Built environment
What can you do with an Architecture degree?
Quick answer
An Architecture degree commonly leads to roles such as architectural assistant (Part 1), cAD technician and urban design assistant. Five years after graduating, Architecture graduates had median earnings of £31,100 (middle half: £26,000–£38,100), and 86.7% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Architecture, building and planning graduates is professional, scientific and technical services (37.5% of those in work).
Architecture in the UK is a long professional path (Parts 1–3). A first degree is only the start. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.
- Median pay after 1 year
- £23,400
- Median pay after 5 years
- £31,100
- In work or study after 5 years
- 86.7%
- Earnings rank at 5 years
- 100 of 146 subjects
- Top employer sector
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Graduates in latest cohort
- 2,275
On this page
What jobs can you get with an Architecture degree?
Graduates commonly start as architectural assistant (Part 1), cAD technician, urban design assistant or bIM coordinator (entry). Architecture also builds skills that employers outside the obvious routes ask for, so many graduates move into roles that do not name the subject at all.
Architectural assistant (Part 1)
Supports a studio: CAD or BIM drawings, site photographs, and document issue.
Skills these adverts often ask for
- drawings
- model making
- planning packs
CAD technician
Skills these adverts often ask for
- detailing
- revisions
- layer standards
Urban design assistant
Skills these adverts often ask for
- context maps
- consultation boards
- GIS basics
BIM coordinator (entry)
Skills these adverts often ask for
- model federation
- clash notes
- issue logs
Role examples and skills are CourseToJob editorial guidance, not a guarantee of a job. Pay for individual roles varies by employer and location; we do not attach a salary to a role unless an official source publishes one.
Where do Architecture graduates work?
Five years after graduating, the largest employer sectors for Architecture, building and planning graduates in UK employment were professional, scientific and technical services (37.5%), construction (23.2%) and real estate activities (7.8%). One year after graduating, the most common sector was professional, scientific and technical services (35.3%).
| Industry sector | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings in that sector |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 37.5% | £35,500 |
| Construction | 23.2% | £53,800 |
| Real estate activities | 7.8% | £44,700 |
| Administrative and support services | 4.6% | £39,200 |
| Wholesale and retail | 4% | £27,100 |
| Education | 3.5% | £32,900 |
| Public administration and defence | 3.5% | £36,600 |
| Manufacturing | 2.5% | £37,300 |
Most common specific industries
- Architectural and engineering activities and related technical consultancy — 27.9% of graduates in work, median £34,400
- Construction of residential and non-residential buildings — 11.5% of graduates in work, median £54,900
- Real estate activities on a fee or contract basis — 5.3% of graduates in work, median £49,400
- Construction of other civil engineering projects — 3.5% of graduates in work, median £51,600
- Other professional; scientific and technical activities n.e.c. — 2.8% of graduates in work, median £42,800
- Not known — 2.8% of graduates in work, median £12,900
How much do Architecture graduates earn?
Official dataArchitecture graduates had median earnings of £23,400 one year after graduating and £31,100 five years after graduating in the 2023–24 tax year. The median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at five years.
| Years after graduating | Median earnings | Middle half earned | In work or further study | All-subject median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year after graduatingGraduated 2021/2022 | £23,400DfE LEO, Tax year 2023-24 | £19,000–£27,100 | 86.4% | £26,400 |
| 3 years after graduatingGraduated 2019/2020 | £27,800DfE LEO, Tax year 2023-24 | £23,100–£32,900 | 90.1% | £30,000 |
| 5 years after graduatingGraduated 2017/2018 | £31,100DfE LEO, Tax year 2023-24 | £26,000–£38,100 | 86.7% | £33,700 |
| 10 years after graduatingGraduated 2012/2013 | £39,500DfE LEO, Tax year 2023-24 | £29,300–£50,500 | 84.4% | — |
How one-year earnings have changed
Which universities have the highest-earning Architecture, building and planning graduates?
Among universities in our index with at least 50 Architecture, building and planning graduates measured, Anglia Ruskin University had the highest median earnings five years after graduating (£54,400), followed by Loughborough University (£49,800) and Nottingham Trent University (£49,800).
| University | Median earnings | Graduates measured |
|---|---|---|
| Anglia Ruskin University | £54,400 | 125 |
| Loughborough University | £49,800 | 85 |
| Nottingham Trent University | £49,800 | 225 |
| University of Reading | £48,900 | 70 |
| Oxford Brookes University | £48,700 | 250 |
| Coventry University | £46,800 | 75 |
| London South Bank University | £45,600 | 160 |
| Glasgow Caledonian University | £43,700 | 175 |
| Heriot-Watt University | £43,200 | 55 |
| University of Salford | £40,600 | 175 |
Is Architecture the right degree for you?
