Welcome 2025 Students

Start Date

Teaching on your course begins on the 11 September, where you go straight into course sessions following a short introduction.

The first teaching block is two days, 11 and 12 September. Please check your timetable for details.

International Students

We expect all international students to engage with the University from Monday 15 September 2025.

The final deadline to arrive in the UK to complete enrolment will be week 4 (w/c 13 October 2025).

Please check the guidelines on entering the UK from your country or territory before planning your journey.

Timetables

Course Leader

Ian Shepherd

Welcome Message

Welcome to the Postgraduate Diploma in Architectural Practice (RIBA Part III).

The Postgraduate Diploma Course, along with the Parts I and II courses provided by the School, have been revalidated by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2023 and prescribed by the Architects Registration Board.

The course is delivered in four 2-day lecture series spread over 10 months to make meeting the criteria in terms of the submissions easier to fit into office work programmes. Assessments follow the lecture blocks and the course is concluded with an oral examination. During the course you are invited to attend individual tutorials with the programme team. We also act as your Professional Studies Advisor and sign your completed Records of Competence sheets every quarter.

We are confident that the courses will give you a mature understanding of and interest in architectural practice that will inform your career in architecture.

Ian Shepherd RIBA, College Lead for Employability and Mobility
Part 3 Course Leader

Course Location

Your course will mainly be taught in:

Parkside Building, City Centre Campus (Room numbers start with P)

Supporting your transition

During Welcome Week, you’ll get to meet our Student Ambassadors as soon as you walk onto campus. They’ll be there to support you with finding your Student Support Centre, collecting your ID card and guiding you in the right direction, and for a friendly hello!

First day on Campus

We look forward to welcoming you to Birmingham City University!

You must have your ID card visible at all times when on campus, so if you have received yours before your first day, ensure you bring this with you. If you enrolled late you will need to collect one on campus during your first few days. Please remember that your ID card is for your use only. You must never let anyone else use it.

To complete your enrolment, you will need the following:

• Passport (or other form of photo ID if you are a UK/EU student)
• Original qualification documents if applicable (you will be emailed a list of the documents we need to see once you have completed your online enrolment)
• Visa (international students only)

What else? The rest is up to you! You will find a shop, café, pub, computer access and water fountains on campus, but we do recommend you bring the following on the first day:

• Laptop, if you have one
• Notepad and pen
• Reusable water bottle
• Snack
• Money

And remember, the weather in Birmingham can be changeable!