As the final stage of architectural education, the Professional Practice Part 3 course at LSBU prepares you for registration with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), allowing them to legally practice as an Architect. Successful completion also provides eligibility for membership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
Run in tandem with the Level 7 Architecture Apprenticeship, the Professional Practice Part 3 course offers pioneering, progressive, and comprehensive content that evolves to meet the changing demands of the profession. Well-respected across architectural practice and among its alumni, the course provides a structured framework for students to develop their skills, knowledge, and professionalism, ensuring they meet the ARB and RIBA criteria for final assessment.
This part-time course begins with a 14-week online lecture series during the autumn term, followed by an open-book exam completed off-campus over a seven-day period. At this stage, you also submit your Professional Experience Development Records (PEDR). In the spring term, you undertake a focused case study and career appraisal in preparation for a professional interview with experienced examiners.
The course begins in early August and we encourage prospective students to apply at a first opportunity to secure a place on the course.
If you have any questions, please contact Jon Bush, the Course Leader. E: bushj5@lsbu.ac.uk
You can view previous LSBU Architecture catalogues here:
Architecture Catalogue 2022-2023
Architecture Catalogue 2021-2022
ModePart-time | Duration10 months | Start dateAugust | Application code6017 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
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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.
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If you do not have the required English and Maths qualifications needed to satisfy the entry requirements for this programme, we have courses available at our partner College that you can take to upskill in these areas. Find out more at South Bank College.
£3100
Tuition fees for home students
£3100
Tuition fees for international students
Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees for Undergraduate or Postgraduate courses.
UK fee: £3100 | International fee: £3100 |
AOS/LSBU code: 1089 | Session code: 1PS01 |
UK fee: £3100 | International fee: £3100 |
AOS/LSBU code: 6017 | Session code: 1PS00 |
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 391 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
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.
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.
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.
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.
A student can change to writing up status for the purpose of a lower fee when the examination arrangements have been submitted and approved. Examination arrangements are submitted 3 months prior to submission of the thesis for examination. A student only has one year of writing up at the reduced fee that covers submission, viva, and minor corrections. The writing up fee 25/26 is £1,246
The course is not currently open to international students.
International (non Home) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.
Mode Part-time | Duration 10 months | Start date August | Application code 6017 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system. Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,520 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Students should apply for accommodation at London South Bank University (LSBU) as soon as possible, once we have made an offer of a place on one of our academic courses. Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.
It's a good idea to think about how you'll pay university tuition and maintenance costs while you're still applying for a place to study. Remember – you don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as a postgraduate student.
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
The course comprises the following modules.
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Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
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.
Successful completion of the course and passing all parts of the RIBA Professional Practice Part 3 enables candidates to register as an architect with the Architecture Registration Board (ARB) , and join the RIBA as a chartered member.
Please refer to the Course Content tab above for specific information regarding the course teaching and assessment structure.
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.