CanadaThe post-professional Master of Architecture is an advanced design and research program for individuals already holding a professional degree in architecture. This option provides a challenging and rigorous forum for those wishing to extend and focus their previous education in architecture. It seeks a diverse range of applicants, particularly those holding the promise of professional and academic leadership.
Successful applicants will declare a specific research area of interest and structure an integrated course of study that includes a fieldcourse, colloquium, thesis preparation, and electives. The program is oriented around a design-research thesis project. Students work closely throughout the program with faculty advisors with expertise in a declared area of interest, and gain insight from leading practitioners, theorists, and guest critics. This program is aligned with the post-professional Master of Landscape Architecture to allow students to build a cohort across the two disciplines, offering an enriched experience.
Applicants should identify research proposals within one of the areas of interest offered in the program:
Computation + Fabrication
Students in the C+F area will focus on architecture’s technological role. The impact of new and evolving advances in design technologies and the increased interface between computation and fabrication offer opportunities for research and innovation. Students in Computation + Fabrication will use design-research to interrogate the broadening impact of the increased interface between data, tools, instruments, software, and materials.
Health + Society
Students in the H+S area will focus on architecture’s social role. There are increasing needs and opportunities for design-research on the architecture of health, wellness, and well-being. Students in Health + Society will pursue design-research projects that acknowledge the complex nature of the delivery of healthcare globally and the specific nature to which architecture needs to respond.
Sustainability + Environment
Students in the S+E area will focus on architecture’s environmental role. Architecture must urgently address greater innovation in contemporary sustainability and environmental concerns. Students in Sustainability + Environment will develop design-research projects that situate architecture’s response to climate change, energy and resource depletion, and compromised natural systems.
Applicants should indicate their research intentions within one of the three areas of interest in a concise statement of no more than 1000 words. It is not necessary to declare an advisor to apply.
Requirements
The prerequisite for entry into the post-professional MArch is possession of an accredited professional degree in architecture. The post-professional Master of Architecture does not grant a professionally accredited degree; rather, a professional degree is a prerequisite for admission. Those wishing to verify the status in Canada of a professional architecture degree earned abroad should contact the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB): info@cacb.ca.
More information on admissions is available on our Graduate Admissions webpage.
Curriculum
The course of study includes 6.0 credits over two semesters of study including an intensive two-week fieldcourse (0.5) and thesis preparation (0.5) during late summer, thesis I (1.0), thesis II (1.5), a colloquium (0.5), and elective courses (2.0).
At least one of the electives should have subject overlap with the student’s research and area of interest, as agreed upon with their advisor.
Term 1 (Fall)
ALA 4010H: Field Course (intensive two-week course in late August)
ALA 4020H: Thesis Prep (intensive two-week course in late August)
ALA 4021YF: Thesis 1
ALA 4030HF: Colloquium
Elective
Elective
Term 2 (Winter)
ALA 4022YF: Thesis 2
Elective
Elective
Applications
All applications, domestic and international, must be completed using the Online Admissions Application. Unless otherwise stated, information is submitted electronically.
Do not apply to more than one Master of Architecture program.
Your online application will consist of:
– Creating your Profile: includes contact information
– Supplying your Academic Background: includes all post-secondary degree/non-degree and diploma programs (do not add certificate programs)
– Supplying your self-reported English proficiency
– Selecting the Master of Architecture – Post-professional advanced standing option
– Supplying referee contact information
– Making the non-refundable and non-transferrable $180 application fee payment
– Uploading your transcripts
– Uploading your supporting documents: includes CV, portfolio, writing samples, and statement of interest
Deadline to Apply
December 15, 2019: You must make your application payment and submit all transcripts electronically by this date. Note: Transcripts are uploaded only after the payment is made.
January 8, 2020: You must submit all other supporting documents (Letters of Reference, CV, Statement of Interest, Portfolio, and Writing Sample(s)) by this date.
Submissions are due by 11:59pm (EST; Eastern Standard Time).
Academic Requirements
Domestic applicants must complete an appropriate bachelor’s/master’s degree, or its equivalent, with a final year average of at least mid-B from a recognized university prior to the start of the academic term applied to. International applicants should hold an appropriate bachelor’s/master’s degree or its equivalent as assessed by the University of Toronto. Use the International Degree Equivalencies Tool to see which international credentials are required for masters programs at U of T.
