Entry requirements
Applicants for this course will normally have achieved a UK 2:1 honours degree or overseas equivalent.
To be eligible for the Part 3 examination at the University of Cambridge candidates must have:
- ARB/RIBA Parts 1 and 2 (or confirmed equivalence see below)
- Recently completed a minimum of 24 months’ practical experience under the direct supervision of a professional working in the construction industry.
- At least 12 months of the 24 months experience should be completed in the UK, under the direct supervision of a UK-registered architect.
- Each period of practice must normally have lasted at least 3 months.
Students may register for the Course in their second year of practical experience but must have 2 years of supervised practice in order to qualify to take the examinations.
As part of the assessment process this experience will be documented by Professional Experience Development Record (PEDR) and be approved and countersigned by each candidate’s Professional Studies Adviser (PSA).
Each student is allocated a PSA once accepted onto the course. It is anticipated that any Part 1 experience intended to count towards practical experience will already have been countersigned by the PSA appointed by the Part 1 provider.
Before they apply, applicants are advised to consult the following links for further information on practical training requirements and PEDR:
ARB: Practical training requirements
RIBA: Professional Experience and Development Record
Please note that the University of Cambridge differs from some other Part 3 providers in ONLY accepting candidates who have ALREADY OBTAINED confirmed equivalence of their qualification from the ARB. This policy has been adopted in the interests of the candidates as the ARB equivalence process have proved extremely unpredictable. Applicants are required to submit their equivalence documents as part of the application process.
Non-standard applicants who do not satisfy the standard academic criterion will be asked to produce evidence of relevant and equivalent experience and their suitability for the course.
Language requirements
For students for whom English is not their first language, we will require evidence of having met the required level in a recognised test.
- IELTS Academic: Overall band score of 7.5 (with a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component)
- CAE: Grade A
- CPE: Grade A, B or C
