Accredited Programmes

To use the title 'Architect' in Ireland a person must be named on the Register of Architects (Building Control Act 2007). Programmes in architecture in Ireland are initially accredited by the RIAI and then recommended to the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government for ‘prescription’, which means legal recognition as a qualification in architecture. Eligibility for admission as an architect to the Register for Architects and to Membership of the RIAI follows successful completion of an RIAI accredited degree programme in architecture followed by two years of post-graduate practical experience working with a registered architect together with a successful outcome in an RIAI accredited Professional Practice Examination.

It is important to check that the programme of Architecture that you are considering is properly accredited and prescribed for access to the Register of Architects.

RIAI Accredited and Prescribed Programmes in Architecture

Only the following six* qualifications in Architecture, offered by five Schools of Architecture, are currently legally recognised for access to the Register of Architects in the Republic of Ireland:

Cork Centre for Architectural Education CCAE (University College Cork / Munster Technological University (formerly CIT))
4 year BSc (Hons) in Architecture, Level 8, CAO Code CK606, followed by a 1 year Master of Architecture (M.Arch) Level 9
The 1 year M.Arch award, preceded by the 4 year BSc (Hons) in Architecture award and comprising 5 years of architectural education in total, is accredited by the RIAI and prescribed in Irish law.
Contact: Cork Centre for Architectural Education (CCAE), Douglas Street, Cork. Tel +353 21 429 8401.

 

Technological University Dublin TU Dublin (formerly DIT)
5 year BArch (Architecture) Level 8 or 4 year B.Sc.in Architecture (Hons), Level 8, followed by a 1.5 year Master of Architecture (M Arch) Level 9
The 5 year BArch (Architecture) Honours Degree award is accredited by the RIAI and prescribed in Irish law.
The 1.5 year M Arch award, preceded by the 4 year B.Sc.in Architecture (Hons) award and comprising 5.5 years of architectural education in total, is accredited by the RIAI. The RIAI is in the process of recommending this qualification to the Minister for Prescription under the Building Control Act 2007. 
Contact: Dublin School of Architecture, Faculty of the Built Environment, Technological University Dublin, Bolton Street, Dublin 1 Tel: +353 1 402 3000.

 

University College Dublin UCD
3 year BSc Architectural Science, Level 8, CAO Code DN100, followed by a 2 year Master of Architecture (MArch (Hons)) Level 9
This 2 year MArch award, preceded by the 3 year BSc Arch award and comprising 5 years of architectural education in total, is accredited by the RIAI and prescribed in Irish law.
Contact: School of Architecture, University College Dublin, Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14. Tel: +353 1 716 2757.

 

University of Limerick UL
5 year B Arch (Hons), CAO Code LM099
This 5 year B.Arch (Hons) award is accredited by the RIAI and prescribed in Irish law.
Contact: School of Architecture University of Limerick (SAUL), Limerick. Tel: +353 61 213438.
Website: www.saul.ie.

 

South East Technological University Waterford SETU Waterford (formerly WIT)
5 year Bachelor of Architecture (Honours), CAO Code WD144
This 5 year Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) award is accredited by the RIAI and prescribed in Irish law.
Contact: Department of Architecture, School of Engineering, SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford. Tel: +353 51 302035.

 

The following qualification in Architecture was awarded Provisional Approval by the RIAI in February 2019, in line with the RIAI Qualifications in Architecture: Procedures for Prescription under the Building Control Act 2007:

Atlantic Technological University Sligo ATU Sligo (formerly IT Sligo)
5 year Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) in Architecture (BArch), CAO Code SG347
Atlantic Technological University Sligo has applied to the RIAI for the accreditation and subsequent prescription of this 5 year Honours Degree Abinitio. The degree has Provisional Approval by the RIAI but is not yet legally recognised for access to the Register of Architects in the Republic of Ireland. The earliest that this qualification may achieve full accreditation by the RIAI, and prescription under the Building Control Act 2007, is when the first cohort of students graduate from the programme in 2023. Therefore, the Bachelors of Architecture degree (BArch) at Atlantic Technological University Sligo has begun this process but is not currently fully accredited or prescribed for the purposes of registration as an architect in Ireland under the Building Control Act 2007.
Contact: Admissions Office, ATU Sligo, Ash Lane, Sligo, F91 YW50. Tel: +353 (0) 71 931 8510. 

