The International Architect's guide to register in the UK (2023)

In this week's video, we talk about how international architects can register with the Architects Registration Board in the UK through the ARB Prescribed exams. We explain how the architecture education system works in the UK and how that relates to the international route. We talk about an important strategy that will facilitate the process and increase chances of passing the examination and then finally, we touch upon the change in regulations in 2023.
Contents of the video:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - The title is protected
01:53 - How does it work in the UK?
04:39 - How does this apply to international architects?
08:45 - Important things to know
10:55 - The change in regulation
12:09 - Conclusion
Links:
- List of documents to apply for the ARB Prescribed Exam: arb.org.uk/architect-informat...
- New international routes: arb.org.uk/international-routes/

[@yasirrahman9466]

Hi Sara, thank you so much for sharing such wonderful insights for registering as an architect in the UK. It is very much helpful for me, and I think it will be for so many architecture students who have embarked on a journey to become an architect in the UK. Keep up the great work!

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

A pleasure! And I’m so happy you found it useful !

[@anthonymaduabum9558]

Very straightforward and useful

[@lionessvibes3082]

Very informative. Waiting for more and more videos ❤❤

[@SamarH06]

Very well presented! I'm so glad to have come across your content through Linkedin, as an internationally qualified architect looking to register in the UK. Information online is limited and can be confusing and vague at times. Looking forward to more!

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

Thank you! Plenty coming soon so you're in the right place!

[@fizaidrees1250]

Tha Ka for such a helpful video !

[@IndianFarmerSonVlogs]

This is help-full sara …

[@kemisalami6909]

very informative

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

thank you :D

[@alaaizzudin2460]

That was very helpful I’m glad I found it. Does having more than 8 years of experience make it easier or help in securing a job in the uk without this process ? And also, what do you think of doing 1 year uk masters to get in the job market easier ?

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

I’m glad you found this helpful! You can get a job in the UK in the building industry without going through this process. You just would not be able to use the title « architect ». And yes, in my experience, the masters degree made it easier for me to find a job! Hope this helps!

[@hassanabdullah8802]

Thank God, I found your channel ARB website is very confusing, since you did the whole thing its easier to understand from someone who actually go through all of it. Please, let me know if having a 5 year degree in Architecture from abroad what part of registrations is required .

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

I’m glad you’re finding the content useful 😃 - if your degree is not from the US, New Zealand, Australia or Europe, you will need to go through the ARB prescribed exams to secure the parts 1 and 2.

[@gabrielfirmino_]

Hello Sara, thank you very much for the video, it was very insightful. I've just checked your course at the Uni of Nottingham and one of the entry requirements is to have Part 1 and Part 2. Do you know if they changed it after your enrollment? Thank you 😊

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

Hiya! I’m glad you liked the video! I would email the university directly and ask. Explain your situation, they might just need an equivalent level. I hope this helps 🤞🏽

[@marwadghoughi3312]

@@SaraSaadouni_TAC hello Sara and gabriel, was about to ask the same question. did you guys get any response ?

[@sumaiaabbas]

Hi Sara, I wanted to express my gratitude for the valuable information you provided regarding the Architect's guide to registration in the UK. In my background, I completed a five-year Bachelor's degree in my home country, followed by nine years of work experience. Afterward, I moved to the UK and pursued my Master's degree here. Last year, I attempted to secure employment and also applied for the Part 3 course. I've received an offer from a university in London. I'm curious about your experience regarding the need for prior work experience to pursue Part 3. Did the university assist you in finding employment alongside your studies? I ask because our situations seem similar; we both studied for our Master's degrees in the UK. Did you manage to find employment after completing your Master's, or did you proceed directly to Part 3 without work experience? Looking forward to hearing your insights 🙂.

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

Hi Sumaia! I am really glad you found this information useful! Unfortunately, universities don’t provide assistance to finding a job before enrolling in the part 3! That is one of the challenges of this step even for national students. I found a job in a small practice beforehand and gained work experience in the UK before enrolling in the part 3. I hope this helps!

[@fayrouzhuseyin179]

Thank you so much for this amazing clarification.. Could you please share with us more about the part 3 .. which course did you take and where and how much did it cost ? I have studied in ENA rabat as well and im currently a resident of the uk .. thank you in advance ❤

[@fayrouzhuseyin179]

I have checked the website of the Nottingham University and for part 3 they require part 1 and 2.. 😮

[@fayrouzhuseyin179]

Also did you need to have work experience in the uk before applying for part 3 ? Sorry for asking a lot and thank you in advance ❤

[@c_onyedinma]

Hi Sara, thanks for this. How can one make up for the Part 1 assessment if they've lost or no longer have their BArch portfolio?

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

You’re welcome! That’s a tricky one as the ARB prescribed exam is an evidence based assessment. The evidence doesn’t necessarily have to be from the BArch (although preferable) but it could also be competition submissions, own work, professional work etc. Additional material needs to be produced from scratch anyway to meet all criteria. I would send an email directly to the ARB to clarify! I hope this helps.

[@sarasamir552]

Thanks Sara! What other universities beside nottingham accepts applications for part 3, without part 1 & 2? Thanks in advance.

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

I am aware that there are a few over the UK but not sure where. What I would do is look at individual universities closer to where you live and check their specific requirements or send them an email and ask directly. Best of luck Sara!

