Architecture

An architecture degree gives you visual, planning and technical skills meaning you'll be set up for a creative, design-based career

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Architect
• Architectural technologist
• Building control surveyor
• CAD technician
• Fire risk assessor
• Interior and spatial designer
• Town planner
• Urban designer

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Building surveyor
• Commercial/residential surveyor
• Construction manager
• Estates manager
• Estimator
• Historic buildings inspector/conservation officer
• Landscape architect
• Planning and development surveyor
• Production designer, theatre/television/film
• Structural engineer
• VFX artist

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates of any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Finding work experience or an industrial placement will be beneficial. These types of opportunities help you to develop an understanding of architectural practices and the industry from the inside. You'll make important contacts and build your confidence, as well as your skill set. Completing work experience also demonstrates to potential employers that you're hardworking, reliable and motivated.

If you intend on qualifying as an architect, approach practices directly in search of work experience. Try architectural, design or construction firms. Many offer internships over the summer.

Related areas such as landscape design, the built environment and other design practices also provide good opportunities to build your experience. Practice your drawing and model-making skills and keep up to date with current trends in the industry.

Find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Architects work in a range of establishments. Graduates may be employed by small firms with fewer than ten employees or larger practices that incorporate other areas such as planning, urban design or construction.

Public sector employers, such as local authorities and housing associations, employ a significant proportion of the profession in their planning departments, while some large organisations, such as banks and supermarkets, may have in-house architectural teams.

Find information on employers in property and construction, engineering and manufacturing, and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

While studying architecture, you'll develop specific skills plus a range of transferable core skills that include:

• numeracy, design and drawing
• IT skills, e.g. computer-aided design (CAD)
• project management skills
• the ability to solve problems in an analytical, logical way
• the ability to work as part of a team
• written and oral communication in various settings
• research skills
• decision making ability
• adaptability and flexibility for dealing with unexpected situations where necessary
• the ability to reflect on, and improve, your professional performance.

Further study

Most architecture graduates eventually go on to complete the final stages of the qualifications recognised by RIBA and the Architects Registration Board (ARB) in order to progress towards qualifying and practising as registered architects.

Apart from further qualifications in architecture, you could choose postgraduate study in other technical subjects, such as engineering, design or computer science, or in subjects outside the technical and construction fields.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses.

What do architecture graduates do?

More than half of architecture graduates (54%) are working as architectural and town planning technicians six months after graduation, with a further 7% working as chartered architectural technologists, and 4% as architects. 

Find out what other architecture graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Find out more

• Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT)
• The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)