The RIBA Certificate in Architecture (Part 1) is for students working in practice who are looking for an affordable and flexible route towards qualification as an Architect. Unlike any studio and lecture based programme in architecture, students work towards Part 1 qualification whilst working full-time in practice, under the direct supervision of registered architect in the country where they are based within the UK / EEA / EU / Channel Islands / Switzerland. This course allows students to continue earning a salary whilst studying towards gaining registration as an Architect.
RIBA Certificate
Part 1
Work towards Part 1 qualification whilst working full-time in practice.
We regularly hold live webinars to explain more about the RIBA Studio programme. The webinars provide an opportunity to meet the RIBA Studio team and to ask questions about studying on the programmes. The webinar includes:
- RIBA Foundation in Architecture
- RIBA Certificate in Architecture (Part 1)
- RIBA Diploma in Architecture (Part 2).
Please see opposite for our upcoming webinars
This is a truly unique programme and the original route to registration in the UK for students working full time (24+ hours/week in practice) living and working anywhere within the EEA / UK. The course brings together the value of practice-based learning and academic learning. Supported by an office mentor in practice, and in conjunction with a self-chosen personal tutor (subject to approval), students investigate chosen themes for the subject modules including for design where they curate the academic briefs in a way which has a direct influence on their capabilities in practice. The course is accredited by the ARB and validated by the RIBA and recognised across the EU.
This is an affordable and flexible route into the profession. Contact with the RIBA Studio team, coursework submissions and examinations all take place online, meaning proximity to Oxford Brookes is not an obstacle to studying on this course.
Upon graduating from the course, students will be eligible to apply for a Part 2 qualification such as the RIBA Diploma in Architecture. Students who qualify to Diploma level through this route are then eligible to take the UK Part 3 which leads to:
- full chartered membership of the RIBA
- recognition by the Architects' Registration Board (ARB) for UK architects' registration.
We support students to gain recognition within Europe, though applicants must contact their Competent Authority, to establish in advance, whether UK qualifications are automatically recognised or if further study must be completed in order to obtain architect license/registration.
Individual students also wishing to register in an EU member state must contact the relevant competent authority in the European Member State in which they wish to practise in advance of registering for the RIBA Studio Programme for information about registration for those holding UK qualifications. The RIBA is available to help complete any documentation required.
All applicants must be working at least 24 hours per week in a suitable architectural practice within the UK, EU or EEA and be directly supervised by a registered Architect (this is the office mentor). Although the practice itself does not need to be RIBA Chartered, the office mentor must be registered as an Architect in the country where the student is working. Students must be employed in the same practice as the office mentor.
An applicant is eligible to apply to join the course if they meet the following academic qualifications:
- 3 O-level/GCSE passes including English Language and Mathematics
- 2 A-level passes or equivalent qualifications, eg. HNC, T-levels
or - RIBA Foundation in Architecture at Merit level or above.
The annual course fees for 2026-27 RIBA Certificate will be £3,650 (there is a £260 commitment fee for course materials and to join the applicant events).
Annual fees will be subject to a 5% increase each year.
The RIBA Studio is a unique practice-based programme of study, which is formally assessed through academic work across 5 subjects areas including design, technology, cultural context, professional studies and dissertation. The learning is supported by learning through experiences in the student's place of employment.
Students will:
- develop their awareness of architectural precedent, in particular through reference to contemporary projects and emergent ideas
- learn how to evaluate design projects including their own, being more aware of their individual position in the sphere of architecture.
There is an emphasis on expanding the methods of developing, testing and presenting ideas, placing high value on the iterative design process.
There are 5 subjects covered across each course, all of which require the digital submission of coursework including design, technology, cultural context, professional studies and dissertation.
The design subject work is assessed in live portfolio presentations online.
There are no lectures or seminars, but there are a number of workshops supporting the development of specific submissions. The syllabus contains a series of reading lists to guide on the important preliminary resources. The work is developed in conjunction with a personal tutor through tutorials that take place very regularly and on a one-to-one basis. Moodle also contains a folder of exemplar work by previous students and serves as a useful reference for students and tutors.
Applications are now open.