EditorialYou may enjoy it if
- You like studio culture, critiques, and iterating a design.
- You can work both visually and technically.
- You accept a multi-year route to registration.
It may not suit you if
- You wanted a three-year course that fully qualifies you.
- You dislike all-nighter studio culture and critiques.
- You hoped to avoid construction technology.
Interview questions for Architecture graduate roles
EditorialPart 1 architectural-assistant interviews usually mix a portfolio conversation with how you work in a team and on site. These prompts are editorial illustrations, not a school’s actual interview.
Pick one project in your portfolio. What would you change if you started it now?
What it tests. Reflection, not a sales tour of every drawing.
A detail on a drawing will be expensive to build. How do you raise that?
What it tests. Cost, buildability, and talking to more senior colleagues early.
How do you keep a CAD or BIM model usable for someone else?
What it tests. Naming, layers, and not being the only person who understands the file.
A resident is unhappy about a proposal at a public event. How do you respond?
What it tests. Listening and not over-promising a planning outcome.
What information do you need before visiting a site?
What it tests. Safety, access, and what you are there to measure or photograph.
Course interviews. Many UK architecture courses use a portfolio review and sometimes an interview. The university sets the format. That admissions process is separate from a Part 1 job interview.
Illustrative question types for the roles above, not questions from a named employer.
Find Architecture graduate jobs
Searched by the entry-level roles aboveSearch UK vacancies connected to architecture. These are role matches, not guaranteed graduate-level jobs: read the experience, qualifications and work-permission requirements in each full advert.
Salary filters and ordering use the provider’s data, which can include estimates. Cards below show employer-listed pay only. Cached searches can be up to 30 minutes old; the employer’s advert confirms availability.
Checking vacancies for Architectural assistant (Part 1)…
Prepare your application with graduate cv examples, student cv examples, the free CV builder and the application tracker.
Is there an apprenticeship alternative to Architecture?
EditorialArchitectural assistant apprenticeships exist and sit inside the professional framework. This note is editorial.
Research exact university programmes
We have not added verified programme records for this subject yet. Use the official university catalogue for current courses, fees and entry requirements.
Explore the programme finder · Compare programme details · Research international scholarships
Make your next move
Planning to study Architecture in the UK?
Check the exact programme, entry requirements and total cost before applying. International applicants should also confirm qualification equivalence, English-language evidence and visa requirements.
Find UK study guidance for your country · Compare international course-fee examples
Explore the international student guide · Build your study budget and checklist
Universities for Architecture in our index
45 universitiesAn editorial provision index, not a live UCAS catalogue: confirm current courses on UCAS. CourseToJob is not UCAS.Open Architecture in the full university explorer.
Show all 45 universities
Name, city, or a CourseToJob subject. Nothing is stored.
Nation
No university matches that search.
Undergraduate applications are made on UCAS, not here.
Architecture degree: frequently asked questions
What jobs can you do with an Architecture degree?
Common starting roles include architectural assistant (Part 1), cAD technician, urban design assistant and bIM coordinator (entry). Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Architecture, building and planning graduates in work were professional, scientific and technical services (37.5%), construction (23.2%) and real estate activities (7.8%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.
How much do Architecture graduates earn in the UK?
DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Architecture graduates of £23,400 one year after graduating, £27,800 three years after graduating, £31,100 five years after graduating and £39,500 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.
Is an Architecture degree worth it?
It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 86.7% of Architecture graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £31,100. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Architecture 100 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.
Which universities have the highest-earning Architecture, building and planning graduates?
Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Architecture, building and planning were at Anglia Ruskin University (£54,400), Loughborough University (£49,800) and Nottingham Trent University (£49,800). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.
Can international students study Architecture in the UK?
Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.
Skilled Worker visas
Sponsorship depends on the job's occupation code and the current Skilled Worker rules, not on a subject's median pay. A Skilled Worker decision uses the higher of the general threshold and the SOC going rate. Subject LEO medians are not sufficient. Read the Skilled Worker job rules on GOV.UK.