Faculty of Architecture Environmental Design Program: Architecture Master Preparation Option applicant admission requirements (2025-2026)

January 15, 2025

This page is available with, and constitutes part of, the application. It is assumed that all applicants have read and understood it prior to submitting the completed application.

The Faculty of Architecture offers an Environmental Design Program Architecture Master Preparation Option (ED AMP) for students who have a recognized first degree in either a non-design or a design-related field of study and who wish to apply to the Master of Architecture Program. These students may apply and be admitted through ED AMP Option to the Environmental Design program Architecture Option. There are two different streams available (see Section 9: Other) for more details.

Programs offered

Faculty of Architecture – Environmental Design Program:
Architecture Master Preparation (ED AMP) Option

A. Academic Requirements

The University of Manitoba will require graded coursework to fulfill all admission requirements as outlined in this bulletin. Pass grades will not be considered for meeting any of these requirements unless otherwise stated. Should a grade be retained on your record yet excluded from your institutional GPA calculation, that grade will be used to meet admission requirements and the GPA calculation for your application to the University of Manitoba.

All applicants must meet the following academic requirements:

1. Must have completed an undergraduate degree from a recognized university by June 30th of the year of application.
2. Must have a minimum Adjusted Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 3.0 (B), or equivalent in their last 60 credit hours of university-level study completed by January 15th of the year of application.

B. English Language Proficiency Requirements

All applicants whose primary language is not English and do not qualify for a waiver under the University of Manitoba’s English language proficiency regulations will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English.

Additional information regarding specific proficiency requirements, waiver information, and test options can be found on the English language proficiency requirements page.

• English language proficiency requirements

Results for most language tests, including TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo, expire two years from the test date. Test scores must be valid at the start of classes. Please confirm the validity of your test results.

A. Application Fees

Applications are not considered received until the application is submitted and the non-refundable application fee has been paid by the posted deadline.

All correspondence, including decision release information will be sent via email and posted to your application portal.

Please ensure your email account remains current and will accept emails from the University of Manitoba. Check your filters.

It is important to check your email and application portal regularly and specifically around the deadlines and important dates listed below.

B. Deadlines and Important Dates

Architecture Master Preparation Option deadlines

C. Required Application Documentation

The following documents will be required to complete your application:

Please send all of the above documentation to the following address:

Admissions for ED AMP
University of Manitoba
424 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

Electronic transcripts should be submitted to applicant.services@umanitoba.ca.

In order to be considered official, electronic transcripts must be sent directly from the email of the office responsible for issuing transcripts. Transcripts emailed or forwarded by the applicant are considered unofficial.

The University of Manitoba is a registered receiving organization with MyCreds^TM. Applicants from participating member universities and colleges can release their transcripts to the University of Manitoba through their MyCreds^TM portal. Applicants should select 'Share' and then 'Organization' instead of opting for 'email'.

Applications are not complete until all necessary documents are received. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that our office receives all required information.

Applicants must notify the Admissions Office immediately should they either enroll at a postsecondary institution not previously declared on their application or enroll in additional coursework not declared on the previously submitted final transcript provided for assessment. Applicants will be required to provide proof of registration.

D. Required Admission Documentation

In addition to providing the above required application documentation, each candidate is required to submit the following supporting documents for admission consideration by the documentation deadline outlined in Section 3: Application Process & Deadlines, B. Deadlines and Important Dates. Applicants will be asked to provide the below documentation through online submission after the application has been submitted:

A. Calculation of the Adjusted Grade Point Average (AGPA)

The Adjusted Grade Point Average (AGPA) is calculated using the applicant’s most recently completed 60 credit hours of university level study. Courses completed on a full or part-time basis, in all undergraduate and graduate programs, and in the fall, winter, and summer terms (except for the coursework taken after January 15th in the year of application) will be included in the AGPA calculation.

In the calculation of the AGPA, all courses that have been assigned a final grade are considered “completed” coursework, including failed grades. Courses graded “Pass/Fail” or “Satisfactory” will be excluded from both the AGPA and from the most recently completed 60 credit hour count. Should a grade be retained on your record yet excluded from your institutional GPA calculation, that grade will be used to meet admission requirements and the GPA calculation for your application to the University of Manitoba.

