Professional Body Information: ARB / RIBA
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the statutory regulator for architects in the UK and sets the education and registration requirements for anyone wishing to practice and use the title ‘architect’ in the UK. They do this by accrediting qualifications required for registration as an architect.
The ARB is currently revising its requirements for registration and is removing from its requirements the award of an undergraduate qualification in architecture. The intention of the ARB is that they will no longer be prescribing undergraduate architecture qualifications from 31 December 2027.
Currently, and up until December 2027, UK graduates wishing to register as an architect will need to have an ARB accredited Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 qualification, alongside relevant work experience.
From 31 December 2027 ARB will only accredit Master’s level qualifications and the professional diploma which follows. This means that from 2028 an undergraduate qualification in architecture will not be required for registration as an architect in the UK.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will continue to validate architecture qualifications at Parts 1, 2 and 3 – these are terms developed by the RIBA and its three-part validation pathway forms the typical route to RIBA Chartered Membership.
Students applying for four-year courses with integrated foundation year: BA (Hons) Architecture with Year 0 and BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures with Year 0
Students applying for four-year courses with integrated foundation year: BA (Hons) Architecture with Year 0 and BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures with Year 0
The integrated foundation year courses allow students to progress on to the corresponding undergraduate programmes, which are currently prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), providing exemption for RIBA Part 1 examination.
The ARB have announced its intention to retire the accreditation of all Part 1 qualifications at all institutions by the end of December 2027.
Students entering the four-year courses in September 2024 will graduate in June 2028, if they progress without interruption through the 4 years of the course.
Students will therefore graduate after the proposed end date for ARB prescription at Part 1 and their degree will therefore not be a prescribed ARB award. This will not impact any student’s ability to complete qualification as a UK registered architect, as the ARB will continue to accredit academic awards at the master’s level only.
Therefore, upon successfully completing these courses students will be able to apply to any routes validated as Part 2.
The BA (Hons) Architecture and BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures courses are currently, and will continue to be, subject to validation by the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) at Part 1. The RIBA will continue to validate architecture qualifications at Parts 1, 2 and 3 – these are terms developed by the RIBA and its three-part validation pathway forms the typical route to RIBA Chartered Membership.
Students applying for three-year courses: BA (Hons) Architecture and BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures
Students applying for three-year courses: BA (Hons) Architecture and BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures
The BA (Hons) Architecture and BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures courses are currently prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), providing exemption for RIBA Part 1 examination.
The ARB have announced its intention to retire the accreditation of all Part 1 qualifications at all institutions by the end of December 2027.
Students entering the three-year courses in September 2024 will graduate in June 2027 and will not be affected by this change, if they progress without interruption through the 3 years of the course.
Students will therefore graduate before the proposed end date for ARB prescription at Part 1 and their degree will be a prescribed ARB award. However, if students fail to progress in any of the years or interrupt their studies, their degree will not be a prescribed ARB award.
This will not impact any student’s ability to complete qualification as a UK registered architect, as the ARB will continue to accredit academic awards at the master’s level only. Therefore, upon successfully completing these courses students will be able to apply to any routes validated as Part 2.
The BA (Hons) Architecture and BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures courses are currently, and will continue to be, subject to validation by the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) at Part 1.
The RIBA will continue to validate architecture qualifications at Parts 1, 2 and 3 – these are terms developed by the RIBA and its three-part validation pathway forms the typical route to RIBA Chartered Membership.
