 2, Ref ISBN 978 1 84979
2011, published Jan 2010.
Also listed under EU Directive 205/36/EC Mutual Recognition of
Qualifications
The Part 3 is benchmarked against the Criteria for Practice held in
common by the RIBA and ARB and the Qualification will be
prescribed by the Architects Registration Board UK for the purposes
of registration to practise. The course will be validated by the Royal
Institute of British Architects for the purposes of Chartered
membership.
Candidates sitting the examination must satisfy the ARB/RIBA
requirements for practical experience September 2011
Modular programme of 120 credits, modules 1 to 5, 15 credit
modules, module 6, 45 credits. Module 1 to 5 course work and
unseen examination assessed by internal examiners. Module 6
assessed by professional examiners overseen by the external
examiner. Module 6 consists of 10,000 word case study 5,000 word
career appraisal, minimum 24 months approved and monitored
experience and 45 minute oral examination.
Name of Board of Examiners:
The Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice and Management
in Architecture Board of Examiners.
The examination board is chaired by the Course Director. There is
one External Examiner who attends the Board together with the
professional examiners who have reviewed the ‘professional
portfolio’, assessed Module 6 and orally examined the candidates.
The professional examiners examine in pairs and are drawn from the
profession and schools of architecture which offer ARB/RIBA Part 3
courses.
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
RIBA Royal Institute of British Architects
ARB Architects Registration Board of the
UK
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit: 2016
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
1. We aim to educate a generation of architects who are equipped to practise in an increasingly
challenging environment. We do this through providing courses which encourage students to develop
the skills beyond those required at threshold level by the professional criteria through reflection
appraisal, critical inquiry and research. We ask students to examine the role of the architect in changing
global construction industry and to examine the effect of politics and economics on the design and
procurement of the built environment in future practise.
2. The programme aims to provide students with the skills to be competent to practise and demonstrate
the knowledge, ability, judgment and integrity needed to fit an architect for his or her professional duties
and to understand how an office organization is managed for this purpose. Professional criteria are
used to establish evidence of candidates’ fitness to practise, demonstrated through their professional,
procedural and technical awareness, understanding, knowledge and ability.
3. The purpose of the examination is to ensure that those who practise architecture have achieved a
threshold of competence (in terms of knowledge and ability) and professionalism (in terms of conduct
and responsibility) that is consistent and relevant, and will safeguard clients, building users and society
at large. It also provides architects with the means to assure clients and society of their high level of
skill and professionalism.
4. Each candidate’s experience of learning and development in professional practice will differ, depending
upon the type of project, type and location of practice and management processes undertaken, and the
preparation for the Examination must therefore be approached in a structured way whilst recognizing
the diversity of the profession and the construction industry.
5. The candidate should manage the relationship between professional experience and academic study to
provide coverage of the Professional Criteria, presenting a critically reflective body of work that
complies with the requirements of the Bartlett Part 3 Programme. To meet the Professional Criteria, the
candidate’s experience should include evidence of commercial awareness, self-management,
professional competence and integrity. A successful candidate should also be able to demonstrate
authorship, knowledge, effective communications skills, and reasoning and understanding in relation to
all issues within the Professional Criteria
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
RIBA and ARB Professional Criteria
and
Professional
Experience
Regulations
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Lectures, seminars, classes, one to one tutorials, study
groups, VLE learning, reading and research
Assessment:
Professional Portfolio comprising of:
essay, on-line short answer and multiple choice question
papers, scenario based office based course work, group
presentation, critical professional practice report,
personal appraisal, oral examination
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
RIBA and ARB Professional Criteria
and Professional Experience
Regulations
Lectures, seminars, classes, one to one tutorials, study
groups, VLE learning, reading and research
Assessment:
Professional Portfolio comprising of:
essay, on-line short answer and multiple choice question
papers, scenario based office based course work, group
presentation, critical professional practice report,
personal appraisal, oral examination
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
RIB and ARB Professional Criteria and
Professional Experience Regulations
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Lectures, seminars, classes, one to one tutorials, study
groups, VLE learning, reading and research
Assessment:
Professional Portfolio comprising of:
essay, on-line short answer and multiple choice question
papers, scenario based office based course work, group
presentation, critical professional practice report,
personal appraisal, oral examination
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
RIBA and ARB Professional
Criteriaand Professional Experience
Regulations
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Lectures, seminars, classes, one to one tutorials, study
groups, VLE learning, reading and research
Assessment:
Professional Portfolio comprising of:
essay, on-line short answer and multiple choice question
papers, scenario based office based course work, group
presentation, critical professional practice report,
personal appraisal, oral examination
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
RIBA and ARB Professional Criteria
and Professional Experience
Regulations








ARB Prescription for Qualifications Criteria for Part 1, 2 and 3 approved 2010, effective 2011/2012
ARB Practical Training Requirements July 2011
RIBA Regulations for Validation published June 2011
RIBA Description and Regulations for Part July 2011
RIBA Regulations for Practical Experience July 2011
ARB Procedures for the prescription of qualifications
RIBA Validation procedures - Course changes
The ARB/RIBA awards are benchmarked against the QAA bench mark for Architecture part 1 and 2, Ref ISBN
978 1 84979 2011, published Jan 2010.
 Qualifications listed under EU Directive 205/36/EC Mutual Recognition of Qualifications
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the course
handbook.
Programme Organiser(s)
Susan Ware Dip Arch RIBA
Name(s):
Programme Director
s.ware@ucl.ac.uk
Date of Production:
February 2015
Date of Review:
January 2016
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee:
January 2016
January 2016