The University has received official validation from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for its Degree in Architecture (Parts 1 & 2)—one of the most prestigious and demanding international quality benchmarks in architectural education. The accreditation was granted following the visit of the RIBA Exploratory Visiting Board and confirms that the programme meets the highest standards of academic rigour, design excellence and professional ethics established by the British institution.
This recognition strengthens the global dimension of the program and further enhances the international employability of its graduates. The RIBA accreditation offers students several direct and tangible benefits:
· International validation of the degree, facilitating academic and professional mobility in the United Kingdom and other countries that recognise this standard.
· Exemption from the RIBA Part 1 and Part 2 examinations, streamlining the pathway to RIBA chartered architect status.
· Stronger positioning for international placements and internships, particularly within the Anglo-Saxon sphere and the Commonwealth.
· Access to RIBA’s global professional network, providing opportunities for employment, competitions, and scholarships.
· Greater visibility among international employers.
The Visiting Board report expressly highlights several strengths of the University’s academic model:
· The comprehensive nature of the final project work, underscoring its capacity to integrate architecture and landscape in an ambitious and coherent way.
· The solid integration of technical, environmental, and construction-related knowledge throughout the curriculum.
· A strong sense of academic community, characterized by collegial relationships between faculty and students and a clearly student-centered ethos.
These elements position the programme not only in formal compliance with international standards, but also at a level of academic maturity and pedagogical coherence explicitly recognized by the evaluating body.
A Dual International Accreditation: RIBA and NAAB
The RIBA accreditation complements the certification already granted by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) in the United States, the body responsible for the official validation of architecture programmes across North America. Holding both RIBA (United Kingdom) and NAAB (United States) accreditation positions the University’s School of Engineering and Architecture among the select group of European institutions recognised within the two leading Anglo-American professional frameworks, significantly expanding the academic and professional pathways available to its graduates.
Strategic Consolidation of the School of Engineering and Architecture
Securing RIBA accreditation marks a major milestone in the University’s internationalisation strategy and reaffirms the strength of its academic project in Architecture. With this achievement, the institution reinforces its global standing while consolidating an educational model that brings together technical excellence, design sensitivity, an international outlook, and a strong ethical commitment to the profession.