MARCH ADMISSIONS FAQS

Mailing Address:
Architecture Program,
SALA, UBC
#402 - 6333 Memorial Road,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2

Applications - General Info

1. How many students do you admit into the program? We admit 48 people each year into the first year program.

2. How many applications do you receive each year? We receive over 375 applications this year. Because of the competitiveness of the application process, it is important that you meet minimum entrance requirements [see below], and take time to work on all aspects of the application package.

3. Can I take part time studies? Because of the length and highly demanding nature of the program, it is difficult to complete it part-time in the five year time allotment. Therefore, we do not encourage part-time studies.

Education

1. What are the education requirements for admission to the program? Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited university-level institution. At least four years of study with a B+ average in third and fourth year-level course work [at UBC those are all courses listed as 300 and 400 level; at other universities they might be callled "upper level" or "upper division"]. Please make sure that you meet these minimum requirements. We do recommend first year math and physics. If you are an international student, please check the Faculty of Graduate Studies website under minimum admissions requirements for admissions requirements from your country. For international students, we calculate your GPA on all of your courses.

2. I do not meet the minimum entrance requirement. What can I do? If you do not meet the minimum entrance requirement, you should take additional upper level [300 and 400] courses at a local university to raise your GPA. This might be a good opportunity to gain additional breadth to your academic knowledge by taking courses in subject areas outside your previous academic experience. Work experience of any kind can not be used as a replacement for academic ability. It is not in your best interests to make an application if you do not meet the minimum academic requirement. Please review the minimum requirements carefully.

3. How do you calculate the GPA? In order to calculate the weighted GPA, all of your upper level courses will be identified [the ones that UBC would number 300 and 400; other universities may have different numbering systems but your transcript comments will usually identify the upper level courses]. It does not matter which year you took the course. Then by multiplying the credit load times the grade for each of these courses, adding up each of these columns and dividing the totals of each column, the weighted GPA is identified.

4. What is the best degree to take to enter an Architecture program? I can, of course, speak only about the educational requirements for UBC School of Architecture, but each program has different requirements. (An excellent website to investigate this is The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.) Because we offer a graduate program, students enter with an undergraduate course in Arts, Sciences or Applied Sciences to name the most common. The diversity of degrees reflects the multi-disciplinary nature of architecture and stimulates discourse amongst the students and faculty. Here's a list of the degrees that we have admitted students from in the last couple of years, though these should not be considered as a limitation to your possible degree choice:

Bachelor of Arts:
Archaeology, Art and Culture, Art and Design, Art History, Asia Pacific Studies, Design, Economics, English, Fine Arts, General, Industrial Design, Philosophy, Psychology, Sustainability, Theatre, Urban Geography, Visual Arts

Bachelor of Science:
Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Exercise and Sport Science, Geography, Physics

Bachelor of Design
Bachelor of Engineering [or Applied Science]
Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning
Pre-professional Architecture degrees:
Architectural Studies, B. A. [Arch], B. Sc. [Arch], Environmental Design, Architectural Engineering, Architectural Building Technology

5. Does UBC offer an undergraduate architecture program? In 2002, UBC began a new degree called a Bachelor of Environmental Design, a non-professional degree which may be used to gain admission into architecture, landscape architecture or planning programs, or as a general degree to explore issues and ideas through design. For information on the ENDS program, please see the ENDS website.

Profession

1. After I finish my architecture education, am I an architect? General requirements for architectural registration following graduation from an accredited program include a minimum of three years of approved work experience, and completion of the National Council of Architectural Registration Board’s [NCARB] Architectural Registration Exams. Additional requirements may include professional development courses and an oral exam. These requirements vary within jurisdictions and applicants should obtain details from the appropriate professional association. In BC, the Architectural Institute of British Columbia provides that leadership. For Canada broadly, please refer to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

2. Can I take my schooling in Canada and practice in the USA? The Master of Architecture graduate degree program offers a complete, accredited curriculum providing Canadian Architectural Certification Board [CACB] approved professional standing. This standing is equivalent to that of the US National Architectural Accreditation Board [NAAB].

Exchange Students

1. How do I become an exchange student at UBC? We welcome the opportunity to bring exchange students from a wide diversity of international locations into our program through Exchange at GoGlobal UBC. In order to initiate the process, you will need to approach your university to see if an exchange program has already been established with GoGlobal UBC. If it has, then make an application with them, they contact our exchange program, who, in turn, contacts us. The process can take some time, so you should begin immediately. Through the exchange program, you might access our courses and studios for however long your exchange lasts. Each year we have between 2 and 6 exchange students with us.

2. My university does not have an exchange set up with UBC. Is there a way that I can still attend? Even though there is no exchange set up between the two universities, you could consider coming as a visiting student. As a visiting student, you apply online choosing the option of Visiting Student, submit an application including all the application pieces. One very important consideration though is the cost as an international visiting student. Here is the website that outlines that information. Most students will take approximately 15 - 18 credits per term. That would equal one studio and two - three seminars or classes.

