RIBA Foundation in Architecture course

The RIBA Foundation in Architecture course is aimed at people who want to build a portfolio and gain paid work experience in architecture. The course, part of the RIBA Studio programme and is delivered under a unique partnership with the School of Architecture at Oxford Brookes in partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects.

RIBA is working to ensure that the architecture sector and the wider construction industry is representative of the communities and societies we serve. Your practice could show support and help to break down barriers to entry to the profession by providing a salaried placement to a student on the RIBA Foundation course.

Many of our students come from other professions and bring specialised expertise directly transferable to architecture. Our younger students bring a very special sensibility and empathy to the profession.

Tamsin Walmsley, Director at Banks Walmsley Architects, says:

"Our practice enjoyed mentoring through the RIBA Student Mentoring scheme, so providing a paid placement for an RIBA Foundation student was a really practical way to help someone into the profession. Our student was a great addition to the office and was fully engaged throughout their placement.

“We believe in hands-on support of talented people of all ages and backgrounds who want to enter architecture - and that's the role of RIBA Foundation."

If you want to make a positive impact and find out more about adding a new skill set to your team by creating a role for a RIBA Foundation student, please contact us for more information.

The RIBA Foundation in Architecture part time, online course launched in 2021. The course, which runs over nine months, attracts increasing numbers of students from a wide range of social and employment backgrounds. There are 36 students in the 2025 cohort, compared with 18 in 2024.

Course information for students

The RIBA Foundation course will help you to:

• gain skills in conceptual and creative thinking, building confidence and knowledge in the field
• build a portfolio of work to prepare for further study or work
• gain salaried work experience in architectural practice or creative industry for a minimum of 200 hours
• connect in a professional network and learn in peer-to-peer sessions with RIBA Studio Part 1 and Part 2 students in the industry
• prepare you for a career in the creative industry or studies in architecture through professional experience

The RIBA Foundation course is open to students of any nationality, and you can be based in any country. While on this part time online course, you will regularly meet with the course team and a personal tutor. Alongside the six course modules, the salaried work placement in practice in architecture or other creative field could include experience in settings such as an urban design practice, theatre production company, or furniture design firm. A professional within the practice would act as your mentor to help support your studies and training. The course team will assist with finding a placement wherever you are based.

Our recent graduates have gone on to work in practice or study RIBA Studio Part 1 course, an architecture apprenticeship, a planning course, and a PhD to pursue a career in modelmaking. Read about two RIBA Foundation in Architecture graduates, Bradley Agyei and Omer Ajaj, who had placements at Scott Brownrigg and continue into their architectural journeys.

The RIBA Foundation is certified at a Level 3 qualification by the national awarding body NCFE.

For information on student eligibility, requirements, key dates, and more, visit the Oxford Brookes University website.

Information for practices

To fulfil the salaried experience element of the RIBA Foundation course, students are encouraged to find work in architecture practices as well as landscape, urban design, planning, and other creative fields.  We are looking for offers of placements for the current cohort of a minimum of 200 hours, which can take place at any time during the course. You would need to pay students at least the level of the wage set by the Living Wage Foundation, and appoint a mentor to guide the student - placements supplement their coursework with the aim of exposure to projects of varying types and stages.

If you are committed to supporting the next generation of talent, please download our information for practices (PDF) and register your interest via email to ribafoundation@brookes.ac.uk.

Information for schools and colleges

The RIBA Foundation team is available to run architecture workshop sessions in schools or online, with a focus on subjects used in architecture at A Level, GCSE, or an earlier stage. This could include classes in:

• Maths
• History
• Technology
• Geography

We would also be happy to attend an assembly or career days to discuss routes into the profession.

Costs

Applications open during 2025 for the December intake. The current tuition fee for the course is £1,900 which can be paid in three instalments of £580 with the £160 commitment fee to join a series of applicant events. We run sessions on how to find and apply for funding from academic charities, with Foundation graduates advising on their past experiences and success.

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact the team at Oxford Brookes: ribafoundation@brookes.ac.uk