Application at a Glance
Use these four steps to understand the application process. Detailed requirements are provided below.
Key Application Dates
- Application deadline: January 15 for autumn quarter entry
- Admissions review: Begins after the January 15 deadline
- Admission decisions: Applicants are notified by March 15
Before You Apply
The Master of Architecture is a professionally accredited degree with two entry pathways based on an applicant’s previous academic preparation.
In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The UW Master of Architecture program is NAAB-accredited.
Choose Your M.Arch Pathway
- Three-Year M.Arch: for applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than architecture.
- Two-Year M.Arch (Advanced Standing): for applicants who hold a pre-professional BA or BS in Architecture with a major in architecture, or a five-year B.Arch degree from outside the U.S.
Applicants indicate their intended pathway when applying. The admissions committee reserves the right to determine the appropriate entry point based on a review of application materials, particularly studio work, completion of prerequisite courses required for Advanced Standing and overall academic achievement.
Learn more about the Master of Architecture program and pathways.
Graduate School Requirements
- A four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 for the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits.
General Education Preparation
Applicants should have completed general education credits as part of their prior degree(s), either as general studies or elective content outside of architecture.
This includes coursework in areas such as:
- Visual, literary and performing arts
- Math, including algebra
- Science
- Social sciences
- Other areas that establish a broad academic foundation for graduate study in architecture
Concurrent M.Arch / MLA Applicants
Applicants to the Master of Architecture / Master of Landscape Architecture Concurrent Degree must submit and pay for a separate application to both the M.Arch program and the MLA program.
Applications are reviewed independently by each department. If an applicant is accepted into one degree program but not the other, the offer of admission still stands for the program to which the applicant was accepted.
Tuition & Fees
For current tuition, fees and other charges, visit the UW Graduate & Professional Tuition Dashboard. Tuition is updated by the University of Washington in July for the coming academic year.
For an estimated graduate student budget that includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, personal costs, transportation and health insurance, visit the UW Office of Student Financial Aid.
The graduate tuition displayed on the Financial Aid website is an estimate. Graduate tuition varies by program; refer to the Graduate & Professional Tuition Dashboard for more accurate tuition information by program.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the UW Graduate School.
- Create your application. Select the Master of Architecture program in the UW Graduate School application.
- Complete and upload your materials. You may save your application and return to it until you are ready to submit.
- Submit by January 15. Pay the application fee and submit your completed application and required materials.
All application materials must be submitted through the online application. Do not mail application materials to the Department of Architecture. Mailed materials will not be reviewed or returned.
Application Fee Waivers
As a public university, the application fee is required to be collected by Washington state. Application fee waivers are administered by the UW Graduate School, not individual academic units.
Review application fee waiver eligibility and instructions.
Application Materials
Review each requirement below before submitting your application.
Download the Department Program Application Form and save it to your computer before completing it. This helps ensure that the information you enter is properly saved before the form is uploaded to the online application.
- Part I: Must be completed by all applicants as required by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.
- Part II: Must be completed by applicants applying to the two-year M.Arch program (Advanced Standing).
A deficiency in studio coursework disqualifies an applicant from Advanced Standing eligibility. If general studies or prerequisite course deficiencies are identified, the student will be notified during the summer before entering the program about how to complete those deficiencies within the regular Master of Architecture curriculum.
- Maximum length: 2 pages
- Required file format: PDF
Prepare a clear and concise statement addressing:
- Why the UW Architecture program will help support your academic and professional goals.
- The skills, knowledge, perspectives and experiences you will bring to your graduate studies.
- The areas within architecture you are most interested in studying.
- Your motivations for undertaking graduate study in architecture.
The portfolio cover must include your name as it appears on your UW application.
- Maximum length: 20 pages of project content. Cover and table of contents pages are excluded from the maximum page count.
- Maximum file size: 30 MB
- Required file format: PDF
Review the M.Arch Application Portfolio Tips.
Mailed portfolios will not be accepted.
Letters of recommendation are an important part of the application. Choose people who can speak to your skills, abilities and preparation to successfully complete the M.Arch program.
Recommendations may include:
- Professional recommendations from employers or supervisors.
- Service recommendations from volunteer coordinators, directors of clubs or organizations, or similar contacts.
- Academic recommendations from college faculty or instructors in architecture, design, art or other courses taken in preparation for your application.
Applicants will designate three recommenders in the online application by providing their names and email addresses. Recommenders are contacted immediately when designated, so do not add them until you are ready for the request to be sent.
You may submit your application before all recommendation letters have been received. You can track their status through the online application.
- Minimum: 3 recommendations
- Maximum: 4 recommendations
If you are applying to the concurrent MLA/M.Arch degree, the same recommenders and letters may be used for both programs, but recommendations must be submitted separately to each program. We recommend letting your recommenders know that you are applying to both programs so they can address both in their letter.
Upload transcript(s) from each prior degree-awarding institution attended. Make sure your name and the institution name are visible and legible. If scanning original transcripts, orient pages upright for screen viewing.
- If your degree appears on a separate certificate, upload that document as well. A third-party evaluation is not required for this purpose.
- If a foreign transcript is in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a certified English translation in the same format as the original.
Admitted applicants who accept their offer will later receive instructions for submitting official transcripts as part of the degree-verification process for enrollment.
See the UW Graduate School Official Transcript Requirements for more information.
Include information about full-time and part-time employment and/or volunteer activities, including the nature of the work and your responsibilities.
- Required file format: PDF
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required or considered for admission to the Master of Architecture program.
English language proficiency is required for applicants whose native language is not English.
Review the UW Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements for requirements and accepted ways to demonstrate proficiency.
If you demonstrate proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS, official scores must be received by the application deadline. Applicants are strongly encouraged to take the test by December 15.
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum score of 92. Report official scores to UW Institution Code 4854. A department code is not necessary.
- IELTS: Minimum score of 7.0. Follow UW Graduate School score-reporting instructions and request that the test center send scores electronically through the IELTS system (E-TRF) to University of Washington All Campuses, Organization ID 365.
- Duolingo: Minimum score of 120.
After You Apply
Admissions Review
The M.Arch Admissions Committee is composed of approximately four to five Department of Architecture faculty members appointed by the Department Chair.
Applicants are evaluated based on the motivations and capabilities conveyed in the application and the suitability of the program to support the applicant’s academic interests. Admission is competitive because enrollment is limited by available studio capacity.
Checking Your Application Status
After submitting your application, use the application status page to confirm that letters of recommendation, test scores and other required materials have been received.
Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions by March 15.
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application and all required materials through the UW Graduate School by January 15.
Learn More & Questions
Explore the program and Department of Architecture before applying.
Questions About Applying?
Questions from prospective applicants may be directed to our Admissions & Outreach Coordinator, Nancy Dragun at dragun@uw.edu.