 

The following qualification in Architecture was awarded Provisional Accreditation by the RIAI in September 2022, in line with the RIAI Accreditation Procedures Part 1: 

South East Technological University Waterford SETU Waterford (formerly WIT)
4 year BSc(Hons) Architecture (Level 8) followed by a 1 year Master of Architecture, (Level 9) 
South East Technological University Waterford has applied to the RIAI for the accreditation and subsequent prescription of this 4 year BSc(Hons) Architecture (Level 8) followed by a 1 year Master of Architecture, (Level 9). The degree has Provisional Accreditation by the RIAI but is not yet legally recognised for access to the Register of Architects in the Republic of Ireland. The earliest that this qualification may achieve full accreditation by the RIAI, and prescription under the Building Control Act 2007, is when the first cohort of students graduate from the programme in 2023. Therefore, the Masters of Architecture degree (MArch) at South East Technological University Waterford has begun this process but is not fully accredited or prescribed for the purposes of registration as an architect in Ireland under the Building Control Act 2007.
Contact: Department of Architecture, School of Engineering, SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford. Tel: +353 51 302035.

RIAI Accredited and Specified Professional Practice Examinations 

Only the following Professional Practice Examination quaifications are currently accredited by the RIAI and specified under the Building Control Act 2007 for access to the Register of Architects in the Republic of Ireland:

Technological University Dublin TU Dublin (formerly DIT)
Professional Diploma in Architectural Practice (PDAP)
Contact: Dublin School of Architecture, Technological University Dublin, Bolton Street, Dublin 1. Tel: +353 1 402 3000.

 

University College Dublin UCD
Professional Diploma (Architecture)
School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14. Tel: +353 1 716 2757.

Please read the RIAI Statement on the provision of the Professional Practice Examinations.

The RIAI will keep student and graduate members informed of any further developments. 

Apply for RIAI Architectural Graduate Membership 

Apply for RIAI Student Membership

RIAI Accredited Programmes in Architectural Technology
 

South East Technological University Carlow SETU Carlow (formerly IT Carlow)
3 year BSc in Architectural Technology Level 7 CAO Code CW407
4 year Bsc (Hons) in Architectural Technology Level 8 CAO Code CW468
RIAI Accreditation: Qualification Date 2014 and after.
Contact:  IT Carlow, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, Ireland tel: 059 91 75000 Fax: 059 91 75005 Website: www.itcarlow.ie

 

Munster Technological University MTU (formerly CIT)
3 year BSc in Architectural Technology Level 7 CAO Code CR090
RIAI Accreditation: Qualification date 1989 - 1999 and 2014 and after.
4 year BSc in Architectural Technology Level 8 CAO Code CR560
RIAI Accreditation: Qualification date 2019 and after.
Contact: Munster Technological University Cork, Bishopstown, Cork Tel:021-432 6100 Fax: 021-454 5343 Website: www.cit.ie

 

Atlantic Technologial University Galway ATU Galway (formerly GMIT)
3 year BSc in Architectural Technology Level 7 CAO Code GA472
4 year Bsc (Hons) in Architectural Technology Level 8 CAO Code GA483
RIAI Accreditation: Qualification date 2011 and after.
Contact: School of Engineering, Atlantic Technologial University, Dublin Road, Galway. Tel: (091) 753161. Fax: (091) 751107. Website: www.gmit.ie

 

Atlantic Technologial University Letterkenny ATU Letterkenny (formerly LyIT)
3 year BSc in Architectural Technology Level 7 CAO Code LY547
RIAI Accreditation: Qualification date 2011 and after.
Contact: School of Engineering, Atlantic Technologial University Letterkenny, Port Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal .Tel: +353 (0)74 918 6000 Fax: +353 (0)74 918 6005. Website: www.lyit.ie.

 

Technological University Dublin TU Dublin (formerly DIT)
3 year BSc in Architectural Technology Level 7 CAO Code DT105 (last intake 2009) 
4 year BSc (Hons) in Architectural Technology Level 8 CAO Code DT175
RIAI Accreditation: Qualification date 1975 and after.
Contact: Dublin School of Architecture, Faculty of the Built Environment, Technological University Dublin, Bolton Street, Dublin 1 Tel: +353 1 402 3000 Website: https://www.tudublin.ie/

 

Waterford Institute of Technology WIT
3 year BSc in Architectural Technology Level 7
RIAI Accreditation applies to this qualification when awarded by WIT between 1989 and August 2016 only.
Contact: Department of Architecture, School of Engineering, South East Technological University Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford. Tel: +353 51 302 035 Website: www.wit.ie.

*Qualifications in Architecture offered in Ireland which have accreditation from a professional body other than the RIAI, but are not accredited by the RIAI and legally recognised under the Building Control Act 2007, do not give access to the regulated profession of Architect. This includes accreditation of Irish qualifications in Architecture by International organisations such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).