Architect
Design new buildings and restore old ones. You'll give people attractive, energy-efficient and safe places to live or work.
About the job
A day in the life – Architect
What it's like
The sketches and plans made by architects help create the world we see every day. From the Eiffel Tower and the Great Pyramids of Giza to your home and school building – they all look the way they do because architects dreamt them up.
If you have an eye for design and enjoy thinking big to bring an idea to life, you might have a future in this career. Building projects would hinge on your leadership, planning and vision. You'll see them through from blueprint to brickwork.
Your work will give people practical, attractive, energy-efficient and safe places to live and work. To do this, you'll design new buildings or make changes to existing ones, like adding an extension to someone's home.
Although, you can work with all kinds of structures. Why not restore old buildings to their former glory or give them a new purpose? Or maybe you'll get a thrill from helping design rollercoasters for a theme park?
Your tasks might include:
designing low carbon, energy efficient buildings
drawing designs for clients to see and approve
making detailed technical plans using computer aided design software (CAD)
checking construction work progress, controlling budgets and dealing with planning issues
making sure building work meets safety standards, building regulations and planning laws
working as part of a team of architects and architectural technicians or technologists
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Go Construct – learn more about working as an architect
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) – check out this organisation that champions architecture and the built environment across the country
Supply Chain Sustainability School – free learning resources for anyone who wants to work in the built environment sector
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- working with numbers
- innovative
- designing
- creative
- working with technology
- verbal communication
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Art and Design
Art and Design (Expressive)
Design and Manufacture
English
Graphic Communication
Maths (Mathematics)
Applications of Mathematics
Geography
University
Becoming an architect takes a lot of dedication – involving years of study at university.
There are three qualifications you need to complete to become a registered architect in the UK. These are set out by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and known as Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
Part 1: an accredited undergraduate honours degree course – use the My World of Work course search to find degrees
Part 2: an accredited postgraduate degree course
Part 3: two years of documented work experience and completion of the RIBA Advanced Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture
To legally call yourself an architect, you need to hold all three qualifications and register with the Architects Registration Board (ARB).
You can find more detail about the routes into this career on the RIBA website.
College
Studying qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, may help you get into a degree course. You could study Architectural Technology. Other subjects related to construction and the built environment may be useful too.
Courses may ask for a portfolio of work as part of your application.
Once qualified, you must complete 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) each year to maintain RIBA membership.
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