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Applications for Accreditation of Qualifications

Requirements for registration

In order to be eligible to join the Register under the outgoing prescription framework for initial education and training (IET), individuals need to achieve ARB’s Criteria through prescribed qualifications at Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3, and complete ARB’s practical training requirements.

Under the new IET accreditation framework, individuals will need to demonstrate ARB’s Competency Outcomes for Architects (the Outcomes) by achieving accredited qualifications – a master’s-level qualification (encompassing the Academic Outcomes) and a practice qualification (encompassing the Practice Outcomes), or a combined qualification (encompassing both the Academic and Practice Outcomes) – and completing the practical training requirements.

For those with a Part 2, a prescribed Part 1 will continue to be a requirement for registration.  To join the Register, such individuals will need to have prescribed Parts 1, 2 and 3 qualifications in addition to the required practice experience; or have prescribed Parts 1 and 2 and a (new) practice qualification, as well as the necessary practice experience.

Students/graduates of the new qualifications will be able to apply to join the Register if they have ARB accredited master’s-level and practice qualifications (or an ARB accredited combined qualification) and have completed the required practical training.  An individual with an ARB accredited master’s-level qualification and ARB prescribed Part 3 and who has fulfilled the practical training requirements will also be eligible for registration (the master’s-level must be completed before undertaking the practice qualification or Part 3).  In these cases, if an individual has a prescribed Part 1 as well this will not be required as part of an application to join the Register.

See the Find My Registration Route page for information about requirements for those with non-UK qualifications.

 

Applying for accreditation of qualifications

Learning providers (providers) – the organisations, institutions or universities responsible for delivering qualifications – must apply to ARB for accreditation of their qualifications.

There are two routes for this – the new qualification application route or the transition application route – through which the providers must demonstrate compliance with the Standards for Learning Providers (the Standards) and show how a proposed qualification will deliver the Outcomes.

New qualification applications

  • Applications for accreditation of qualifications that have not previously been prescribed/accredited by ARB.
  • Application statuses: Stage 1 (two years before the intended start date); Stage 2 (before internal validation/approval of the proposed qualification); Stage 3 (a year before the intended start date); Stage 3 minded to position (the decision ARB is likely to make); application outcome (accredited/rejected).
  • Accreditation must be in place before any students start a qualification.
  • Refer to the Accreditation Process for New Qualifications section of the Accreditation Handbook for information about the various application stages.

Transition applications

  • The application process through which providers of prescribed qualifications (qualifications that deliver the outgoing Criteria) will seek to retain accreditation by revising those qualifications to deliver the new Outcomes and comply with the Standards for Learning Providers.
  • A transition application consists of three submissions over a two-to-three year period – transition change application, Standards 3 and 6 submission, Standards 4 and 5 submission – each of which must be approved by the Accreditation Committee.  Once the transition change application is approved, the provider will be permitted to commence the revised qualification from the intended start date if it wishes.  However, accreditation of that qualification remains subject to ARB approval of any outstanding transition submission(s) and cannot be guaranteed until all three submissions have been approved.
  • Refer to the Transition of Prescribed Qualifications to Accreditation section of the Accreditation Handbook for information.

 

Current applications

The table below indicates which providers are currently seeking accreditation for their qualification(s), through which route (new qualification/transition), and the progression of each application through the relevant process (the status).

ARB is unable to supply further information to that shown below.  You should contact the individual provider if you have queries about a qualification and/or the status of an application.  Click on the provider’s name for their details and currently prescribed qualification(s) – this information can also be accessed from the Schools and Institutions of Architecture page.  In the case of new providers (with no currently prescribed qualifications and so no link), you should refer to those providers’ own websites for contact details.

 

* Mode(s) of study: full-time (FT), part-time (PT), apprenticeship (App).

Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Anglia Ruskin University            
ARCEX Ltd            
Architects’ Professional Examinations Authority in Scotland (APEAS) Ltd            
Architectural Association            
Arts University Bournemouth            
Bath Spa University Master of Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Sep 2024)  
Birmingham City University            
Cardiff Metropolitan University            
Cardiff University            
Central Saint Martins            
Centre for Alternative Technology            
Coventry University            
De Montfort University            
Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA)            
Falmouth University            
Glasgow School of Art            
Heriot-Watt University Master of Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2025 Stage 1 (Oct 2024)  
Kingston University Masters of Architecture with Foundation Combined FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Nov 2024)  
Leeds Beckett University Integrated Master of Architecture; Master of Architecture (conversion route) Master’s-level FT, PT Sep 2026 Stage 2 (Nov 2024)  
Liverpool John Moores University            
London Metropolitan University            
London School of Architecture            
London South Bank University            
Loughborough University Master of Architecture in Architecture (Professional) Master’s-level FT Sep 2025 Stage 3 (Nov 2024)  
Manchester Metropolitan University            
Manchester School of Architecture
(University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University)
Master of Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2025  
  • Transition change application – received (Nov 2024)
  • S3 & S6 submission – not yet received
  • S4 & S5 submission – not yet received
Newcastle University Master of Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Sep 2024)  
Northumbria University            
Norwich University of the Arts            
Nottingham Trent University            
Oxford Brookes University Masters in Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Dec 2024)  
Queen’s University Belfast            
Ravensbourne University London            
Robert Gordon University            
Royal College of Art            
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)            
RIBA North West            
Sheffield Hallam University            
Southampton Solent University
Master of Architecture; Master of Architecture with Placement Master’s-level FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Nov 2024)  
Staffordshire University
           
