Throughout the AA’s history, students have challenged and redefined the boundaries of architecture by developing alternative modes of professional practice that question existing norms. Today, as the role of the architect is being reimagined across cultural, social and technological contexts, the discipline demands renewed urgency, clarity and invention. The AA is uniquely positioned to contribute to this transformation through its ability to equip students not only to respond to a changing world but to actively shape the future of architectural practice.

This course offers a dedicated space for students to begin thinking about trajectories after graduation. It invites them to question their own position within the profession and to consider how architecture operates across the UK and internationally. In this space for exploration, decision-making and redefinition, students are encouraged to align their personal ambitions with the realities and possibilities of practice.

The course builds on the foundation of Professional Practice (PP) introduced in the Third Year and developed through students’ experiences during their year out. In the Fifth Year, students are encouraged to critically integrate this knowledge into a range of design processes and professional frameworks, providing them with a clear overview of individual career development within architecture and related disciplines. This provides a lasting basis for independent and informed judgement from which they can draw during their careers.

Through a series of lectures and discussions, students engage with current and emerging professional contexts in design and construction. They examine both conventional and experimental practice models, analyse diverse pathways and organisational structures, and reflect on their own capacities, priorities and working methods.

The course supports each student to develop a viable business plan for their ideal practice. This work is informed by an analysis of the social, economic and legislative frameworks that shape architectural production, as well as the creative and contractual relationships involved in realising projects. Final proposals are supported by relevant case studies and references aligned with each student’s professional goals.