Architect Degree Apprenticeship

Program Overview

Architect Degree Apprenticeship

Overview

The Architect Degree Apprenticeship offers employers the opportunity to attract, retain, and develop talented employees as they work towards registering as qualified architects in the UK. This program combines the best of practice experience and research-led education, enabling apprentices to use their academic studies to enrich their real-world experience and make significant contributions to their practice's research, projects, and networks.

Factfile

• Qualification: MArch Architecture with Collaborative Practice Research (ARB/RIBA Part 2) and Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture (Part 3)
• Duration: 53 months (including end-point assessment)
• Delivery: Day release
• Entry requirements:
  • Minimum 2:1 degree
  • 2:1 standard in final year design studio modules
  • Part 1 completion in a UK-based recognized School of Architecture
  • Six months of work experience in a relevant role
• Eligibility requirements:
  • Apprentices must be working in a job role that provides opportunities to apply and develop the skills, knowledge, and behaviors outlined in the Level 7 Architect Degree Apprenticeship standard
  • Apprentices must work a minimum of 50% of their time in England
  • Apprentices must have access to the agreed off-the-job training hours, during contracted working hours
  • Apprentices must be a UK/EU/EEA national or have lived and have had a right to work in the UK for 3 years or more
• English and maths eligibility requirements:
  • English and maths eligibility requirement is assessed based on the apprentice's age at the start of their apprenticeship
  • There is no mandatory requirement for apprentices aged 19+ to complete Level 2 English and maths
  • Apprentices or employers may opt-in for the apprentice to study towards an English and maths qualification where they don't already have an equivalent qualification, with funding available if they choose to do so
• Start date: June 2025
• Application deadline: Applications for 2025 have now closed
• Programme fees: £21,000 (programme fees are paid by the employer either via the apprenticeship levy or they may be eligible for up to 100% co-investment from the government, there is no cost to the apprentice)
• Campus:
  • University Park, Nottingham
  • Wallacespace in Clerkenwell Green, Central London
• School/department: Department of Architecture and the Built Environment
• Accreditation:
  • Architect Registration Board (ARB)
  • Validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Programme Details

The Architect Degree Apprenticeship is delivered over a four and a half year period, with each year further building on the apprentice's knowledge and skills. The program is delivered via day release with additional self-study days to be booked each semester. Over the course of the program, apprentices will be awarded MArch Architecture with Collaborative Practice Research (ARB/RIBA Part 2) and then the Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture (Part 3). They will then progress onto a gateway review and end-point assessment to complete their Architect Degree Apprenticeship.

Modules

Year One

• Introduction to architectural research (0 credits)
  • This module aims to support the development of architectural research ideas through understanding possible research approaches and theories that underpin them
• Architectural research study (30 credits)
  • The research study is at the heart of the program and offers a unique opportunity for apprentices to lead on live practice research
• Building case study (10 credits)
  • This module enables apprentices to develop their understanding of the nature and context of architectural practice
• Live design studio (30 credits)
  • The module brief is flexibly set to allow apprentices the opportunity to develop a relevant research outcome into a comprehensive project
• Applied architectural technology (10 credits)
  • This lecture-based module aims to develop the practical knowledge and understanding of the environmental, construction, structural, and technological dimensions of architectural design

Year Two

• Culture and context in practice (10 credits)
  • This module aims to support the development of architectural thinking to an advanced level through a critical examination of architectural culture
• Architectural urbanism in practice (30 credits)
  • A design studio module that aims to develop academic research and architectural design skills to an advanced level
• Practice research by design (30 credits)
  • This design studio develops the apprentice's core research-led design skills, critical thinking, and application skills prescribed by the ARB/RIBA for Part 2 students
• Professional studies in practice (10 credits)
  • The module offers an overview of architectural practice, with particular emphasis on legal frameworks, forms of contract, and the structure of an architect's services

Year Three

• Live thesis research (30 credits)
  • This studio module develops architectural skills to an advanced level
• Live thesis portfolio (30 credits)
  • The portfolio component is a continuation of the research and brief development activities from previous modules
• Reflective practice portfolio (20 credits)
  • This module focuses on reflective evaluation of the first three years in practice

Year Four

• Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice (Part 3)
  • The final year of the program encompasses the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Professional Practice (Part 3) studies and readies apprentices for the end-point assessment

Gateway and End-Point Assessment

Once the apprentice has completed all their on-programme learning, a meeting will take place between their employer and the university. During this meeting, the apprentice's knowledge, skills, and behaviors will be assessed to determine whether they have met the minimum requirements set out in the Architect Degree Apprenticeship standard. Apprentices deemed to have met these requirements will progress onto the end-point assessment (EPA).

The end-point assessment requires apprentices to demonstrate that their learning can be applied in the real world. Apprentices will undertake a career appraisal followed by a professional interview and produce a case study report supported by the design challenge.

Why Choose the Architect Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Nottingham?

Our Architect Degree Apprenticeship program has been amongst the top three providers for the last three years for this standard and is delivered in both Nottingham and Central London. University Park is our biggest UK campus and is full of history and heritage as well as being the home of several award-winning buildings. With excellent transport links and state-of-the-art facilities, it's the home of our architecture teaching within Nottingham.

Apprentices based in the south of England can also benefit from undertaking their degree apprenticeship at our Central London satellite site: Wallacespace; an inspirational space with convenient transport links.

Moreover, our Architect Degree Apprenticeship is validated by RIBA and is taught by a top 10 university for architecture, demonstrating our wealth of teaching expertise and knowledge. We are also rated 'excellent' by employers on the gov.uk website (as of December 2024) showing how employers value the benefits of our program.

Apprenticeship Features

• Skills Scan: As part of the application and enrolment process, we carry out an individual Skills Scan. This enables us to determine apprentice's existing levels of skill and knowledge and build a personal plan which will set out all the learning, tutorial support, and resources provided by the university.
• Tripartite reviews: As part of our continued support for each apprentice and the degree apprenticeship, we offer tripartite reviews between the employer, apprentice, and the university to formally assess progress in the academic program and work-based learning.
• Assessment: Apprentices are assessed through a mixture of exams, coursework, and a portfolio of work. The degree apprenticeship also includes an end-point assessment, which comprises of a career appraisal followed by a professional interview and a case study report supported by the design challenge.
• Support team: Each of our Degree Apprenticeship programs is designed to include full support for the apprentice and their employer. We provide an Account Manager to support and guide employers throughout the program and a Degree Apprenticeship Officer to support each apprentice throughout the program.