Year gaining professional experience (work experience) Is a RIBA- and ARB-accredited undergraduate architecture course of three or four years (usually a BA or BSc), followed by a
If completed full time, this route takes seven years of combined study and practical experience, currently achieved in three parts as required by the Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA). The traditional, established university student and graduate route We explain these processes in more detail below.ġ.
Through the traditional route – going to university and interspersing two degrees with practical experience There are two ways in which school leavers and graduates can qualify to become an architect:
‘Architect’ is a protected title that only qualified professionals registered with the Architect’s Registration Board (ARB) may use.
Large industry organisations with substantial property portfolios (such as large retailers) Large construction companies, particularly consultancies Want advice on getting your first job in architecture? Read these tips from a qualified architect and director of his own practice. Relevant publications such as the RIBA Journal,Īnd their online equivalents also carry advertisements. Vacancies are advertised online, by careers services, specialist recruitment agencies and in local and national newspapers. Career progression is possible through partnership or specialisation. Most architects work for private practices, but chartered architects often set up their own practice.Ĭontinuing to learn and develop your expertise as a professional is a key part of the job, with an architect expected to carry out 35 hours of ‘continuous professional development’ activities per year. Working hours are typically standard office hours (eg 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday), but architects may work longer hours, evenings and weekends if there are tight project deadlines to meet. However, site visits and meetings with clients are frequent, so travel can figure prominently. Travelling regularly to building sites, proposed locations and client meetingsįor the most part an architect’s working day will be office based. Playing a part in project and team management Specifying the requirements for the projectĪdapting plans according to circumstances and resolving any problems that may arise during construction Writing and presenting reports, proposals, applications and contracts Working closely with a team of other professionals such as building service engineers, construction managers, quantity surveyors and architectural technologistsĪpplying for planning permission and advice from governmental new build and legal departments Working around constraining factors such as town planning legislation, environmental impact and project budget Liaising with construction professionals about the feasibility of potential projects As such, they operate as part of an overall project design team, working closely with a range of construction professionals from quantity surveyors to building services engineers.Ĭreating building designs and highly detailed drawings both by hand and by using specialist computer-aided design (CAD) applications They use their specialist construction knowledge and high-level drawing skills to design buildings that are functional, safe, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing.Īrchitects stay involved throughout the construction process, adapting their plans according to budget constraints, environmental factors or client needs. It takes around seven years of study and training to qualify as an architect.Īrchitects create designs for new construction projects, alterations and redevelopments.