Apply / Master of Science in Architecture
Application and Portfolio Deadline: March 1st annually
Please take the GRE test 4-6 weeks prior to the admissions deadline.
The Master of Science (M.S.) degree is part of the Rackham Graduate School, (otherwise known as Rackham) which is a community of scholars, researchers, and students in over 191 graduate programs of study at the University of Michigan. The Rackham Graduate School works in conjunction with 17 schools and colleges to recruit applicants, administer the admissions process, and serve students through the final stages of degree attainment. On average, more than 4,000 graduate degrees are awarded per year. Our more than 85,000 Rackham alumni are a diverse group of people who utilize their talents and training to transform our global community in thousands of ways throughout the world.
Admission to pursue the Master of Science (M.S.) degree is limited to the fall term only.
Admissions Eligibility:
In order to be eligible to apply to the Master of Science degree, an applicant must have:
- A professional degree in architecture from an accredited institution, or a professional degree in engineering, urban planning, industrial design and other disciplines that can be described by the applicant as relevant to the degree concentration program that they are applying for.
- Evidence of research, creative and professional work in the concentration area that the applicant is applying for is highly encouraged.
All applicants are required to apply online. All application materials including statement of purpose, personal statement, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and examples of work should be submitted/uploaded via the Rackham online application. We recommend beginning this process well in advance of the March 1 deadline for M.S..
Non-refundable Application Fee
The fee for United States Citizens and those with permanent resident visa status is $65 (U.S. funds) . The fee for non-U.S. citizens is $75 (U.S. funds). The application fee is paid online, via credit card, before the application is submitted. The application is submitted electronically to the program of study and the Rackham Graduate School. There is no need to follow-up with a paper copy of the application or an additional application fee. Applications received without fees will not be processed.
Application Materials:
Submit all of the following materials via the Rackham online application.
- Non-refundable application fee
- Statement of Purpose ∨
- Personal Statement ∨
- Official Transcripts (submit hard copy to Rackham) ∨
- Three Letters of Recommendation ∨
- Examples of Work ∨
- GRE Scores (required) ∨
- TOEFL (required for non-native English speakers) ∨
Statement of Purpose
Two page statement of purpose should describe the research that you anticipate pursuing if admitted to the program including which area of concentration you plan to engage. The statement may also include ideas for the independent research project that is part of the degree requirements. The ideas should be clearly, well stated, and specific. Describe your qualifications to undertake this research and reference your own or others related work if appropriate.
Personal Statement
The Personal Statement should be a concise, well-written statement about how your personal background and life experiences, including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges that have motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan.
Transcripts
Submit official academic records/transcripts from the institution from which you received or will receive a Bachelor's, Master's, Professional, or Doctoral degree to the Rackham Graduate School.
- If you are applying to more than one Rackham program, submit only one official academic record/transcript from each institution.
- If you are a current or previous University of Michigan, Ann Arbor student, do not submit a paper U-M transcript.
- Do not send an official transcripts from community or junior colleges, study abroad programs, or for courses taken as a non-degree student.
- Specific transcript requirements by country
Do you have a U-M ID#? If not, before sending your academic record/transcript:
- Create your ApplyWeb account
- Complete pages 1-5 of the application
- On page 5 of the application click the "Request a U-M ID#" link
- You will receive confirmation by e-mail that your request is being processed
- You will receive your U-M ID# in approximately 7-10 business days
When, how and where are transcripts sent?
Academic records/transcripts are submitted through:
1) The online application
- To expedite the processing of your online application, you are encouraged to include a scanned image of your academic record/transcript(s) with the online application. This enables the admissions committee to make a preliminary decision based upon your submission of a scanned transcript.
- Scanned images of official transcripts that are uploaded into the online application will be considered unofficial.
- A scanned copy of an official student copy, provided to you by the Registrar's Office, is acceptable. Unofficial transcripts printed from your institution's student portal (a screen print of a transcript) are not acceptable.
Learn more about Uploading Transcripts and Other Supporting Documents Using the Online Application Process.
2) The mail
Following these instructions enables Rackham to process your academic record/transcript as quickly as possible. If you do not have a U-M ID#, submit your official academic record/transcript to Rackham with your date of birth.
Mail option:
Rackham Graduate School
Attn: Transcripts/U-M ID# (if known) or Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy)
915 E Washington Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1070
USA
Electronic Option: E-transcripts may be sent to Rackham at Rack-etranscripts@umich.edu. A transcript received from a personal e-mail address will not be accepted. If your school also requires a mailing address, use the one indicated above.
Letters of Recommendation
Three (3) letters of recommendation are required and should testify mainly to your academic and professional capacity and promise. Letters should be substantive statements from academics and professionals familiar with your abilities and accomplishments. Electronic submission of recommendations is preferred. (If mailing send to address above). You will be prompted to register recommenders using the Rackham online admissions application, enabling recommenders to submit letters of recommendation electronically to the Doctoral Studies in Architecture.
Examples of Work
Submissions of examples of work should support your statement of purpose and clearly demonstrate research and writing abilities. These may consist of published articles, papers, portfolio or other writing samples. Examples should be uploaded as PDF files with the online application.
Resume or C.V.
Please submit an up to date résumé or curriculum vitae with your application.
Graduate Record Examination Scores (required)
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Score Report is required of all students. Information about the GRE including test dates and locations can be found at http://www.gre.org. Please have an official score report sent to the University of Michigan at least 6-8 weeks prior to the December 15 deadline. GRE scores must be no older than five years old; recent scores are preferable. There is no minimum GRE score required to apply.
*Institution code GRE: 1839
*Department code GRE: 4401
TOEFL Examination (International Students Only)
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency and are required to submit one official score report. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are sent electronically from ETS directly to the University of Michigan (institution code: 1839, dept code: 97). Official ECPE, IELTS and MELAB scores must be sent directly to the Rackham Graduate School from the testing agency.
Rackham Graduate School
915 E. Washington St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1070
Information about the TOEFL including test dates and locations can be found at ets.org/toefl. Please contact ETS (ets.org) and have an official score report sent to the University of Michigan at least 4–6 weeks prior to the March 1st deadline. Test scores are valid two years from the test date. Photocopies and/or faxes of English proficiency scores will not be accepted.
The minimum requirement for the TOEFL test is 100 IBT, 250 computer based or 600 paper based. If you have taken the TOEFL exam and not achieved the minimum score you must continue to take the test until you achieve the minimum score to be considered for admission. Taubman College does not admit students that have not met the minimum score.
The Rackham Graduate School's English Proficiency Exemptions
Applicants who have earned or will earn a Bachelor's or Master's degree are exempt from submitting an Official English Proficiency Score if:
- The degree was earned from an institution where the language of instruction is English, exclusively. Verification from the school may be required.
- The degree was earned from a country where the official language is English (United States of America, Australia, and England).
