Apply / Undergraduate Architecture Program
Applicants do not apply directly to the undergraduate Architecture Program from high school. Students must complete two years of college before enrolling in Taubman College. The first two years of liberal arts study before joining the undergraduate architecture program (the freshman and sophomore years) may be completed at the University of Michigan or at any other accredited university or community/junior college offering the required courses. Typically, undergraduates apply to transfer to Taubman College (from either UM or another school) during the winter term of sophomore year and, if accepted, begin the two-year undergraduate Architecture Program junior year.
The undergraduate program culminates in a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), nonprofessional degree. Many students choose to continue their graduate studies in architecture or a related field in design or construction. Others work for a year or two in preparation for future graduate study.
Current UM students are encouraged to discuss their academic plans with both their current academic advisor (through their home department) and with a Taubman College Student Services Representative. Students applying to the undergraduate architecture program from other universities are encouraged to make an advising appointment with a Taubman College Admissions Counselor.
TaubmanCollegeStudentServices@umich.edu or 734-615-0431
LSA Office of Academic Advising (Advisors for most applicants currently enrolled at UM)
The University of Michigan
1255 Angell Hall
435 South State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1003
734-764-0332
Ask.LSA.Advising@umich.edu
lsa.umich.edu/advising/
Before beginning the undergraduate program junior year, applicants must complete the required prerequisite courses, as many recommended courses as possible and a minimum of 60 credit hours and maximum of 70 credit hours. Please refer to this page for information about prerequisite courses.
Application Deadline: February 1st annually
Portfolio Deadline: March 10th annually
Application Materials
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Application Materials for Incoming Non-UM Students
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All hard copy application materials, except portfolios, should be mailed in one package to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
515 East Jefferson St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Portfolios should be mailed to Architecture Admissions:
Undergraduate Architecture Admissions
Room 2150
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2000 Bonisteel Boulevard
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2069 USA
Letters of Recommendation
Cross-campus applicants: One letter of recommendation is required from a non-architecture professor or GSI. Please have the recommender complete the recommendation form and attach a letter on letterhead.
New transfer applicants: Two letters of recommendation are required. Please request at least one from a college professor or Graduate Student Instructor. It would be preferable if both letters were from college instructors; one from a design instructor and one from a general academic course. Please have the recommenders complete the recommendation form and attach a letter on letterhead.
Letter of Recommendation Form (PDF 1.1MB)
English Proficiency Requirements
The University of Michigan requires a high level of proficiency in English and does not offer intensive English or conditional admission.
All speakers of English as a second language must submit one of the English language proficiency examination results listed below. We accept either MELAB, TOEFL, or IELTS results.
Minimum Scores
- MELAB: 80-85 range with section scores of at least 80
- TOEFL (PBT): 570-600 range with section scores of at least 57
- TOEFL (iBT): 88-100 range with section scores of at least 23 in listening and reading, and at least 21 in speaking and writing
- IELTS: 6.5-7.0 range with section scores of at least 6.5
Exceptions: Students who have recently completed at least 4 years of rigorous academic study in Australia, The Bahamas, Canada (other than Quebec), New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States (other than Puerto Rico) can be exempted if the SAT critical reading score is above 600.
Evaluation
Eligible applicants are considered for admission on the basis of the following criteria:
- Quality and content of all previous academic education
- Other data, which indicates professional growth and motivation toward architecture-written statement of career goals, employment, record, letters of recommendation, portfolio, etc.
Students who have completed freshman/sophomore studies at other universities or community colleges are evaluated on the same basis as those who have completed their studies at the University of Michigan.
Notification of Acceptance
Applicants will be notified of their admission status by mid-April. Accepted applicants must return their Response Form to Taubman College by May 1st. All new transfer students must pay an enrollment deposit fee to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Wait List
Being placed on a wait list means that the admissions committee is interested in your application, but have offered admission to other candidates. If space becomes available, students from the wait list may be offered admission. The wait list is unranked and when space becomes available, all waitlisted students will be reviewed again for admission. The chances of being admitted from the wait list vary from year to year.
Registration and Orientation
Students accepting their offer of admission will receive detailed registration and orientation information over the summer. Please do not attempt to register for architecture courses until you have received this information.
