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Architecture
Location
Location
- Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture
- Macdonald-Harrington Building
- 815 Sherbrooke Street West
- Montreal QC H3A 0C2
- Telephone: 514-398-6700
- Website: mcgill.ca/architecture
About Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture
About Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture
M.Arch. Professional (Non-Thesis) and Ph.D. Programs
The Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture at McGill University has a professional Master of Architecture program and a Ph.D. program.
The M.Arch. Professional requires the equivalency of the B.Sc. (Arch.) degree for admittance. The M.Arch. Professional program is accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) and is recognized as accredited by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) in the U.S.
The Ph.D. program is for study beyond the professional degree in architecture. The program has been conceived to respond to the needs of graduates with some professional experience who wishes to acquire more specialized knowledge in architecture. Information concerning the Ph.D. program—the duration of all programs offered, documents required of applicants, etc.—may be obtained at mcgill.ca/architecture.
Architectural Certification in Canada
In Canada, all provincial associations recommend a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The CACB, which is the sole agency authorized to accredit Canadian professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes two types of accredited degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture and the Master of Architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on its degree of conformance with established educational standards.
Master’s degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.
Since all provincial associations in Canada recommend any applicant for licensure to have graduated from a CACB-accredited program, obtaining such a degree is an essential aspect of preparing for the professional practice of architecture. While graduation from a CACB-accredited program does not assure registration, the accrediting process is intended to verify that each accredited program substantially meets those standards that, as a whole, comprise an appropriate education for an architect.
| Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis) (60 credits) |
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The M.Arch. Professional (Non-Thesis) degree program provides a structured opportunity to explore advanced architectural design, integrating building construction, landscape and urban design, professional practice, sustainable design, and the history and theory of architecture. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Architecture |
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The McGill University Ph.D. in Architecture is a research degree with a thesis. The foundations which are developed through a series of courses taken in the first two years of study. Each student meets regularly with the supervisor in the first year to prepare the thesis proposal (ARCH 700). Three Literature Review preparatory courses (ARCH 721, ARCH 722, ARCH 723) and three (or more) complementary courses are taken. All students also participate in the two Doctoral Pro seminars (ARCH 711, ARCH 712) which include investigations of advanced topics introduced by the instructor(s). By the end of the second year of studies (Ph.D. 3), the student must complete the Comprehensive Examination (ARCH 701) with a formal presentation to their supervisory committee. A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain. |
Architecture Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Architecture Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
M.Arch. (Professional) Program (Non-Thesis)
Applicants holding the McGill B.Sc.(Arch.) degree, or equivalent, with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, are eligible to apply for admission.
Ph.D.
Candidates who have an adequate background at the master’s level in the proposed area of research are eligible to apply to this program and will be admitted to Ph.D. 2 with the stipulation of additional courses, if necessary.
A working knowledge of a language or languages relevant to the area of research is required.
Application Procedures
Application Procedures
McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.
See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.
Additional Requirements
Additional Requirements
The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:
Professional Master of Architecture:
- Curriculum vitae
- Applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts from all universities previously attended (including summer term, exchange term, or study-away term). If you are recommended for admission, you will later be required to supply official transcripts. Transcripts in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation provided by the institution issuing the transcript or by a certified translator. Please refer to mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents.
- A total of two (2) confidential letters of reference are required for your application: two (2) from academics or one (1) from an academic and one (1) from a recent employer. Once you have identified your referees (you must provide a valid institutional email address for each referee), McGill will send them an email asking for a reference in support of your application. Additionally, uploaded letters must be on university or company/business stationery and the referee must indicate their position and full contact information at the institution. Please refer to mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents.
- Once accepted to the M.Arch. Professional program, students will benefit from faculty expertise within the School in the areas of History and Theory of Architecture; Cultural Landscape Studies; Affordable and Sustainable Housing; Computation and Fabrication; High-performance Visualization; Minimum Cost Housing; Gender, Sexuality, and Space; Design and Health; Urban Design; Landscape Urbanism; Architectural Representation; Urban Agriculture; Vernacular Architecture; Reurbanization.
