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Eligibility criteria|
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The emphasis of the Walter Parker Bursary scheme is to support students to enter the architectural profession. Practical experience is a requirement of architectural education: students are required to demonstrate key professional skills and competencies at the Part 3 professional examination which is the last stage before qualification as an architect.
Students of architecture can gain key experience at all stages of their architectural education. This bursary scheme provides assistance to students and graduates who are limited by financial constraints so that they can take advantage of opportunities for practical experience that will assist on their route to qualification as an architect.
These bursaries are funded by the bequest of Walter J Parker, who left a legacy to support the apprenticeship and professional training of architects experiencing financial hardship, and are known as the RIBA Walter Parker Bursaries.
Following feedback from applicants and students, we have amended the eligibility criteria from the start of the 2012 - 2013 academic year to ensure that students and graduates undertaking a broad range of professional experience opportunities are now eligible to apply.
Eligible applicants will fall into one of three categories:
1. Part 1 and Part 2 graduates undertaking Stage 1 or Stage 2 practical experience who require additional financial support. The experience must be approved by a Professional Studies Advisor (PSA) and comply with the practical experience eligibility criteria (www.pedr.co.uk|).
2. Part 1 and Part 2 graduates currently seeking Stage 1 or Stage 2 practical experience may apply to the bursary to support further professional development opportunities that they cannot otherwise afford to fund. The graduate needs to make the case that the experience will contribute to the professional competencies architects are required to demonstrate as part of the RIBA criteria for qualification. The applicant should normally be registered on the RIBA PEDR scheme and must provide a letter of support from their PSA.
3. Students undertaking their Part 1 or Part 2 studies who are seeking professional developmental opportunities outside of term time (such as during the summer holidays) who require additional financial support. The student must demonstrate that the experience contributes to the professional competencies architects are required to demonstrate as part of the RIBA criteria for qualification, and must submit a letter of recommendation from their university tutor.
In all cases, eligible applicants:
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have completed, or are undertaking, an RIBA-validated Part 1 or Part 2 course in the UK; and
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have been resident full-time in the UK for at least three years prior to the start of their first course in architecture.
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To apply for funding, please read the Guidance Notes which includes important information about how to complete the application form. Please download and complete the application form below.
Applications are accepted throughout the year, but funding is limited and grants can be made only for as long as there is funding available, so applicants are advised to apply early.
Please contact Hayley Russell via email| or call +44 (0)20 7307 3678 if you have any questions about the application process or to check your eligibility for the bursary.
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Janine Pollock
Stage 2 work experience placement
SBA Architects: a pair of award winning holiday cottages, Tower House and Rock Cottage, situated at Borve on the Isle of Harris. Image courtesy Janine Pollock
Janine Pollock completed her Part 1 and Part 2 studies at the University of Strathclyde. Despite working part-time throughout her studies, and receiving the maximum student loans and grants available, Janine constantly struggled to balance her finances. She completed her Part 2 studies in June 2011, graduating with an award for excellence for her thesis project.
With few architecture employment opportunities available in Glasgow, Janine successfully applied to a practice, SBA Architects, on the Isle of Lewis for a Part 2 Architectural Assistant position. The cost of relocating the 300 miles from Glasgow to the Western Isles of Scotland was the only barrier for Janine to accept this opportunity, as she was unable to access temporary loans or apply for an extension on her student overdraft. Janine successfully applied to the Walter Parker Bursary, and the grant supported relocation costs including van hire, petrol and temporary accommodation on the Isle of Lewis.
Jo Ashbridge
Stage 2 work experience placement
Having graduated with her Part 2 in June 2011, Jo was keen to pursue the passion she had developed during her studies for development and disaster relief architecture, and to pursue a career in international humanitarian work and disaster relief response. When an opportunity came up for a three-month internship with a shelter-related NGO in Geneva, Jo applied to the RIBA Walter Parker Bursary to enable her to take up this opportunity and pursue her architectural dream.
The bursary supported Jo for the costs of travel to Geneva and supplemented the stipend she was receiving from her employer to cover some of the costs associated with living in an expensive city.
Having gained valuable post-Part 2 practical experience, Jo is now employed by the international development agency Engineers without Borders on a project based in Bangladesh.