For repeated courses within the most recent 60 credit hours, the highest grade received for the course will be used in the AGPA calculation.

Courses completed at a college, which have been assessed an equivalent to university level courses, will be included in the AGPA calculation. If the last session has more credit hours available than required, we will use the highest level courses with the highest grades.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to inform the Admissions Office in writing of any deferred exams or grade changes.

All final grades, including grade changes must be submitted to the Admissions Office by the document deadline in order for them to be included in the final selection process.  Grade changes will not be accepted after the documentation deadline date.  If a grade is not available by the documentation deadline date, an ‘F’ grade will be used in the final admission determination and calculation.

B. Selection

Enrolment into the Environmental Design Program: Architecture Master Preparation Option is competitive and limited.  Students will be admitted on the basis of an annual selection process. Applicants satisfying the minimum entry requirements are eligible for consideration at the discretion of the Admissions Selection Committee.

This Committee makes a holistic assessment of an applicant’s capability to undertake architectural studies by evaluating their creative abilities and academic potential as evidenced in all supporting documents submitted (see Section 3: Application Process & Deadlines, C. Required Application Documentation).

The evaluation is based on the following items:

• Portfolio
• Statement of Intent
• Transcripts
• Two Confidential Reference Letters
• Curriculum Vitae

Each year’s admission cycle is separate, and there is no carry over from one year to the next. Students who are accepted in this academic year and decline acceptance cannot defer acceptance. Students must reapply the following year.

C. Notification of Decision

Decisions will be posted to the applicant’s portal. Applicants must log into their application portal to view the decision and to accept or decline their offer. If the offer is not accepted and the subsequent deposit paid by the deadline date indicated in the letter, the offer will lapse. Lapsed offers will be considered a declined response. It is imperative that email accounts remain current and that emails and application portals are regularly checked.

In order to accept an offer of admission, a nonrefundable deposit of $200.00 will be required (this deposit amount is subject to change). The deposit will be applied to tuition fees at the time of registration.

Individuals who wish to have their applications reconsidered should submit their request to the Chair of the Selection Committee. Past experience has shown that most inquiries can be satisfied at this level without further reference. Persons wishing reconsideration of the decision of the Selection Committee shall direct their request to the Chair within ten (10) business days of the posted decision date. All appeals must come directly from the applicant and not a third party (e.g. parent, sibling, friend, agent, etc.).

Should the student wish to pursue the reconsideration decision further, such an appeal will be made in accordance with the Senate Committee on Appeals Procedures.

• Review the Senate Committee on Appeals policy and procedures

Applicants are advised that appeals of reconsideration decisions by the Chair of the Selection Committee and the Senate Appeal Committee focus on questions of correct adherence to published policies and procedures outlined in this document, and not on subjective issues or the relative merits of the application.

The Faculty of Architecture and Admissions Office are able to assist applicants who seek counselling regarding admission to the Faculty of Architecture. However, it is policy not to instruct applicants as to a specific course of action they should follow, but rather to provide the information needed for applicants to make their own choice with respect to the alternatives available. The following points require special attention:

1. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their plans with all who can usefully advise them, but they should be aware that second and third hand information about admission policies may not be accurate.
2. No official at the university can guarantee the admission of any applicant. Admission is determined by the Committee on the basis of an annual competition.
3. All applicants are advised to supplement any personal enquiries with a written request so that an official written response can be made. It is only these written responses which will be considered as evidence of any advice given (see Section 8: Contact Information).

The University of Manitoba is committed to providing all students equal access to learning opportunities. If you are a student with a diagnosed disability (permanent, chronic, or temporary) who may require academic accommodations, please contact Student Accessibility Services at 204-474-7423 or by email at student_accessibility@umanitoba.ca to learn more about the confidential supports that are available.

The following other contacts may also be useful.

The Environmental Design Architecture Master Preparation 1 Option Program is two years in length (66-69 credit hours) and upon completion of this program students will receive a Bachelor of Environmental Design Degree. Students who have a design background in an allied design field (i.e. Interior Design or Landscape Architecture, etc.) may be considered on a case-by-case basis, for placement into the second year of the program, however, they are ineligible to receive the Bachelor of Environmental Design Degree after only one year of study.