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Completed Program Comparison Chart (newly updated excel file at number six on the school's application procedures webpage) mcgill.ca/architecture/programs/professional/prospective-students/application-procedures.Note: Not required by graduates from McGill University B.Sc.(Arch.), Université de Montréal B.Sc.(Arch), Université Laval (B.Sc.Arch.), Toronto Metropolitan University (B.Arch.Sc.), Laurentian University (B.A.S. – Bachelor of Arch. Studies), University of Waterloo (B.Arch.Studies.), University of Manitoba (B.Env.Design), Carleton University (Bachelor of Arch. Studies - Design).
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Course calendar descriptions of previous college and/or university studies must be submitted in addition to the Program Comparison Chart.Note: Not required by graduates from McGill University B.Sc.(Arch.), Université de Montréal B.Sc.(Arch), Université Laval (B.Sc.Arch.), Toronto Metropolitan University (B.Arch.Sc.), Laurentian University (B.A.S. - Bachelor of Arch. Studies), University of Waterloo (B.Arch.Studies.), University of Manitoba (B.Env.Design), Carleton University (Bachelor of Arch. Studies - Design).
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A comprehensive e-portfolio (.pdf format, max. 15 MB, due no later than December 15) that may include the following:
selected work from previous design studios;
examples of project work from other courses;
examples of freehand drawing and sketching; examples of professional work: sketches, drawings, images of models, photographs of built work (professional work includes work carried out while employed in architects' offices, as well as personal projects; please identify the architect(s) and your own roles in each project illustrated).Note: Please indicate, where applicable, if a project is an individual or group project.
Ph.D.
- Two-page curriculum vitae including a section on research experience and accomplishments (publications, presentations, exhibitions, participation in funded projects, etc). Links and/or DOIs should be provided where applicable.
- Applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts from all universities previously attended. If you are recommended for admission, you will later be required to supply official transcripts. Transcripts in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation provided by the institution issuing the transcript or by a certified translator. Please refer to mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents.
- Two confidential letters of reference are required for your application. Once you have identified your referees (you must provide a valid institutional email address for each referee), McGill will send them an email asking for a reference in support of your application. Additionally, uploaded letters must be on university or company/business stationery and the referee must indicate their position and full contact information at the institution. Please refer to mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents.
- Research proposal: a four-page research proposal, as well as a detailed explanation of why and with whom they wish to study at McGill University’s Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture.
- Written work: a sample of the applicant’s written work, drawn from essays, papers, or other work previously submitted for academic evaluation or publication, and falling within the desired field of graduate study.
- Proof of English language proficiency: Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of competency in oral and written English. Before acceptance, appropriate exam results must be submitted directly from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) Office. An institutional version of the TOEFL is not acceptable. Applications will not be considered if a TOEFL or IELTS test result is not available. For the TOEFL, a minimum overall score of 86 is required on the Internet-based test (iBT), with each component score (i.e., reading, writing, speaking, listening) not less than 20 (the TOEFL Institution Code for McGill University is 0935.) For the IELTS, a minimum overall band score of 6.5 is required. For further information, please refer to mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/proficiency.
More information is available on the Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture website.
Application Dates and Deadlines
Application Dates and Deadlines
Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate McGill departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.
Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.
Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.
Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis) (60 credits)
The M.Arch. (Professional); Non-Thesis degree program provides a structured opportunity to explore advanced architectural design, integrating building construction, landscape and urban design, professional practice, sustainable design, and the history and theory of architecture. A strategic focus on design methodology, innovative research, and self-directed...
For more information, see Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis) (60 credits).
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Architecture
The Ph.D. in Architecture is a research degree with a thesis, the foundations for which are developed through a series of courses taken in the first two years of study. Each student meets regularly with the supervisor in the first year to prepare the thesis proposal (ARCH 700). Three Literature Review preparatory courses (ARCH 721, ARCH 722, ARCH 723) and three ...
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Architecture.
