Master of Architecture

On-line Application

Application for admission to the Master of Architecture program is made online (click here).

When to Apply

Students are admitted to the graduate programs in architecture for the fall semester only. The deadline for receipt of applications each year is the first business day of the year following January 1.

Application Requirements

—Portfolio of student and/or professional work (see requirements below).

—Transcripts from all previous university degree programs (official or unofficial).

—Three (3) letters of recommendation from persons who can evaluate the applicant’s academic qualifications, motivation, and potential for a career as an architect.

—One Page Statement of Intent, this should clearly indicate the applicant’s plans for graduate study and professional career objectives (see requirements below).

—Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are NOT required for the masters programs in architecture, but if taken are recorded in the applicant's record.

All application materials except the portfolio must be uploaded into the online application.

International applicants also need to supply the following

—All applicants to the School of Architecture whose native language is not English must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. A minimum score of 590 on the paper-based test or 243 on the computer-based test or 96 on the internet-based test is required. The University of Illinois also accepts IELTS (academic exam) score in lieu of TOEFL, with a minimum score of 6.5 and 6 in all sub-sections required. See http://www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/instructions/04c for additional information.

—Declaration and Certification of Finances for Admission to the Graduate College.

Send the portfolio and any other application materials that cannot be uploaded to:

School of Architecture
Graduate Admissions
117 Temple Buell Hall
611 Taft Drive MC-621
Champaign, IL 61820-6921

Selection Criteria

Application materials are reviewed by the faculty of the School of Architecture using the following criteria in order of importance:

—Portfolio

—Academic performance, grade point average [GPA] calculated for the applicant’s junior and senior year of undergraduate work. Specifically we calculate the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, or [if the applicant is a second semester senior] not less than the last 45 hours.

—Letters of recommendation

—Statement of Intent

—Architectural related work experience

—Extracurricular leadership and activities

Portfolio Requirements

A portfolio of student and professional work is required of all applicants demonstrating the applicant’s abilities in architectural design and communications. Examples of work should include design studio work, sketches, free hand drawings, construction drawings, photos of architectural models, and digital models and drawings demonstrating the applicant’s abilities to use such architectural graphic programs such as Sketchup, Sketchbook Pro, Rhino, and others. Portfolio content should meet the following minimum requirements:

Show at least six [6] design studio projects completed as a student.
Be organized chronologically, with the earliest projects placed at the beginning of the portfolio and the most recently completed at the end.
Show introductory analysis, conceptualization, project context, and project development as well as final products for each project entry. A short narrative must accompany each entry.
Demonstrate two- and three-dimensional development.
Demonstrate increasing complexity across the projects.
Demonstrate increasing attention to detail development of the design across the projects.

To receive full consideration, professional work should include a statement from the employer stating the extent of the work performed by the applicant. All examples of design studio work should state whether the project was completed individually or by a student team. For projects completed by a student teams, the applicant must include a statement outlining the number of team members and the applicant’s responsibilities as part of the team.

MArch-Limited Standing applicants should include items demonstrating a latent interest in architecture. Examples of submissions may include sketches, drawings, photos of architectural models, and digital models and drawings demonstrating abilities in architectural representation, drawing and sketching.

Portfolio Specifications

Required sizes: 8-1/2" x 11" [or A4] all other sizes will not be accepted.

Maximum number of sheets: 25 [50 numbered pages]

Maximum weight: 16 ounces.

Covers and binding: should be simple and easily lay flat. They need to be easy to open, read, and store

Portfolio Return Policy

Portfolios will not be returned by mail or delivery.

Portfolios will be held for pick up by applicants for two months after letters notifying applicants of admissions decisions are mailed. After two months portfolios not retrieved will be discarded.