[KeyserNI]

ARU is in the process of trying to get Part I validation. Ravensbourne have run their course for a while without trying to get validated so I would stay well clear of that one, either the course isn't up to scratch and wouldn't be validated or the college is too lazy to put in the hard work in and get validated, either way it doesn't look good.

For courses that are in the process of being validated it takes one full cohort to pass through the school before they can be accessed and it get validated. So if the course has been running for three years and people graduate, the RIBA look at all three years work and say yes that's up to standard here is your validation, everyone that passed through the school then has Part I exemption. If they don't get validated first time and it takes an extra year or two or three then only the students that complete the course in the school year of validation or in years afterwards hold part I exemption. e.g. If the course is in it's 6th year of running (started 2005), is three years long and is validated today then only the students that started in 2008 or after will be exempt from Part I.

If you don't go to a validated school then you end up having to pay to do Part I yourself and that's with no guarantee that they will find your work acceptable so it could be three years down the drain. It's also not a forgone conclusion that a candidate school will receive validation or that a school already validated but coming up for review will be validated again.

[ritchie888]

(Original post by ArchiBoi)
You have every reason to be worried because you're IQ is clearly lower than that of a chimp.

Wow. Chill out.

[John-Paul Nunes]

(Original post by jrhartley)
As a worst case scenario if you go to a RIBA non-accredited university you can sit the RIBA portfolio exam independently afterwards - assuming your work is up to the grade, and you are willing to pay the fee to RIBA for them to look at your portfolio (over £1k as I understand it at the moment, the fee). Obviously not the ideal situation to be in, given how much you will be paying to do the course anyway, it is clearly preferential to actually get your part 1 exemption as something wrapped up within your course fees.

Just to clarify that this process is not conducted by the RIBA but by the ARB. For more information, visit http://www.arb.org.uk/qualifications...ok/default.php.

[jrl1017]

I wouldn't worry, I asked them at the open day about this and they said that they pay for and fully support the RIBA/ARB portfolio exam in year 3. The course is designed to give you a wide knowledge base before focusing on just architecture (or whichever space design career you want), the interior architecture and architecture courses are taught together. Worth going to talk to them at an open day-i was unsure until i spoke to them but the guy who runs the course is actually part of the board that decides which schools get accredited and they have purposely made it non-accredited. Go to an open day and ask!

Question though for those of you who have applied-has anybody heard anything from them? I applied at the beginning of November and I already have offers from the other 4... They haven't even sent me an acknowledgement of my application yet!! Thanks.

EDIT
They also say that loads of people go on to become architects, something like 30/40 a year so they do actually get people taking architecture up.

[KeyserNI]

I seriously doubt the course goes out and pays the £1.2K it costs to do the Part 1 interview for 40 students a year. If the course could get validated it would be validated simple as.

[jrl1017]

It does cost £1.2k but that comes out of your tuition fees same as other unis-at other unis they'd have to spend a similar amount keeping the RIBA/ARB status. I asked the guy in serious detail and I think because not many people actually choose to become architects from their IDEA course it's obviously affordable for them. They said they pay for it so they do.
My big problem with rave is that they're just crap at communication for a design and communication college-i sent off for a prospectus 3 months ago-before i applied-and it came today I think it's a really untested route but at the end of the day, you can still become an architect through it.
If I got in there, i don't think i'd dismiss it straight away but I have offers from more well-known unis so maybe that's better-don't know...

[KeyserNI]

It doesn't cost 1.2K a year per student to keep a course validated.

[bone-machine]

(Original post by ArchiBoi)
You have every reason to be worried because you're IQ is clearly lower than that of a chimp.

this boy is a total dick...

[jrl1017]

I'd like to add to this thread that there is a 100% graduate employment rate at Ravensbourne and many graduates now work for Fosters, Grimshaws, Heatherwick Studios and many other massive firms. To anyone thinking of coming here, definitely do, it's an incredible university that will get you an actual job in industry.

[millywood_8]

jrl1017 are you at ravensbourne doing architecture?

I've had an offer but I'm concerned about the fact that the course isn't RIBA accredited, I spoke to someone from ravensbourne and they said that they are looking into it. Do you know if they still pay for students to do the Part 1 interview?

I was also under the impression that ravensbourne has a good reputation in industry, however the comments above have made me unsure about whether its a good place to study.

[jrl1017]

The people above don't know what they are talking about. They probably hadn't even heard about rave until they saw this thread. It was this thread that made me worried when I accepted my place but I needn't have worried because it's a good uni.

[jaytaylor87]

I'm just graduating from Ravensbourne now, studying Architecture.

Ravensbourne is seen as one of the best places to study architecture as a degree, easily on the same level as the Bartlett, RCA, etc... the head of the architecture department at Rave is Layton Reid, and he's actually a chairman for the RIBA schools of architecture.

Rave have 3D printing facilities, a render farm, and free access to pretty much any software you could need.

They encourage you to enter competition briefs which look great on cv's and in portfolios. I've been shortlisted for two since starting the course, one of which was an RSA award which is pretty much as high as you can get, so Rave definitely ain't bad!

I really cant fault the place tbh, although with the new building it can get a bit noisy at times, and the restaurants around are quite pricey, altho there's a subway and a tesco within 60 seconds walk

As for the Part 1 situation, currently you still have to submit the portfolio a few months after graduation (same as alot of universities) but i believe its going to be automatically included soon. was hoping it was going to be this year but looks like next year now

To those of you about to start Architecture or IDEA's (Interior Design Environment Architectures) at rave i wish you the best of luck!

Jason

[jaytaylor87]

Oh and as for links with industry they're brilliant. Many of us are working at Fosters, Gensler, etc.. so plenty of opportunity when it comes to leaving Rave.

Not sure if Rave are paying for the part 1 btw :s pretty sure they're not but it shouldn't be an issue as part 1 should be included in the course as of next year.

I noticed as well in one of the old posts that someone said:

If you don't go to a validated school then you end up having to pay to do Part I yourself and that's with no guarantee that they will find your work acceptable so it could be three years down the drain.

While this may be true to some extent, the flip side is that you could have your part 1 automatically given to you at the end of the degree but that doesn't mean your work or portfolio is necessarily 'industry ready'.

Ravensbourne encourage you to come back to work on portfolio even after you leave to make sure you have the best work possible and that its attractive enough to appeal to potential employers. As a result every person that has submitted their portfolio for the part 1 assessment has achieved it in the last 6 years, and kept a 100% employability rate.

Anywhoo, i hope some of this insight / info can help people considering rave Any questions just give me a shout