The application process consists of 3 stages:
Stage 1: Submit the eligibility form
Applicants are encouraged to submit their eligibility form as soon as possible in order to take advantage of the pre-course online applicant events.
Stage 2: Full application and supporting documents
Subject to meeting the eligibility requirements, applicants will be provided with the information needed to complete the Stage 2 application.
This stage of the application process is the completion and return of a full application form and supporting documents including:
- a personal statement of 200-300 words explaining applicant's suitability for office-based study, and the reasons for choosing to apply
- digital copies of all previous academic qualifications
- an extract of the applicant's personal portfolio
- examples of current work in practice that demonstrates the applicant's contribution to project work and current level of experience
- written studies and reports: for example essays, or a dissertation, written as part of previous coursework, or practice-related planning reports for which the applicant had sole responsibility
- an academic and a professional reference.
Applicants will also be invited to attend an online session, which aims to offer more guidance on completing this stage of the application process.
Stage 2 applications are due approximately 5 weeks following receipt of the Stage 1 Eligibility form.
Applicants who have not yet secured full time work in practice (defined as 24 hours per week under the supervision of a registered Architect) are welcome to apply and will be invited to the applicant events which support their search for work in practice within the UK / EEA / EU region
Stage 3: The interview day
Short-listed applicants will be invited to attend an online interview day which includes a private interview with each applicant; this should be regarded as having the status of an entrance examination.
Applicants invited to interview will be required to have the information and documents outlined on the Stage 2 Application Form available for discussion.
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the body responsible for accrediting qualifications required for registration as an architect in the UK. ARB has revised both the point at which accreditation is required and the competencies students must demonstrate.
As part of these changes, ARB will end the prescription of all Part 1 Architecture courses in the UK on 31 December 2027. After this date, an ARB‑prescribed Part 1 qualification will no longer be a requirement for UK architect registration. ARB will, however, continue accrediting Master’s‑level and equivalent qualifications as part of the new registration route.
Students beginning the RIBA Certificate in Architecture in the March 2026 and March 2027 cohorts will complete their studies after 31 December 2027. As a result, their Certificate will not be ARB prescribed. The qualification will nonetheless remain RIBA validated at Part 1 level, and this will not disadvantage students.
Under ARB’s new requirements, registration as a UK architect depends primarily on the successful completion of a Master’s‑level or equivalent qualification, and an additional practice qualification.
The RIBA Diploma in Architecture has long been accredited by ARB and is currently being updated to meet the new ARB Academic Outcomes. We are working closely with ARB to ensure full alignment during the transition between existing and new qualification structures. ARB requires that accreditation is confirmed before students begin this qualification.
We will provide final confirmation to students ahead of the March 2027 start date.
Most students entering Level 7/master’s degree or equivalent programmes across the UK are likely to have completed an undergraduate architecture degree validated by RIBA at Part 1 level. Our RIBA Part 1 Certificate in Architecture will remain an important preparatory route, supporting students to succeed on the RIBA Part 2 Diploma.
RIBA will continue validating qualifications at Parts 1, 2, and 3, which collectively form the pathway to RIBA Chartered Membership, an internationally recognised professional standard.
As ARB’s regulatory framework evolves, RIBA Studio will continue to adapt its courses to support those in everyday professional practice. Applicants will be fully informed of any significant developments.
Details of ARB can be found in the ‘about’ section of the ARB website.
The responsibilities of each body can be found in the following table:
| Regulating Bodies | Stage of Study | |
|---|---|---|
| RIBA | ARB | Part 3 / Practice Outcomes Qualification |
| ARB | Part 2 / Master’s level or equivalent qualification | |
| RIBA only | Part 1 | |
| NCFE | Foundation | |
The Part 1 continues to serve as preparation to enable students to be prepared for and to thrive at Part 2 level and beyond into Part 3 and into practice.
The RIBA Studio route is a very unique route and all applicants are reviewed for the appropriate starting point on the programme, based on a combination of their evidenced practice experience and academic learning outcomes to date.
All applicants are reviewed for the relevance of prior credits from previous degree at undergraduate level. Advanced standing reviews follow an ARB / RIBA approved process and are undertaken after the interview stage is completed.
Banner image credit: Lucinda Prophet (2019)