Master of Studies (MSt) in Architecture (Degree Apprenticeship)

Virtual Open Events

To learn more about the programme, you can view the recordings from our previous events:

Employer engagement session - 2 March 2022

Virtual Open Day - 19 January 2022

Recording of Q&A webinar - 2 March 2021

You can see examples of recent students' work here.

Education Aims

The Master of Studies (MSt) in Architecture (Degree Apprenticeship) provides an alternative to the traditional full time route to qualifying as an architect. Students must have completed ARB/RIBA Part I through a recognised degree course or apprenticeship. Students apply in their year-out through the architectural practice they are working for. The Cambridge course is taught in short two-week residential courses held throughout the year which mix Master Classes, Lectures, Supervisions, Seminars and Studio work. The lectures are taught by experts from inside the University and from elsewhere. The Master Classes are taught by leading practitioners in their particular fields. The result is a unique course that seeks to prepare the student for the rapidly changing world of professional practice in the 21st century. 

Learning Outcomes 

By the end of the programme and completion of the End Point Assessment, successful students will have acquired all the skills and knowledge necessary to act as an architect to complete RIBA/ARB Part II and RIBA/ARB Part III and becoming fully registered.

Continuing

Our apprenticeship route has been agreed in principle with the RIBA and ARB so that validation / prescription will be in place by the time of graduation. Following the completion of the MSt, the student will then progress to take an End Point Assessment which takes 6-10 months and leads to the final Part III qualification which allows the candidate to register as an architect and become a member of the RIBA (Chartered Architect).  

Employers

The Master of Studies (MSt) in Architecture (Degree Apprenticeship) course offers a high achieving, cost-effective route to registration. It is ideal for highly motivated post-Part I Architectural Assistants with a medium or long-term future in your practice. With three fortnight-long intensive sessions a year and other offsite learning days scheduled to your convenience, the course provides maximum flexibility for employers.

By partnering with the University of Cambridge to offer degree apprenticeships, employers could:

• Reduce graduate recruitment costs and develop talent from within. The apprenticeship system allows employers to attract and retain high calibre, committed Architectural Assistants. As participants on our course, students have access to the University’s extensive research resources.

• Benefit from high-quality courses led by respected, experienced architects and researchers. We welcome input from our Apprentices’ employers at all stages of the process.

• Draw down Apprenticeship Levy funds and invest in high-quality business solutions which plug skills gaps within your company. Non-Levy payers currently receive £6,650 towards the £13,000 annual cost of the course.

• Profile the company as an employer of choice.

For architectural practices in East Anglia, the University of Cambridge Master of Studies (MSt) in Architecture (Degree Apprenticeship) can also be cost effective, saving employers' travel expenses to campuses in more distant locations.

Finding Out More

For further information, please download our Employer Handbook.

If you are an England-based Apprenticeship Levy paying employer, and have a keen interest in the postgraduate Architectural Apprenticeship programme for the September 2022 intake, please email apprenticeships@ice.cam.ac.uk to register your interest and the Apprenticeships Team will get back to you with further information. If you would like to nominate an employee please complete and submit this nomination form. Please also see our Apprenticeships page for further information and our Factsheet for non-levy paying employers.

Safeguarding

The University of Cambridge and the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) are committed to safeguarding the welfare of all members of its community, students, apprentices and staff. It is important that all our students and apprentices feel safe in their learning environments'.

The University's Safeguarding Statement can be read here.

The ICE Safeguarding Statement for apprentices is available here

Prevent duty

The University of Cambridge and ICE have a duty of care for students and apprentices to safeguard those most at risk of radicalisation through early intervention and support. Further information can be found on the University's Prevent webpages.

For further information on our Apprenticeship Safeguarding policies and procedures please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead at studentwelfare@cam.ac.uk.

You can also read our summary documents for apprentices and employers below.

• Safeguarding flyer (apprentices)
• Safeguarding flyer (employer)
• Safeguarding statement

Employer’s Requirements

Students who are interested in applying are expected to already have the support from their employer before doing so. The employer will be required to complete the necessary paperwork, therefore a representative will need to be available to assist in the enrolment phase of the programme.

The employer must be based in England and all students must be UK or EEA citizens, or have lived in the UK or EEA for the past 3 consecutive years, to qualify for an apprenticeship under the Government’s rule.

