Programs | Application Procedures and Deadlines
It is important to note that the Cultural Mediations and Technology M.Arch. option is not currently offered.
Architecture
Location
- Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture
- Macdonald-Harrington Building
- 815 Sherbrooke Street West
- Montreal QC H3A 0C2
- Canada
- Telephone: 514-398-6700
- Website: www.mcgill.ca/architecture
About Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture
M.Arch. (Professional) (Non-Thesis), M.Arch. (Post-professional) (Non-Thesis), Ph.D.
The Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture at McGill University offers a professional Master of Architecture program, a post-professional Master of Architecture program, and a Ph.D. program.
The M.Arch. (Professional) requires the equivalency of the B.Sc. (Architecture) degree for admittance. There are two options for the completion of this Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB)-accredited degree:
The M.Arch. (Professional) program is accredited by the CACB and is recognized as accredited by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) in the U.S.
The M.Arch. (Post-professional) and the Ph.D. programs are for study beyond the professional degree in architecture. These programs have been conceived to respond to the needs of graduates with some professional experience who wish to acquire more specialized knowledge in architecture. The M.Arch. (Post-professional) program reflects a McGill tradition of academic inquiry and research, and provides an opportunity for a select number of students and staff to work together. The program is organized in such a way as to meet the needs of the professional practitioner and the researcher, and is intended to extend traditional architectural education as well as address new issues.
There are two areas of study in the M.Arch. (Post-professional) program:
We are not accepting applications for the Master of Architecture (post-professional) program for the academic year 2020-2021.
Information concerning the Ph.D. program, the duration of all programs offered, documents required of applicants, etc., may be obtained at www.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.
Please note that the M.Arch. (Post-professional) degree is not a professional degree and does not satisfy the requirements for certification with the CACB.
Professional Programs
There are two options for the completion of this CACB-accredited degree:
| Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis): Design Studio (45 credits) |
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The Design Studio concentration is a three-term (Fall, Winter, and Fall) program based on a design-intensive professional curriculum and centred on the design studio. Students work in a traditional studio format for the first two terms and on a terminal design project in the third (Fall) term. Complementary and elective course offerings are organized to provide flexibility in individual program design and create opportunities for students to both explore the discipline and focus on subject areas related to research and design interests. This option is a three-term consecutive degree (Fall, Winter, Fall) requiring full-time residence for one calendar year. For further information regarding admission eligibility and requirements, please see: www.mcgill.ca/architecture/programs/professional. |
| Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis): Design Studio-Directed Research (60 credits) |
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The Design Studio Directed Research concentration is a four-term (Fall, Winter, Summer, Fall) program that complements the regular three-term concentration with a supervised individual research report in the Summer term. This forms the basis of the terminal design studio in the fourth (Fall) term. Each student is assigned a faculty adviser in the second term and follows a research-intensive curriculum shaped by complementary and elective courses chosen in consultation with, and approved by, the adviser. For further information regarding admission eligibility and requirements, please see: www.mcgill.ca/architecture/programs/professional. |
Post-Professional Programs
The Post-professional master’s programs are open to applicants who have a professional degree in architecture. Students holding the McGill B.Arch. (former) or M.Arch. (Professional) (current) degree, or an equivalent professional qualification, with a CGPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale, are eligible for admission to the post-professional programs. In special cases, applicants with a degree in a related field may be considered.
The primary requirement for the M.Arch. (Post-professional) degree is coursework to be completed in the first two terms, and a research report (depending on the particular area of study requirements) that is completed during the summer. The residence requirement for the M.Arch. (Post-professional) degree is three academic terms (September to December; January to April; May to August), making it possible for students to obtain their degree after 12 calendar months in the program.
| Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Post-professional (Non-Thesis): Architectural History & Theory (45 credits) |
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Teaching and research in the History and Theory of Architecture program concentrates on the exploration and understanding of the complex connections between history, theory, design, and interdisciplinary concerns, particularly in the areas of philosophy and epistemology. This option is concerned with the reconciliation of ethics and poetics in architectural practice. The master’s curriculum, which in most cases is also a required foundation year for a Ph.D. in the field, is simple in terms of course requirements, but demanding in terms of personal commitment to reading and writing. It is particularly suited to students with a professional background in architecture who want to explore and understand the complex connections between history, theory, and design. A thorough understanding of architecture as a cultural phenomenon, leading to a more serious definition of its true essence as it appears in history, is now regarded as crucial by practitioners and teachers who wish to come to terms with the present predicaments of architecture vis-à-vis the contradictions of the contemporary world. |
| Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Post-professional (Non-Thesis) Urban Design and Housing (45 credits) |
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The UDH program enables students who have already completed a professional degree in Architecture to develop specialized skills for contemporary practice in housing, urban design, and the management of human settlements. The 12-month program comprises three consecutive terms of coursework. Intensive seminars held during the first two terms focus on contemporary theory and research methods in urban design and housing. Students take ARCH 603 (Urban Design and Housing Studio) as an applied synthesis of the material discussed in the two core seminars. Complementary coursework rounds out the fall and winter terms along with ARCH 623 (Project Preparation), in which students develop the strategy for a major independent project (ARCH 632, Urban Design and Housing Research Report) to be completed in the summer term. |
Ph.D. in 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 for the doctoral thesis are developed through a series of courses taken in the first two years of study. Students and supervisors meet regularly 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 Research Seminars (ARCH 711, ARCH712) to present the research framework and objectives for peer critique. By the end of the second year of studies (Ph.D. 3), Ph.D. students must complete the Comprehensive Examination (ARCH 701) with a formal presentation to their advisory 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. |
Applicants are asked to refer to the School’s Professional (https://www.mcgill.ca/architecture/programs/professional/) and Post-professional (https://www.mcgill.ca/architecture/programs/postprofessional) webpages for application instructions.
Architecture Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
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.
M.Arch. (Post-professional) (Non-Thesis)
Applicants holding an accredited professional degree in architecture, 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. In special cases, candidates with a degree in a related field may be considered.
Ph.D.
Candidates with high standing in McGill’s M.Arch. (Post-professional), or who hold an equivalent degree from another university, are eligible to apply to this program. Those who do not have an appropriate background in the chosen research area may be recommended for the M.Arch. (Post-professional) program. Candidates who have an adequate background at the post-professional master’s level in the proposed area of research will be admitted to Ph.D. 2 with the stipulation of additional courses from the M.Arch. (Post-professional) curriculum, if necessary.
A working knowledge of a language or languages relevant to the area of research is required.
Application Procedures
McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.
See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.
Additional Requirements
The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:
Professional Master of Architecture:
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Summary of work experience. A minimum of 16 weeks of work experience is required. Further information and guidelines are provided at www.mcgill.ca/architecture/programs/professional/workexperience. Please use the following:
Work Experience Form [.pdf]*Note: Your employer's signature is required along with the company business card. We do NOT require the Director's signature.
- 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 www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/ready/submit/upload and www.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 (Gmail, Yahoo, etc. domains cannot be accepted). Additionally, uploaded letters must be on university or company/business stationery and the referee must indicate his/her position and full contact information at the institution. Please refer to www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents.
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Once accepted to the M.Arch. (Professional) program (Design Studio [DST]), students interested in the Design Studio-Directed Research option will need to provide a two-page (maximum) research statement in early Fall of the first term indicating their general area of interest, their understanding of this area of study, faculty expertise, and research intention in terms of topic and project-based investigation. Specific references to expertise within the School are encouraged (e.g., 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).Note: Applicants to the M.Arch.(Professional) Design Studio option do not need to provide a research statement.
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Completed Program Comparison
Chart*Note: Not required by B.Sc.(Arch.) graduates from McGill University.
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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 B.Sc.(Arch.) graduates from McGill University.
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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 all 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.
Post-professional programs:
M.Arch. (Post-professional) and Ph.D.
Please Note: Admissions are currently closed for the M.Arch. (Post-professional) History and Theory option and the M.Arch. (Post-professional) Urban Design and Housing.
- Curriculum Vitae
- 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 www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/ready/submit/upload and www.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 (Gmail, Yahoo, etc. domains cannot be accepted). Additionally, uploaded letters must be on university or company/business stationery and the referee must indicate his/her position and full contact information at the institution. Please refer to www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents.
- Statement of research interest / Post-professional M.Arch. applicants: a one-page statement of research objectives indicating the option chosen and the reasons for that choice. Applicants should include a clear description of their research interest, as well as a brief explanation of why they wish to study at McGill University’s Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture. Applicants to the Post-professional M.Arch. program are strongly encouraged to become familiar with the research interests of the faculty before submitting an application and may indicate a preference for an adviser. If no preference is indicated, an adviser will be assigned prior to Fall registration. OR, Research proposal / Ph.D. applicants: 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.
- A digital portfolio (PDF format) of not more than 15 MB must be submitted containing at least five examples of the applicant's work. Doctoral applicants should submit evidence of research accomplishments, which could, in some cases, replace the portfolio requirement.
- Writing sample (Post-professional M.Arch. applicants): a recent sample of the applicant’s written work, on any topic (not necessarily within the desired field of graduate study) and not necessarily previously submitted for evaluation or publication. OR, Written work (Ph.D. applicants): 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; 567 on the paper-based test (PBT)), 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 www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/apply/proficiency.
* These documents are available in PDF or DOC format on the Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture website.
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 www.mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.
Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.