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Architecture Postgraduate Conversion Courses?

At the end of next year I will graduate with an MPhys Physics degree, and want to know if there are any conversion courses for Architecture. I considered Architecture after my A Levels, but thought 7 years was too big a commitment as I was unsure that I wanted to do it. I was interested in Physics and it seemed to offer good graduate prospects, so did that instead. Now I want to pursue a career as an achitect, but I fear it may be too late and too expensive to do so.

I have tried to look for part-time courses, but these are few and far between. Is there any way to work up through a firm, taking exams as you progress?

Thanks for any responses :smile:

Reply 1

jrhartley

iwanttobeanarchitect

I have tried to look for part-time courses, but these are few and far between. Is there any way to work up through a firm, taking exams as you progress?

Thanks for any responses :smile:

apprenticeship to become an architect is a possibility, but a very unpopular way of becoming qualified these days. It has been estimated that to go from starting to being Part III qualified via the apprenticeship route would take you well in excess of 10 years. Why? Because the RIBA / ARB require you work on a large variety of projects, and also some of these projects need to be slightly theoretical. The danger is when you are working in practice, you will have an area of specialisation, which means you do that all the time. You won't have the variety in your portfolio to fulfill the ARB's requirement.

So, unfortunately for you, the only real option if you want to be an architect is to get on a RIBA accredited course. You could be qualified in 6 years if you did it at one of the more intense UK courses. That's about as good as you can get, I'm afraid.

Reply 2

iwanttobeanarchitect

Thanks for your help. Its a shame, but I think its going to be too expensive and lengthy :frown:

I might look into Structural Engineering as it seems quite closely related.

Reply 3

jrhartley

sorry it wasn't better news. all i would say is that you need to bear in mind the time now against the context of your whole life. structural engineering is very different from architecture, and its not like you can just hop across the fence from one the other when you are qualified. given you can, and a lot of architects do, work until they peg it, you need to decide whether you want to / can afford to / study for 6 years more now to be doing something you want to do for the rest of your life.

Reply 4

mab29

Hi,

I came across this when I googled 'Achitecture conversion courses' as I'm in a similar position as you - graduating next year in Natural Sciences but wish I'd done architecture and wondering whether it's now too late... I was wondering what you decided to do in the end? Whether you started the course from scratch, how you're finding it etc. Any info would be great! Thanks.

Reply 5

3D Biker

Hi, have you thought about becoming an Architectural Technologist instead? They do similar work to an Architect. I am in a similar situation I have spent my whole working life in IT and in the back of my mind I've always wanted to embark on a career in Architecture. It's never too late, I'm an optimist and I believe there is always a way. I've just registered a distance learning course in Architectural Technology with Leeds Beckett University. I hope to complete the Masters in 2 years. There might not be any guarantees that I will be an Architectural Professional at the end but at least it's heading me in the right direction but that is good enough for me now.

Reply 6

swithers

I have recently done a conversion course in Landscape Architecture at Leeds Beckett - MA takes 1 year (full time), and then PG Dip a further 9 months (part-time) and can work at a firm during the second year. I know it's not architecture, but it's quite similar and can be completed in a much shorter time frame!

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 7

MJayzee

Hi! Can you please give some feedback on the course at Leeds Beckett University and also what you have done after completing the course? Would you recommend this course to anyone in a similar situation to you?

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