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Architecture (MArch)

Students in our program are fuelled by their own expanding curiosities and convictions, guided and challenged by professors engaged in diverse research, and invigorated by conversations and collaborations with professionals, industry partners, community members and international leaders in architecture and design.

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  • icon house

    Faculty

    • Faculty of Architecture
    • Faculty of Graduate Studies

  • icon award

    Degree

    • Master of Architecture

  • icon graduate

    Expected duration

    • 2 years

  • icon pathway

    Program options

    • Cooperative Education/Integrated Work program

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DoA Press

DoA Press is a collaborative initiative of the Department of Architecture's Publications Committee to share student and faculty work and cultivate critical discourse on architectural design.

ArchFolio is an annual print and digital booklet of representative student work from architecture studios and courses. Other special titles celebrate unique projects and research events.

Design studios

The core of our curriculum is the design studio. In studio, students work through a variety of challenging questions, media and scales to explore vital tensions between technical and natural processes, cultural and artistic practices, experiential qualities and worldly phenomena. The design studio enables individuals to experiment widely, while ultimately making responsible design decisions for local situations in a dynamically interconnected world.

Inspiring facilities

Studios are augmented by a growing array of making and thinking facilities: a FABLab, CADLab, Workshop, Architecture/Fine Arts Library, and Centre for Architectural Structures and Technology (C.A.S.T.). Architecture students benefit from interactions with colleagues in our faculty’s other disciplines (Environmental Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture and City Planning) and across the University.

Faculty research

The Faculty of Architecture is committed to pursuing research excellence while fostering a supportive and collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment. We welcome new research collaborations with academic, industry, government and community partners. We also look forward to involving new students – the next generation of researchers – in the shared pursuit of knowledge creation and design excellence.

Careers for MArch graduates

Most graduates gain employment in the field, and pursue a path toward professional registration and careers as practicing architects. Other graduates continue with advanced post-professional studies and research, and/or thrive in careers in the arts, public service, the construction industry, and related design fields. The program produces graduates eager to contribute to improving the built environment and the public good.

DoA Press

DoA Press is a collaborative initiative of the Department of Architecture's Publications Committee to share student and faculty work and cultivate critical discourse on architectural design.

ArchFolio is an annual print and digital booklet of representative student work from architecture studios and courses. Other special titles celebrate unique projects and research events.

Design studios

The core of our curriculum is the design studio. In studio, students work through a variety of challenging questions, media and scales to explore vital tensions between technical and natural processes, cultural and artistic practices, experiential qualities and worldly phenomena. The design studio enables individuals to experiment widely, while ultimately making responsible design decisions for local situations in a dynamically interconnected world.

The cover of Arch Folio 2020.
A long desk with several students seated and working on laptops.
An interior view of the centre for architectural structures and technology.
A feasting pavilion in the progress of being built at the Manitoba and Ontario border of Shoal Lake.
An architecture student stands in front of a partially built home for J and G Homes where she is participating in a co-operative integrated work program.
The cover of Arch Folio 2020.
A long desk with several students seated and working on laptops.

Program details

Expected duration: 2 years

Tuition and fees: Two years tuition, then continuing fees in subsequent years (refer to Graduate tuition and fees)

The MArch is a two-year professional program requiring both course work and a design thesis. The program includes coursework on topics such as architectural history and theory, advanced technology, professional practice and legal aspects of architectural practice. Students also complete several studio courses throughout the degree, and must submit a final design thesis in order to graduate.

Accreditation

In 2018 the Master of Architecture program was formally granted a full accreditation term of six years by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit Canadian professional degree programs in architecture.

Faculty of Architecture’s Cooperative Education/Integrated Work program (Co-op/I) Graduate Option

Students must complete two 10-week work terms to have the Co-op/I option acknowledged on their graduation parchment. Each term requires submission of a written report and portfolio covering the work completed for the professional assignment. These are above and beyond graduate course requirements.

Admission requirements

To qualify for the Master of Architecture program, you must have a minimum of:

  • A four or five year Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Architectural Design, Architectural Science, Environmental Design (Architecture Option) or equivalent
    • with minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent in the last two full years of study.
  • For those applying with a University of Manitoba Bachelor of Environmental Design degree, a minimum of C+ in courses EVAR 4002, EVAR 4004, EVAR 4008 and EVAR 4010 is required.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Architecture Master Preparation Option (ED AMP)

Applicants who have a recognized undergraduate degree that does not meet the admission requirements of the Master of Architecture program can consider applying for the one or two year Architecture Master Preparation Option program. Upon successful completion of the ED AMP program, students wishing to continue into the M.Arch Program must officially apply for graduate admission.

How to apply

Each year, applications for the MArch program are accepted for September entry only. A supervisor is not required at time of application.
Applications must be completed online and include several parts:

  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates
  • Current CV
  • Two letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)
  • Statement of intent (must be completed within application)
  • Digital portfolio (PDF Format, maximum size 20MB)
  • Proof of English language proficiency, if required

Please read the Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions before beginning your application.

Application deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis. The Admissions committee for Architecture reviews applications in March.

Applications open up to 18 months prior to start term.

Canadian and US applicants
Term Annual application deadline
Fall (September) January 15

International applicants
Term Annual application deadline
Fall (September) December 1

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated.

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Contact us

Admission and application inquiries

Faculty of Graduate Studies
Room 500 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-9377

Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Program inquiries

Faculty of Architecture
201 John A. Russell Building
84 Curry Place
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2M6

gradarch@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-6578
Fax: 204-474-7532