University College London            
University for the Creative Arts            
University of Bath
           
University of Brighton
           
University of Cambridge
           
University of Central Lancashire
           
University of Dundee
           
University of East London
Master of Architecture and Professional Practice Combined FT, PT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Oct 2024)  
University of Gloucestershire
Master of Architecture in Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Nov 2024)  
University of Greenwich
           
University of Hertfordshire
Master in Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2027 Stage 1 (Aug 2024)  
University of Huddersfield
           
University of Kent
           
University of Lancaster
Master of Architecture in Architecture; Master of Architecture Master’s-level FT, PT Oct 2026;
Oct 2027
Stage 1 (Oct 2024)  
University of Leeds
Master of Architecture; Master of Architecture, Master of Engineering; Master of Architecture, Master of Engineering (Industrial) Master’s-level FT Sep 2025 Stage 3 (Sep 2024)  
University of Lincoln
           
University of Liverpool
           
University of Nottingham
           
University of Plymouth
           
University of Portsmouth
           
University of Reading
           
University of Salford
           
University of Sheffield
           
University of Strathclyde
           
University of Suffolk
           
University of the West of England
           
University of Ulster
           
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
           
University of Westminster
           
University of Wolverhampton
           
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Anglia Ruskin University            
ARCEX Ltd            
Architects’ Professional Examinations Authority in Scotland (APEAS) Ltd            
Architectural Association            
Arts University Bournemouth            
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Bath Spa University Master of Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Sep 2024)  
Birmingham City University            

 

Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Cardiff Metropolitan University            
Cardiff University            
Central Saint Martins            
Centre for Alternative Technology             
Coventry University            
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
De Montfort University            
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA)            
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Falmouth University            
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Glasgow School of Art            
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Heriot-Watt University Master of Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2025 Stage 1 (Oct 2024)  
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Kingston University Masters of Architecture with Foundation Combined FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Nov 2024)  
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Leeds Beckett University Integrated Master of Architecture; Master of Architecture (conversion route) Master’s-level FT, PT Sep 2026 Stage 2 (Nov 2024)  
Liverpool John Moores University            
London Metropolitan University            
London School of Architecture            
London South Bank University            
Loughborough University Master of Architecture in Architecture (Professional) Master’s-level FT Sep 2025 Stage 3 (Nov 2024)  
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Manchester Metropolitan University            
Manchester School of Architecture
(University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University)
Master of Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2025  
  • Transition change application – received (Nov 2024)
  • S3 & S6 submission – not yet received
  • S4 & S5 submission – not yet received
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Newcastle University Master of Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Sep 2024)  
Northumbria University            
Norwich University of the Arts            
Nottingham Trent University            
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Oxford Brookes University Masters in Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Dec 2024)  
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Queen’s University Belfast            
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Ravensbourne University London            
Robert Gordon University            
Royal College of Art            
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)            
RIBA North West            
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
Sheffield Hallam University            
Southampton Solent University Master of Architecture; Master of Architecture with Placement Master’s-level FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Nov 2024)  
Staffordshire University            
Provider Qualifications Type Mode(s)* Intended start date New qualification application status
(Date of status)
Transition application status
(Date of status)
University College London            
University for the Creative Arts            
University of Bath
           
University of Brighton
           
University of Cambridge
           
University of Central Lancashire
           
University of Dundee
           
University of East London
Master of Architecture and Professional Practice Combined FT, PT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Oct 2024)  
University of Gloucestershire
Master of Architecture in Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2026 Stage 1 (Nov 2024)  
University of Greenwich
           
University of Hertfordshire
Master in Architecture Master’s-level FT Sep 2027 Stage 1 (Aug 2024)  
University of Huddersfield
           
University of Kent
           
University of Lancaster
Master of Architecture in Architecture; Master of Architecture Master’s-level FT, PT Oct 2026;
Oct 2027
Stage 1 (Oct 2024)  
University of Leeds
Master of Architecture; Master of Architecture, Master of Engineering; Master of Architecture, Master of Engineering (Industrial) Master’s-level FT Sep 2025 Stage 3 (Sep 2024)  
University of Lincoln
           
University of Liverpool
           
University of Nottingham
           
University of Plymouth
           
University of Portsmouth
           
University of Reading
           
University of Salford
           
University of Sheffield
           
University of Strathclyde
           
University of Suffolk
           
University of the West of England
           
University of Ulster
           
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
           
University of Westminster
           
University of Wolverhampton