Country edition: UK Beta
UK · Design · Built environment

Architect

To call yourself an architect in the UK you must be registered with the ARB. That takes accredited study plus practical experience, with a final qualifying exam.

See the route Pay by region
Typical UK pay (median)£47,143Architects, full time, per year
ONS
Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 provisional, tables 14 and 15Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Checked
9 Oct 2026

Medians for full-time employee jobs. ONS hides estimates it rates unreliable (CV over 20%).

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Licensed or registered byARBArchitects Registration Board. Protected title: registration required
ARB
Information for students and traineesArchitects Registration Board (ARB)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
View source
Top 25% earn over£55,262ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional)
Full-time jobs in the UK30,000Employees, rounded by ONS

How to get there

2 routes. University route (Parts 1, 2 and 3) · Apprenticeship route

University route (Parts 1, 2 and 3) ARB

The classic route the National Careers Service describes.

  1. Part 1Degree recognised by the ARB

    NCS
    Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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  2. Work1 year of practical work experience

    NCS
    Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source

  3. Part 22 more years at university

    Like a BArch, Diploma or MArch.

    NCS
    Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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  4. Work1 more year of practical training

    NCS
    Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source

  5. Part 3Final qualifying exam

    NCS
    Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source

  6. GoalRegistered architect (ARB)

    ARB
    Information for students and traineesArchitects Registration Board (ARB)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source

ARB's new framework
You need an accredited master's-level qualification (Academic Outcomes) and an accredited practice-level qualification (Practice Outcomes), or one combined qualification.
ARB
Information for students and traineesArchitects Registration Board (ARB)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
View source
Accredited while you study
A qualification only counts for registration if ARB accredits it while you are studying it.
ARB
Information for students and traineesArchitects Registration Board (ARB)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
View source

Apprenticeship route Level 6 + 7

Work in a practice while you study.

  1. Level 6Architectural Assistant Degree Apprenticeship

    Part 1 training; up to 4 years.

    NCS
    Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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  2. Level 7Architect Integrated Degree Apprenticeship

    Parts 2 and 3; up to 4 years.

    NCS
    Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source

  3. GoalRegistered architect (ARB)

    ARB
    Information for students and traineesArchitects Registration Board (ARB)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source

At school

GCSEs (Years 10–11) and A levels (Years 12–13), or equivalents.

GCSEs
5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English, maths and science.
NCS
Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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A levels
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree.
NCS
Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
View source
Portfolio
Bring sketches, photos and models to degree interviews.
NCS
Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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UCAS points
An A* = 56 points. Many courses ask for grades instead of points.
UCAS
The new UCAS Tariff: ten things applicants need to knowUCAS
Checked
9 Oct 2026

An A* at A level is worth 56 Tariff points. Only about a third of courses use Tariff points in their entry requirements; most ask for grades.

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Pay by region

Pay is in pounds (£) per year, before tax, for full-time employees. ASHE counts employees only, so self-employed people (most barristers, many contractors) are not in these figures.

Architects SOC 2451

  • UK median £47,143
  • Bottom 25% under £37,342
  • Top 25% over £55,262

Starting vs experienced (National Careers Service)

  • Architect: starter £31,000 · experienced £58,000
    NCS
    Architect — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source
Pay: ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), tables 14 and 15, full-time employees. Routes and rules: the official sites linked on each row, checked 23 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not rank universities or recommend paid courses.