[@archmehak]

Sara one more thing ! As you said in your video that do Part 3 first then do your part 1 and 2 But isn’t part three required experience? And Do London universities providing part 3 process ?

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

Yes, in order to take the exam for Part 3, you need to have 24 months of work experience which you can get by working in an architecture practice as a designer or Architectural assistant. I believe London universities do offer part 3 courses!

[@crackpoti]

Hi sara , thanks for the informative video , i had done my masters in urban design from Nottingham back in 2012 , but I think it was not ARB accredited at that time , which I found out later . I wanted to ask what is the name of the program for PART 3 that you have attended at the university , Does having a masters help and also at the moment I have work experience in the middleeast of almost 12 years

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

This is the course at Nottingham Uni: www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/course/taught/professional-practice-in-architecture-pgdip-part-3

[@andreinafernandez9539]

Hi Sara. So, were you able to take part two exam with your undergraduate architecture degree without any master degree? I'm asking you because I'm on a 5 years bachelor's degree and I'm not sure if I could take part two exam immediately after passing part one.

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

When I finished my degree, I was a fully qualified architect in Morocco. I think you can take the part 2 directly with a 5 year course but the best thing to do is to ask the ARB directly for your eligibility. They are quite helpful and respond to emails within a couple of days.

[@nabihafaiz1030]

Hey. So just to clarify. I have a few questions. 1) An international bArch degree holder is eligible for just part one? 2) mArch is must in uk? (Confirming since it's a choice in my country) 3) if i do masters from uk, does that count as part 2 automatically or do would i still need to give part 2? 4) are all 3 parts must to officially register with the arb or just two parts?

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

1) Correct. 2) yes, it is if you want to register as an Architect with the ARB. And it needs to be ARB accredited. 3) yes, an ARB accredited MArch will give you Part 2. 4) Yes you need all 3 parts. And getting a part 2 in the UK doesn’t automatically give you a Part 1 so you’ll have to sit the ARB prescribed exam for it.

[@syedzakiahmedjaffri1987]

Hey sara, so i wanted to know a few things. i am a registered architect from Pakistan acquiring a 5 year long bachelors degree with a cgpa of 3.64 with a 1 year worth of official field experience. I am currently doing my masters in interior design with advanced practice (2-years) from teesside university in the UK. Can i apply for the ARB exams directly after my masters degree or would i need to acquire some year's worth of experience in order to be eligible to do so.

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

Hiya! You can apply straight away as work experience is not a requirement to take the exam. It is however very useful because some criteria are difficult to cover without work experience in the UK. Don’t hesitate to contact the ARB directly to ask about your eligibility to take the exam. They’re very helpful and reply within a few days. I hope this helps!

[@claudebaiden6637]

Hi Sara i hold a B.Arch Degree (five years) from Ghana, do i still do part 1 and finish up with two year Masters before siting for Part 2 exam ?

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

Hiya - unfortunately at the moment, you need to take both parts 1 and 2. Is your B.Arch equivalent to a master’s degree? If so, you can take part 1 and then part 2 right after. Check with the ARB directly, they will be able to confirm your eligibility to sit both exams: [e-mail]

[@pranavdethariya8810]

Hello, I don’t think india and uk have signed any MOU. So my 5 year b.arch degree is not valid or equivalent to part 2. And i cannot give part 2 exam with this qualification. Am I correct?

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

Hello! Always best to ask the ARB directly but my understanding is that your degree (if primarily in Architecture) would make you eligible to take part 1 and then later on Part 2. Don’t hesitate to send them an email explaining your situation and asking for your eligibility! They usually respond within a few days and are quite helpful!

[@lionessvibes3082]

One thing could you please confirm that after having bachelors degree from my own country and handful of professional experience am I eligible apply in part 3 professional diploma which universities are offering here in UK. Please put some light on part 3 university programs. Or direct to the video.

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

That’s a great question. I think the first step is to find out which universities accept applicants who don’t have part 1 and part 2 on their part 3 course (I know the university of Nottingham does) - then you need to ask them directly. My guess is that they would want you to have a part 2 equivalent. Are you also looking to enrol in a masters’ degree?

[@lionessvibes3082]

@@SaraSaadouni_TAC thank you so much for considering my comment. That is so nice of you. My main goal is to get ARB registration and Masters in Architecture. Confusion is that Masters and part 3 diploma are same or first I am suppose to do 1 year Master and then eligible for part 3 diploma. Your kind response would be highly appreciated.

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

Part 2 and 3 are different. You obtain part 2 after a 2 year long masters of Architecture- then once you do, you can enrol in a part 3 course that is 1 year long and part-time while you’re working in an architecture practice. You learn professional practice in Architecture and you take an exam at the end. It is the final step to becoming an architect. If you have the equivalent of part 1 from your home country (bachelor’s degree in Architecture) I’d suggest you start with looking at the ARB Prescribed Exam at part 1. I hope this helps!

[@archmehak]

Hye sara, I did 5 years degree so, Am I eligible for part 2 exam ?

[@SaraSaadouni_TAC]

Hello! If it’s an Architecture course then I believe you are eligible to take the part 2 exam! But always best to check with the ARB before committing to taking the exam 😌

[@archmehak]

@@SaraSaadouni_TAC TBH i was so worried but your videos are so helpful and to the point Thankyou love 🫡