Master of Architecture

We accept applications for the Master of Architecture between October 1 and January 15 each year. Admissions decisions are sent out in mid- to late March. We receive many outstanding applications, and admission to our programs is competitive. Unfortunately, we cannot offer admission to all qualified applicants.

Please note that tuition fees are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors and are subject to change each year. Tuition fees for international students are expected to rise for the 2023-24 academic year. For information about current tuition fees for domestic, international, and continuing students please see the UBC Academic calendar.

Admission requirements

You must meet all admissions requirements in order to be considered for entry into the program.

Previous degree

You must hold a degree that is academically equivalent to a four-year bachelor’s degree at UBC. There is no requirement for the discipline of your previous degree. We accept students from a wide variety of academic fields.

Academic achievement

If you have completed your degree at a Canadian or American university, you must have a B+ average in your third- and fourth-year-level coursework. If you completed your degree at an international university, you must have a B+ average in all coursework.

English language proficiency

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

The minimum scores are:
TOEFL - 100 iBT or 600 paper based
IELTS - Overall band score of 7.0 with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component of the academic (not general) test.

Graduate record examination (optional)

While not required, you may submit GRE results as additional evidence of scholastic promise and aptitude

 

Application materials

All application materials should be submitted through the online application.

Online application form

You must submit an online application form, complete application materials and the non-refundable application fee by the deadline of January 15.

Resume

A summary of your experiences in education, work, travel, volunteering, and other relevant areas. The maximum length is two pages, single spaced.

Statement of intent

A written statement outlining your interest in the program and your motivation to pursue this degree at UBC. The maximum length is two pages, double spaced.

Portfolio

Your portfolio is submitted digitally in your online application. The PDF can be a maximum of 20 letter-sized (8.5" x 11") pages (or 10 spreads) and must be under 10MB in size. These 20 pages do not include your cover page or table of contents.
Tip: Use 150 pixels-per-inch or even 72 ppi images, or try saving the file as a Reduced Size PDF (“Save as Other”) in Adobe Acrobat, to bring down the file size.

The intent of the portfolio is to highlight design potential. You should use the portfolio to showcase your interests and accomplishments, and to show how you could contribute to a demanding professional program.

Your portfolio should demonstrate your ability to conceptualize projects in two and three dimensions through a variety of media. The portfolio may contain drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, installation, printmaking, ceramics, fashion design, and woodworking, as well as other media. Showing your creative process and ability to think conceptually will also provide context for your work.

You should organize your portfolio into a clear, well-crafted document. The portfolio should have concise, descriptive text on each page to adequately explain the work. If working in collaboration with others, please clearly indicate your contribution to the submitted work. 

Transcripts

You must upload scans of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions previously attended, including transcripts from universities attended on exchange. Uploads of unofficial transcripts will not be accepted. If you are currently completing a degree, submit your transcripts to date. In that case, UBC will not grant final confirmation of acceptance until you have submitted the final transcripts after the degree is conferred. If offered admission, you will be asked to send official transcripts in hardcopy.

If the academic records are in a language other than English or French, you must submit scans of the official transcripts in their original language and accompany them with scans of official translations.

References

You must arrange for three letters of reference, two of which should be academic and speak to your past performance and ability to succeed in a graduate program. Referees submit their letters through the online application system.

Application fee

Please note that you will pay a non-refundable application fee through the online application system.

 

Advanced placement

Please note that we have recently restructured our advanced placement curriculum. Changes have been made to the eligibility for advanced placement for 2020/21 under this new structure.

SALA offers advanced placement to qualified master of architecture applicants who, during their undergraduate degree, have undertaken a sufficient number and type of courses equivalent to the first year of SALA’s traditional 3-year MArch degree track. This includes specific training at the 3rd and 4th-year undergraduate level in the form of design studios, architectural technology courses, architectural structures courses, and courses on architectural history and theory.

Based on this criteria, students possessing the following undergraduate degrees will receive 36 credits of advanced placement and will complete a 2-year MArch program:

  • Bachelor of Architecture (professional track program)
  • Bachelor of Science in Architecture
  • Bachelor of Arts - Architectural Studies (design stream from Carleton University only)
  • Bachelor of Architectural Science (from Ryerson University only)
  • Bachelor of Design (from UBC)
  • Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (from Dalhousie University only)

The following undergraduate degrees are not eligible for advanced placement and prospective students will complete a 3-year MArch program:

  • Bachelor of Arts - Architectural Studies
  • Bachelor of Architectural Studies
  • Bachelor of Technology
  • Bachelor of Architectural Science
  • Bachelor of Environmental Design
  • Bachelor of Architectural Engineering
  • Bachelor of Engineering
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • Bachelor of Design 

Whilst SALA cannot waiver its criteria for admission to the advanced placement track, it is understood that in some exceptional circumstances, prospective students may have satisfied the admission criteria for advanced placement through elective courses, diploma programs, technical schooling, or other extracurricular activities that are not covered by their bachelor’s degree. If you are in this position, please email the Student Services Coordinator at arch@sala.ubc.ca to inquire whether you may still be considered for advanced placement. A strong justification will be required.