University of Portsmouth
Architecture and Professional Practice (Degree Apprenticeship) MArch
University of Portsmouth

Key Course Facts

Salary

Salary of all UK Graduates of

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £22481 £20177 £23660
25-75 percentile range £20119 - £25653 £15142 - £24804 £17699 - £30158
Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
All courses in the UK

Course Description

Overview

Earn a salary and get the qualifications needed to become a professional architect

On this integrated three-year Master's and one-year Part 3 qualification, you'll build on your undergraduate degree and RIBA Part 1 exemption and become an ARB-registered architect at the end.

You'll gain valuable on-the-job experience during this four-year degree apprenticeship, which will help you develop the professional and creative skills needed to succeed in architecture. You’ll cover topics such as urbanism, landscape, sustainability and culture in a studio environment.

During term time, you'll spend one day a week on day release at the University and the other four days applying your skills and getting practical experience in your workplace. The government or your employer pay your tuition fees – so your architecture degree apprenticeship doesn’t cost you anything.

Eligibility

This course only accepts UK and EU students.

Unfortunately, we can't accept international students on this course.

Course highlights

  • Develop the creative and professional abilities needed to become a registered architect with the ARB
  • Get a MArch degree while you earn a salary
  • Learn how to come up with creative and strategic solutions to a variety of architectural challenges
  • Benefit from top-class facilities in this studio-based course, including our Centre for Creative and Immersive Extended Reality (CCIXR) – the UK’s first integrated facility for virtual, augmented, and extended realities
  • Put what you learn into practice in the workplace, preparing yourself for Part 3 studies in your final year
  • Gain further professional knowledge from our network of visiting lecturers – past ones include Pamela Cole, Alastair Lewis, and architects from Tibbalds
  • Get practical work experience in your job, giving you an advantage over students who go to University full-time

**You'll be assessed through coursework and exams**

Entry Requirements / Admissions

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 6.5

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
PTE Academic 61

An overall score of 61 with a minimum of 54 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT) 91

91 with a minimum of 20 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 20 in Writing
Cambridge English Advanced

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 169.
Cambridge English Proficiency

Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 169.
Trinity ISE

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components
Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

International applicants not accepted.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Architecture and Professional Practice (Degree Apprenticeship), MArch, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

An upper second-class honours degree with RIBA Part 1 exemption. Applicants who do not hold a recognised UK Part 1 qualification will need to undertake and pass the ARB prescribed exam for Part 1 prior to joining the Apprenticeship course.

All applicants will be required to complete a Skills Gap Analysis before completing an application form.

All applicants will be invited to attend an academic interview and may be asked to submit a portfolio of work or undertake additional assessment.

All applicants to the Degree Apprenticeship courses must have an acceptable Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics. Acceptable qualifications include GCSE with grade C/4 or above and Functional Skills with Pass - please note that we are not able to accept all kinds of Level 2 qualifications, so if you are unsure whether you have a suitable qualification please get in touch. If you do not have an acceptable qualification you may be required to take an additional assessment during the application process.

Costs

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

Source: Own research based on surveys and university data

University Rankings

Positions of University of Portsmouth in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Portsmouth in related subject specific rankings.

Architecture, Building & Planning

    • #17 
    • #23 
    Architecture
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #23 
    • #31 
    Architecture
    The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
    [Published 09 September, 2023]

See all 31 university rankings of University of Portsmouth

About University of Portsmouth

The University of Portsmouth is located on the United Kingdom’s only island city, Portsmouth. This public university, which was previously known as Portsmouth Polytechnic, forms part of the University Alliance, an organisation whose aim is to promote growth and innovation in the UK by putting an emphasis on links with business and industry.

List of 234 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Portsmouth - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Portsmouth

Total number of students enrolled at University of Portsmouth by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
undergraduates:
18085
postgraduates:
5005
Total:
23090
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Architecture”: Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Source: Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
  • Societies - Student Life #5
  • Modern Languages at the University of Portsmouth
  • Psychology BSc - Students - University of Portsmouth
  • Business and Management at the University of Portsmouth
  • Dental Nursing, Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy - University of Portsmouth
  • Why our graduates love the University of Portsmouth.

Where is this programme taught

Main Site
map marker Show on map

Similar courses

Program University Student satis­faction Unem­ployed Drop­out Tuition (UK) Tuition (Inter­national) UCAS Tariff City
Naval Architecture with High Performance Marine Vehicles MEng University of Strathclyde - - - £9250 £26700 - Glasgow On campus Full-time
Structural Engineering and Architecture with an Industrial Placement Year MEng The University of Sheffield 83% 2% 4% £9250 £29110 169 Sheffield On campus Full-time
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering MEng University of Strathclyde - - - £9250 £26700 - Glasgow On campus Full-time
Architecture and Environmental Design MEng (Hons) The University of Nottingham 100% 10% 5% £9250 £28600 167 Nottingham On campus Full-time
Landscape Architecture MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh - - - £9250 £34800 - Edinburgh On campus Full-time
Architecture Msci (Hons) University College London 72% 10% 0% £9250 £29000 175 London On campus Full-time
Landscape Architecture MLA The University of Sheffield - - - £9250 £25540 - Sheffield On campus Full-time
Landscape Architecture with Foundation Year MLA The University of Sheffield - - - £9250 £25540 - Sheffield On campus Full-time
Architecture MArch (Hons) Cardiff University 88% 2% 5% £9000 £25450 £28200 166 Cardiff On campus Full-time
Structural Engineering and Architecture MEng (Hons) The University of Sheffield 83% 2% 10% £9250 £29110 179 Sheffield On campus Full-time
Admission advice for international students