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PDip

Architectural Practice - ARB Part 3

This programme enables students to complete their professional training and follows the ARB’s criteria for Part 3, thereby enabling graduates who have completed all three examinations to apply for professional registration as Architects in the UK. The course is prescribed by the ARB (Architects' Registration Board).

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Key information

Start
January
Location
Canterbury
Study mode
1 year part-time
Fees (per year)
UK:
International:
Typical offer
Undergraduate (ARB Part 1) and graduate (ARB Part 2) qualifications
All entry requirements

Overview

The University of Kent’s PDip Architectural Practice programme is a one-year postgraduate course which forms the third and final part of the UK’s traditional professional pathway leading, for graduates with the required exemptions from professional examinations, toward registration in the UK as an ‘Architect’.

Our PDip Architectural Practice programme is prescribed by the Architects' Registration Board (ARB) as giving exemption from Part 3 of their professional examinations.

The programme draws on the academic and professional knowledge with the Kent School of Architecture and Planning and explores alternative building procurement strategies, reflecting innovative practice based on published sources and the staff team’s personal experience. UK practice is presented in a wider International context, meeting ARB’s criteria and equipping graduates to work in a wide range of professional roles and environments.


About Kent School of Architecture and Planning (KSAP)

Research at Kent School of Architecture and Planning achieves excellence in both the history and theory of architecture and in sustainable urban, peri-urban and environmental design. School staff have design expertise and specialist knowledge; they are at the forefront of current architectural issues, including sustainability, technology, professional practice and research. Our staff are active at academic and professional conferences, both nationally and internationally, and appear and publish in local and national media. The School promotes innovative and interdisciplinary research, emphasising sustainable design.

Much of the project work involved in the Kent School of Architecture and Planning is located on 'live' sites in the local region, using real clients and engaging challenging issues. Students in all stages of the school have been introduced to real urban and architectural design challenges in Lille, Margate, Folkestone, Dover, Rye, Chatham and, of course, Canterbury. Much of this work involves liaising with external bodies, such as architects, planners, council and development groups.

The course

What you'll study

Half the course content comprises four lecture-based modules delivered in two block study sessions following the ARB’s criteria. The remaining half of the course comprises a Case Study, based on the student’s current professional experience, with a reflective self-appraisal and extended CV.

These modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

Stage 1

Compulsory modules currently include the following

How do you turn designs into completed buildings? You will study traditional and innovative approaches to building procurement, including traditional, design-build and management contracts as found in standard and bespoke agreements, with reference to both generic scenarios and situations based on your individual prior experience of professional practice.

What knowledge and skills have you acquired through your individual professional experience? How does this experience compare to best practice, and how might you do things differently in future? Focusing on a limited number of case study projects in which you exercise a significant level of responsibility, you will record the overall progression of the design and procurement process and specifically illustrate the relationship between theory and practice with reference to professionalism, legal frameworks, practice management and building procurement. You will present and reflect on the totality of your professional experience, as documented in your Professional Experience and Development Record (PEDR) diaries using the RIBA’s standard templates, and submit a detailed curriculum vitae.

How does the law constrain and inform architectural practice? You will learn about the sources and fundamental principles of the law (concentrating on England and Wales) and look in greater detail at laws and regulations which have the greatest impact on professional practice, referencing your own practical experience and specific scenarios applied to contract, employment law, land law, planning and development management, and dispute resolution.

What are the most effective approaches to strategic and operational practice and management of organisations and projects in the context of the architectural profession, and specifically with reference to the inter-relationships between architects, co-professionals, clients, contractors and other stakeholders? Referring to both generic scenarios and situations based on your individual prior experience of professional practice, you will consider how to manage and promote a professional practice and administer a construction contract.

What does ‘professionalism’ mean in the context of the architectural profession, and how do architects collaborate with co-professionals, clients, contractors and other stakeholders, in order to design and deliver excellent buildings and services? Referencing both generic scenarios and situations based on your individual prior experience of professional practice, you will learn about the regulatory framework within which architects operate in the UK, in the broader context of a range of management theories, considering the roles of the ARB, RIBA and other bodies at a time of dramatic changes in the ways in which architecture is taught and regulated.

How you'll study

Postgraduate taught modules are designed to give you advanced study skills, a deeper knowledge of the subject, and the confidence to achieve your ambitions.

Entry requirements

Undergraduate (ARB Part 1) and graduate (ARB Part 2) qualifications

A first or second class honours degree in Architecture or a relevant discipline (or equivalent). Applicants may be required to attend an interview or to submit a portfolio showing aptitude for the subject and appropriate ability.

Applicants who are unable to attend an interview will be asked to send a portfolio or sample of their written work.

All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.

Fees and funding

The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for this course are:
  • Part-time (UK)
  • Part-time (International)

January entry

The annual tuition fees for students starting this course in January 2026 can be found on the Student Finance page.

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy.

The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for UK postgraduate research courses have not yet been set by the Research Councils UK. This is ordinarily announced in March. As a guide only, the full-time tuition fee for new and returning UK postgraduate research courses for 2025/26 is £5,006.

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.

General additional costs

Find out more about student accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

International scholarships

Unlock your potential with scholarships up to £5,000

Research

Kent is a leading research university, meaning that you will be informed about new discussions and developments by the people making them. This means your work will have real potential to make a difference.

Staff research interests

Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.

Your future

Studying at KSAP will equip you for a successful career in architecture. In addition to your professional skills, you will also develop a wide range of transferable skills in areas such as communication, team-working, problem-solving and computer literacy.

Postgraduates earn

£6,000
more per year than graduates (Graduate Labour Market Statistics, 2021).

A degree can boost average lifetime earnings by over

£300,000
Graduate employment outcomes - Universities UK

Ready to apply?

Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.

You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.

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