If you wish to use the title ‘Architect’ in the UK, you must register with the Architects Registration Board (ARB). Registration requires that you have gained ‘Part 1’ and ‘Part 2’ exemption qualifications from a UK university, or passed an equivalent prescribed examination, and then passed the ‘Part 3’ Exam.
In Scotland, the Part 3 Exam is run by the Architects’ Professional Examination Authority Scotland (APEAS).
In order to sit the Part 3 Exam, candidates must first register for Professional Studies Advisor (PSA) support with a university’s school of Architecture, such as the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment at RGU. Our PSA is:
What does a PSA do?
- Provides advice on suitable professional employment
- Monitors practical experience and professional development, giving comment and advice through the RIBA PEDR system (PDF)
- Provides advice on choosing a subject for the ‘Experience-Based Analysis’ (case study) component of the Part 3 Exam.
- Provides general support and advice leading up to sitting the Part 3 Exam.
- Provides update courses and workshops, in conjunction with other PSA in Scotland, to help Candidates prepare for the Part 3 Exam.
- Provides feedback after the Exam when necessary.
- Participates in the APEAS Exam Committee.
More information:
Register for PSA support at RGU
Please read the explanatory letter:
To register for PSA support, please complete:
The Part 3 Exam
Many different institutions conduct Part 3 Exams on behalf of the ARB and the structure and componants of these can vary. In Scotland, the APEAS exam consists of:
The Professional Experience and Development Record (PEDR)
Candidates will register on the RIBA PEDR website and log each quarter’s experience - they should also record a summary of the breadth of their experience as a mapping matrix.
These documents should be submitted to the PSA on a quarterly basis.
The finalised PEDRs are then saved as PDFs and submitted to APEAS via their website in November.
Useful information
Evaluation of Experience
Prefaced by a short professional CV, this is a narrative summary of how the Candidate’s experience meets the ARB Criteria and serves as an overview of the Candidate’s academic and professional progression to Part 3.
Experience-Based Analysis (formerly called the ‘Case Study’)
Candidates are required to undertake an analysis of an appropriate building project or of an appropriate theme from architectural practice and prepare a critical report of between 4000 - 8000 words. A report for this component of the Part 3 Examination must contain a significant level of critical analysis. A report containing little or no analysis will fail the APEAS Part 3 Examination. The analysis in the report should relate to some aspect of architectural practice and as a general observation, the closer you are to the subject you are writing about the better your analysis is likely to be.
The Written Paper
A scenario-based exam with 8 situational questions, in the form of memos, letters, emails, etc, from employer, clients and contractors, which is tackled over 2 days in the Candidate’s office. You may seek advice from colleagues, consultants and others, as you would in day-to-day architectural practice.
The Exam Submission
These 4 written components are submitted via the APEAS website by the Exam deadline in the late November. The written material is distributed to examiners (one pair per Candidate), who give initial grades to each component. The Examiners are all well-experienced practicing architects.
The Professional Interview
As the final part of the Part 3 Exam process, the interviews are held in late February or early March, following the November submission. Candidates attend an interview with their pair of examiners, where their written submissions are discussed. The interview lasts 45-55 minutes. You should bring a copy of all of your written material, for reference during discussion. Following the interview, the examiners give final grades to each written component. Each component must score a pass in order for you to pass the Part 3 Exam. You will be advised of the outcome normally within 2 days.
Joint Update Courses
RGU, in conjunction with the Glasgow School of Art, University of Dundee and University of Strathclyde, runs an introductory event and four Joint Update Courses every year to assist candidates with their preparation for the APEAS Part 3 Exam. Attendance to each is advised, but not mandatory – in addition to the taught elements, they offer an excellent opportunity to meet other candidates from around Scotland and form study groups, which are in turn a vital element of exam preparation. Please see the PP2 Explanatory Letter download above for more information on these.
Useful Information
A number of key guidance documents and other information, including past papers, can be found on the APEAS website.