RIBA Part 3 Masterclass
Three practice directors walk you through every stage of qualifying as an architect. From when to apply and which of the 29 Part 3 courses suits you, through PEDRs, case studies, and the open-book exam, to that nerve-wracking interview at Chester Racecourse. Real talk about what actually happens, what catches people out, and how to approach the 10,000-word case study without losing your mind.
- 4+ hours of premium content
- 10 step-by-step video lessons
- Future updates included
About this course
Three directors who've been through Part 3 themselves share everything they wish someone had told them. You'll learn when to apply (hint: not too early), how to choose between the 29 different Part 3 courses, and whether exam-based or coursework-only routes suit your learning style. The course covers PEDR documentation, the two-page CV that trips people up, structuring your 10,000-word case study around RIBA work stages, and preparing templates for the open-book exam. You'll hear about the interview at Chester Racecourse, the strange pass/fail letter system, and what to do the moment you qualify - including ARB registration and those salary conversations.
This comprehensive RIBA Part 3 masterclass provides systematic guidance through the complete qualification process for becoming a registered architect, delivered by experienced Studio RBA directors who have successfully navigated both the examination process and subsequent professional practice. You'll master the strategic approach to application timing, course selection, and preparation methodologies that ensure successful completion of your architectural qualification journey.
The curriculum emphasizes practical application of Professional Experience Development Records (PEDRs), comprehensive case study development, and strategic examination preparation through real-world insights from practicing architects. You'll develop expertise in documenting professional experience, conducting honest self-evaluation, and presenting your architectural development with clarity and confidence throughout the assessment process.
Advanced preparation techniques include interview strategies, submission optimization, and comprehensive understanding of registration requirements with both ARB and RIBA that ensure smooth transition to qualified architect status. The course covers both examination success strategies and long-term professional development planning that supports successful architectural career progression.
These qualification skills are essential for architecture graduates seeking to complete their professional development and achieve chartered architect status. The guidance provided applies directly to navigating the UK qualification system while building the professional mindset and practical capabilities necessary for successful contemporary architectural practice and ongoing career advancement.
What will you learn?
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This course will turn you into:
A confident Part 3 candidate
Someone who knows what examiners want from your CV, case study, and PEDRs. You'll understand how to structure the 10,000-word case study around RIBA work stages and prepare templates for the open-book exam.
A strategic career planner
You'll know which of the 29 Part 3 courses suits your learning style, whether exam-based or coursework-only. You'll understand costs, timing, and how to build the 24 months of PEDR experience.
A registered architect ready for practice
Ready to register with the ARB, join RIBA, and meet your CPD obligations. You'll know what that pass letter means and how to leverage your new status in salary negotiations.
Syllabus
Maria explains the prerequisites: Part 1 and Part 2 qualifications plus 24 months of PEDR experience across all RIBA stages. Apply three to four months before course start dates, which vary between September and January. You can complete Part 3 without current employment if you arrange a studio mentor. The directors discuss whether to rush into Part 3 or wait for more practical experience.
The ARB lists 29 schools offering Part 3, with costs ranging from £3,000 to £5,000. Some courses are exam-based (like the RIBA route with its two-day exam), others are entirely coursework. The directors discuss going via university versus directly through RIBA, and why your learning style should drive the decision. If you struggle with exam pressure, the coursework-only routes might suit you better.
Jack admits he applied early and made up for limited experience by reading every book on the reading list during a two-week holiday. The directors recommend a more organic approach: gain hands-on experience across RIBA stages, ask to see fees, contracts and warranties in your practice. They discuss forming study groups and starting lighter revision six months out before intensifying four to six weeks before the exam.
Start PEDRs as soon as you enter practice after Part 1, filling them in every three months. You need three signatures: yourself, your office mentor, and a Professional Studies Advisor from your university or RIBA (around £200). The directors share their approaches: weekly diary entries, using timesheets as a reference, and tracking hours against RIBA stages. Eight sheets minimum covering 24 months of experience.
Your Part 3 CV must be strictly two pages - people have failed for submitting three. Jack got his sent back multiple times for cramming too much in. Focus on degrees and relevant experience, not GCSEs. Include your top five or six projects with captions showing what you learned. Maria explains how to demonstrate breadth: different project types, different skills on each project.
The case study is dissertation-level at 10,000 words. Structure it around RIBA Plan of Work stages with critical analysis at the end of each section - this is where you score points. The directors recommend Stephen Brookhouse's Part 3 Handbook for structure guidance. A live project is ideal but not required. They discuss using 'creative licence' to demonstrate knowledge of scenarios that didn't actually occur on your project.
The RIBA route exam runs over two days with ten questions total. It's open book, but that can slow you down. The directors share their technique: read all five questions first, categorise them (fees, planning, contracts, procurement), then tackle them in order of confidence. Prepare templates in advance for fee letters, memos, and validation checklists. Four to six weeks of solid revision after lighter study from six months out.
Your final submission includes CV, self-evaluation, PEDRs, case study, and exam answers - all bound and physically handed in. You can tidy grammar and formatting on exam answers but cannot add new content. The directors discuss whether to make changes the same evening or leave it. One colleague was still rewriting his case study on submission day - stressful but he passed.
Interviews happen at Chester Racecourse in the director's boxes - you line up and wait to be called. Jack researched his interviewers in advance, printed their photos, and accidentally dropped them during the interview. The directors explain it's more conversation than quiz. Print your entire submission with post-it notes showing where you'd improve. Get senior colleagues to review before you go in.
The strange pass/fail letter system: pass letters go to your office, fail letters go home - one day earlier. Maria describes the awkward moment when a colleague's fail letter arrived the day before her pass letter. Register with the ARB (legally required) and join RIBA (optional). The directors discuss using Part 3 completion to trigger salary conversations and what CPD obligations look like going forward.
Meet your instructor
ThreeForm Architects Directors
All 3 Directors
ThreeForm Architects
All three directors of ThreeForm Architects deliver this course together, sharing their individual Part 3 experiences in an informal, conversational format. Between them they've mentored multiple team members through the qualification process. The practice has maintained 20% profit margins over six years while growing to 20+ staff and delivering over £100m of projects - the kind of real-world practice experience that makes Part 3 topics click into place.
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