Applications – Package

1. What are the pieces to the application package? The pieces you will need to turn in to the Admissions Committee include:
Online application and fee – see next question
Resume
Statement of Interest
3 letters of reference
2 original Transcripts from all post-secondary education institutions
portfolio
GRE scores [ recommended ]
TOEFL [ if appropriate ]

2. Where do I find the application form? The application form is online. After you have submitted the application online, the application automatically goes to both Graduate Studies and Architecture simultaneously. This is also a good resource to track the pieces of your application to see if we have received them. however, please allow at least two weeks for us to process the paperwork, especially closer to the deadline.

3. What is the deadline date for September 2012? The deadline for applications is January 6, 2012 for September 2012.

4. Do you admit students at other times of the year than September? No, we only admit students in September.

5. Do you need to receive an application form before I send in pieces to my application? No, I keep everything that I receive for one year even if I have not yet received an application form. Pieces to the application are eventually matched up, though it is a little more efficient if your transcripts and paper references accompany the rest of your application.

6. Do references need to be submitted on the referee form? No. You will note as you read through the referee form that the questions reflect more on your characteristics observed in an academic environment. Your referees are welcome to use their own letterhead if that would suit them better. This is particularly appropriate if your reference is an employer, or if you are applying to more than one architecture program. However, if the form is to be used, it is found here.

UBC Graduate studies has recently initiated a secure online reference process. In the online application, if you have given the email address of your referee in the space provided, the referee will automatically be sent an email stating that she/he is to supply a reference for you with a link to the secure application site. The referee will write the recommendation, then submit it and it automatically comes to me. They do not need to submit a hard copy of this in a signed sealed envelope. Please ask your referee before you complete the online application to write the recommendation and let her/him know about this electronic option. Because the referee will not receive the prompt to send the e-reference until after you submit the online application, in consideration for them, please submit the application a couple of days before the deadline.

One thing that has been noticed about the ereferences is that some referees are not nearly as expansive as they could be. The “box” that they fill in on the eref is “expandible", and they can easily write a page long reference for you in the box – or copy from an existing letter. Given this, here is a sample request that you can feel free to copy and paste into the request area for your letter of reference.

"Thank you very much for agreeing to write a reference for me for the application for the Architecture program at UBC. This is a secure system, so you can either fill in the form provided or attach a letter as a reference. Please note, if you fill in the form, the boxes are very expandible. If you submit your reference through this system, you will not need to follow up with a hard copy. Again, thank you for your support of my applicaiton."

7. Will I still be considered if my references arrive after the deadline date? Yes, you will still be considered if your references arrive after the deadline date. Since our deadline is so early, sometimes references come in a week or so after the deadline. However, to avoid this situation as much as possible, please ask your referee in plenty of time.

8. Who would make the best reference for my application? Academic faculty would make the best references. Generally, at least two of your references should be academic. However if you have been out of school more than three years, you may find better referees amongst employers, or others who are familiar with your abilities and characteristics. Or if you have taken continuing education classes where you may have had close contact with the teacher. However, not close family or relatives, thanks.

9. Will I still be considered if my transcripts arriving after the deadline date? Yes, you will still be considered if your transcripts arrive after the deadline date. In fact, if you are in school now, we prefer to see December grades on your transcripts; this usually means that the transcripts will arrive mid January, which is OK.

10. What should I put in my portfolio? An extremely important part of the application process for any of the Schools would be the development of a creative portfolio. There is no limit to the medium that might be explored through creativity.

Building a portfolio is often a daunting task, particularly for those coming from a non design background. Many have benefited from taking summer study programs which are like mini-architecture programs in format. There are a couple that I know of: Denmark International Studies and Harvard's Career Discovery.

11. What size should my portfolio be? Twenty bound pages [these can be double-sided] is the maximun– and size should be less than 23 cm x 30 cm x 1.5 cm (9” x 12” x ½”).This is a size that easily fits into a file. Do not encase your portfolio in wood, metal or hard plastic. While this can make a portfolio attractive, they also become more difficulty to store and sometimes even hazardous. And don’t make them too fragile. The portfolios and files do get moved about quite a bit. [However, all these don’ts should not constrict you into sending us something boring! Think of something besides a three ring binder!]

12. I am an international student. Is there anything special that I need to do when sending my portfolio? When you send your portfolio, on the customs information sheet, you will need to say that your portfolio is of "No Resale Value." If you do not put this on, your portfolio will be returned to you since we will not pay for customs dues.

13. Can I get my portfolio returned to me after the application review is finished? We no longer return portfolios.

14. Application Presentation: please do not include your supporting documents in envelopes [aside for required official envelopes], covers, cases, sleeves or binders as these are simply discarded.

15. I have taken the GRE exam. What is UBC’s institution code? The scores for the GRE are sent to the institution code #0965 and department code #4401.

16. I have taken the TOEFL exam. What is UBC’s institution code? The scores for the TOEFL are sent to the institution code #0965 and department code #12. Be sure to write the TOEFL exam in sufficient time for the scores to be in our office by the deadline. A passing score must be received by the office on or before the deadline date for your application to be considered.