The employer should be an Apprenticeship levy payer in this instance and will need to apply to the University to submit the students. Employers and students will be required to sign various contractual documentation with the University.

These contracts will require the employer to commit to providing the 3-4 years of experience needed to qualify a student to get Part III and the employer must provide regular mentorship in line with the normal RIBA requirements to the student to make sure that their on-the-job training needs are being met. The student for their part, will be required to work diligently throughout the course and the University will undertake to provide the relevant training to provide the knowledge, skills and behavioural requirements to complete the course.

Expected academic standard

Applicants for this course will normally be expected to have achieved a UK 2.i honours degree or overseas equivalent.

Level 2 Maths and English - GCSE grade C (5) or above (or equivalent) must be evidenced in the form of a certificate during the admissions process.

They must already have achieved ARB/RIBA Part 1, however they can have done so either through an apprenticeship or through a recognised degree course.

All candidates will be interviewed and expected to present a portfolio at interview. Evidence of exceptional ability in studio work is essential.

There is provision to accept non-standard applicants who do not satisfy the standard academic criteria but such applicants must produce evidence of relevant and equivalent experience and their suitability for the course.

Language requirement

For those candidates who are not native speakers, the following levels of English are required:

IELTS Academic: Overall score of 7.5 (a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component)

TOEFL Internet: Overall score of 110 (a minimum of 25 in each individual component)

CAE: Grade A or B (with at least 193 in each individual element) plus a Language Centre assessment

CPE: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 in each individual element)

Apprentices on this course will not be eligible to pay fees towards the course. Apprentice travel costs and meals will need to be agreed with their employers prior to the course start.

All Apprenticeship costs must be covered by the employer. Levy-paying employers can pay for part of the cost (up to the maximum funding band of £21,000) using their apprenticeship levy which will cover the University composition fee.

The total charge for this course is £39,000 (£13,000 pa) which includes the end point assessment (EPA) and residential costs, these additional costs above the £21,000 must be met by the employer. Thus, the extra amount due will be £6000 pa. Where reassessment or retakes are required, the employer will also be liable for these costs.　

The Apprenticeship costs cover:

• Course teaching
• Course materials
• Supervisory support and mentoring
• Residential costs (not including meals)
• End point assessment (EPA)

To view the application process for the Master of Studies (MSt) in Architecture (Degree Apprenticeship) please see here.

Supporting documents

Below are details of the Course Specific Questions and other supporting information you will be asked to provide before you can submit your application. These are marked with an asterisk (*). References and transcripts can be provided either at the time of submitting your application or shortly after.

If you have any questions, please contact ICE Admissions: mst.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.

References

You will need to provide the details of two referees who can provide academic or professional references. You will be asked to provide email addresses for your referees so that they can submit their reference via the online referencing system, so it is important for you to ensure that your referee is able to provide a reference for you before you submit your application form.

Your referees should be senior people acquainted with your work and able to comment on your professional experience and suitability to undertake the course. One of the referees should be a line manager or someone in a senior position in your practice.

The referee should describe how long they have known you and in what capacity as well as commenting on your suitability and commitment to the course.

If your referees are unable to use the online referencing system, or do not have email addresses, please contact the ICE Admissions office for further assistance.

Transcripts

A transcript is a list of all the courses you have taken during a programme of study, with the result you obtained, and with the credit value if applicable.

If you are currently studying, please provide a transcript listing the courses taken during your programme of study, with the results or grades obtained for each. Current Cambridge students should upload a copy of their unofficial transcript from their Student Self-Service.

If you have previously completed degree-level study, please provide a transcript or degree certificate for each degree-level programme you have studied, showing the date the degree was awarded and the final class or grade obtained.

The transcript should be uploaded via your Self-Service, using the ‘Academic - pre-decision’ category. Please note that we may also ask you to send the originals via post if we make you an offer of admission and supplying these may be a condition of your offer.

If your documents are not in English, you must also upload a full translation of each document, prepared by a registered translator.

*Level 2 Qualifications - Mandatory

Level 2 (GCSE) equivalent at grade C (5) or above in Mathematics and English. Evidence will be required during the admissions process in the form of a certificate.

*Letter of support from your employer

Students who are interested in applying are expected to already have the support from their employer before doing so. The employer will be required to complete the necessary paperwork, therefore a representative will need to be available to assist in the enrolment phase of the programme.

Writing sample

If a writing sample is required to support your application, this will be requested by the course administrator.