All applicants must have completed the requirements for an accredited professional degree in the region where their degree was obtained. The Post-Professional Master of Architecture does not grant a professionally accredited degree nor is an applicants’ successful admission an official assessment of their credentials in Canada. For more information about foreign credential assessment, please visit the Canadian Architectural Certification Board website.
Transcripts
Submit by December 1, 2019.
Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended must be submitted electronically on the Online Admissions Application. Applicants who receive an offer of admission will be required to submit official hard copy transcripts to the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design prior to registration.
Carefully read the Transcripts page for submission instructions.
English Requirements
Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. The required minimum scores and further details on how to submit test results are listed on the School of Graduate Studies website. This requirement should be met at the time of application.
Applicants must:
1. Self-report the test results on the online admission application as instructed and;
2. Arrange for the official results to be sent electronically to the University of Toronto by the testing agency by January 8, 2020. The Daniels Faculty will not approach testing agencies on behalf of an applicant.
Please note: Applicants submitting English proficiency testing may be asked for further demonstration of their English proficiency.
Supporting Documents
Note: All documents being sent or handed in to the Daniels Faculty should clearly indicate applicant number and full legal name of applicant on packaging unless being sent directly from an institution. Once supporting documents are submitted they become the property of the University of Toronto and cannot be returned.
All supporting documents listed below are mandatory and must be submitted on the Online Admissions Application by January 8, 2020. Carefully read the information below for guidelines on each supporting document.
-Curriculum Vitae
-Letters of Reference
-Portfolio
-Statement of Interest
-Writing Sample(s)
Curriculum Vitae
Applicant’s curriculum vitae (resume) must be submitted electronically on the Online Admissions Application by January 8, 2020. There are no page limits or specific requirements; however, we encourage applicants to edit this carefully. It is not recommended that an applicant include their photograph on their CV or any other application materials.
Letters of Reference
Three letters of reference are required for each application. These letters of reference are submitted electronically on the Online Admissions Application and are only shared among the programs listed on the application. The system will automatically email an electronic submission request to each referee once payment is made. Although applicants provide referee information before payment, the system will not notify referees until after payment is processed.
It is highly recommended that applicants confirm referee availability prior to submitting contact details. All letters of reference must be received no later than January 8, 2020.
After payment is made, we recommend checking with each referee to ensure they have received the automatic email request. University of Toronto emails will sometimes be blocked by email security filters. If a referee has not received the email, please ask them to check their Junk Mail folder. If they still have not received the request, applicants have the ability to re-send the request through the Online Admissions Application. Do not use this function as a reminder for your referee.
Letters of reference will be part of the official student academic record; they are confidential and applicants/students will not have access to them. For more information, please see FIPPA and its Application to the University of Toronto.
If your referee does not have a valid institutional/company email address, please direct your referee to download the reference letter template and have them submit a hard copy of the template together with a full reference letter on letterhead, signed and sealed in an envelope and sent directly to the Daniels Faculty.
Portfolio
All applicants are required to submit an online portfolio of creative work on the Online Admissions Application by January 8, 2020. Carefully read through the Portfolio information and specifications before uploading your portfolio. Only digital submittals will be accepted. Hard copies will not be reviewed.
Statement of Interest
A statement of interest must be submitted electronically on the Online Admissions Application by January 8, 2020. Possible approaches to your statement of interest include: your interest in your proposed field of study, how you might propose to engage the educational opportunities presented to you during graduate school, how some of your recent experiences and/or interests have motivated you to pursue graduate study.
Your statement is an opportunity to provide information not found elsewhere in your application. (Maximum word count: 750 words).
Writing Sample(s)
Applicants must submit one to two samples of writing electronically on the Online Admissions Application by January 8, 2020. These should demonstrate academic communication skills and be from previous university courses if available and should not exceed approximately 20 pages. The subject of the writing samples is less important than the quality of writing and clarity of ideas. For mature students or those who do not have writing samples from previous educational courses, please submit a published or professional writing.
