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Master of Architecture Admissions

Application at a Glance

Use these four steps to understand the application process. Detailed requirements are provided below.

STEP 1

Review the Requirements

Confirm your eligibility and determine which M.Arch pathway fits your academic background.

View Requirements

STEP 2

Prepare Your Materials

Prepare your statement of purpose, portfolio, recommendations, transcripts, resume and any required English language proficiency materials.

View Materials

STEP 3

Submit Your Application

Complete the UW Graduate School application and submit all required materials by January 15.

How to Apply

STEP 4

Track Your Application

Check the status of required materials after submission. Applicants are notified of admissions decisions by March 15.

What Happens Next

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

Review the Requirements

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

The Master of Architecture curriculum offers two entry points:

  • Three-Year M.Arch: for candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than architecture.
  • Two-Year M.Arch (Advanced Standing): for candidates 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 are asked to indicate the program they are applying to. The admissions committee reserves the right to determine the appropriate entry point for each applicant based on a review of application materials, particularly studio work, completion of prerequisite courses required for Advanced Standing and overall academic achievement.

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

Master of Architecture / Master of Landscape Architecture Concurrent Degree applicants must submit and pay for a separate application to both the M.Arch program and the MLA program.

Applications are reviewed separately 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.

Prepare Your Materials

The following 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 Requirements

Download the Department Program Application Form and save it to your computer before completing it. This will help 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

Please prepare a clear and concise statement addressing the following:

  • The factors that led you to decide that the UW Architecture program would be most helpful in supporting your academic and professional goals.
  • The skills, knowledge, perspectives and experiences you will bring to your graduate studies.
  • The special area(s) within the field of architecture you are 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. A recommender is contacted immediately when designated, so please do not add recommenders until you are ready for them to receive the request.

You may submit your application before all letters have been received. Applicants can track the status of recommendation letters by logging into their 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. Please 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 to submit 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.

For information about English language proficiency requirements and ways to demonstrate proficiency, see:

If you will demonstrate proficiency through the TOEFL or IELTS, official scores must be received by the application deadline. It is strongly recommended that applicants 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 the score-reporting instructions provided by the UW Graduate School. 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.

Submit Your Application

Applications are submitted through the UW Graduate School.

  1. Create your application. Select the Master of Architecture program to generate the appropriate application forms.
  2. Complete your application. You may save your work, log out and return until your application is ready to submit.
  3. 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.

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.

Ready to Apply?

Applications are due January 15 for autumn quarter entry.

Submit your application and required materials through the UW Graduate School.

Apply Now

Track Your Application

Checking Your Application Status

After submitting the online application, applicants can use the application status page to check whether letters of recommendation and test scores have been received.

Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions by March 15.

Admissions Review

The M.Arch Admissions Committee is composed of Department of Architecture faculty. It is a standing committee of approximately four to five 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 the program is capacity-constrained by available studio space.

Tuition & Fees

For a complete breakdown of 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.

Learn More & Questions

M.Arch Information Session

Learn more about the Master of Architecture program, curriculum and application process by watching the 2025 M.Arch Information Session.

UW Architecture Video Tour

Explore the Department of Architecture and learn more about our studios, spaces and community.

Questions About Applying?

Questions from prospective applicants may be directed to our Admissions & Outreach Coordinator, Nancy Dragun at dragun@uw.edu.