Taubman College

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The Master of Urban Design (M.U.D.) Program welcomes applications from mature, talented, intellectually aggressive, and critical individuals holding professional degrees in architecture, urban planning, and/or landscape architecture. Two years of professional experience is desirable but not required. Applicants should be prepared for an intensive academic environment emphasizing both individual and group work. Given the program's international student body, candidates should be curious about and open to diverse insights into culture and urbanism and committed to communicating and interpreting ideas across national differences. Candidates should also be open to discussing themes of politics, culture, class, race, and gender as they relate to urban design, and to testing assumptions about these issues in light of the history, theory, and practice of urban design. (Because conversation and debate is central to the M.U.D. Program, candidates whose first language is not English should be prepared to focus on developing their English verbal and writing skills to extract full value from the program.) Finally, whether they are from architecture, landscape architecture, or urban planning, candidates may find it necessary to deconstruct their ways of thinking toward reconstructing themselves as urban designers.

Graduate Admissions Eligibility

Applicants to the Master of Urban Design (M.U.D.) degree program, applicants should already possess one (or more) of the following degrees:

  1. 5-year Bachelor of Architecture
  2. 5-year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
  3. Master of Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Urban Planning, or their international equivalent.

Applicants must show evidence of understanding, aptitude, and achievement in the design of the physical environment, as well as an interest and a commitment to urbanism. Professional design experience will be viewed favorably.

Admissions Contact

TaubmanCollegeStudentServices@umich.edu

Application Deadline

Applications to the Master of Urban Design (M.U.D.) program are accepted from October 1 until January 15 anually. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible. Depending on the size and quality of the applicant pool each year, applicants who apply later may be at a competitive disadvantage. All application materials are due at Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning no later than January 15.

Application Materials

  • Online Application
  • Non-refundable application fee: $65 U.S. / $75 fee non-U.S.
  • Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement
  • Resume
  • Official transcripts from all universities/colleges attended
  • Portfolio
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation including recommendation form
  • GRE Scores (required)
  • TOEFL test score (required Non-native English Speakers)
  • Financial Certification documents (Non-U.S. Citizens)

Submit any hard copy (preferably in one package/envelope) to:

Attn: Master of Urban Design Admissions
Room 2150
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2000 Bonisteel Boulevard
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2069 USA
Do not use the Rackham Graduate School online admissions application.

Do not have hard copy materials sent piecemeal.

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. DO NOT send cash. The application is submitted electronically to M.U.D. admissions.. There is no need to follow-up with a paper copy of the application. Applications received without fees will not be processed.

Statement of Purpose

Please write a concise statement outlining your reasons for applying to the master's degree program and why your application should be favorably considered. The following questions serve only as a guide. It is preferred if your statement of purpose is uploaded as part of the online application. The essay should be 1000-1500 words and clearly communicate to the admissions committee:

  • Why you want to study urban design?
  • Your career objectives and long term goals?
  • What you want to learn/gain from the Program?
  • How the Program supports your career objectives?
  • What led you to apply to Taubman College?
  • Previous professional experiences that have had a profound effect?
  • Your design philosophy and process?
  • Is there a specific area of emphasis/specialization that you are interested in?
  • Your current strengths and weaknesses in reaching your goals?

Resume

It is preferred if your resume is uploaded as part of the online application.

Letters of Recommendation

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required for all applicants. If possible, two of these should come from former professors. Recommendations should be completed online as part of the online application process. Please ask your recommenders to complete the online form and attach their letter electronically.

In order to "see" the online recommendation section in the online application, a term must be entered on the "Personal Information" page. The recommendation section can then be viewed on the "Personal Information II" page.

You can edit and send reminders to your recommenders by clicking the "Manage Your Recommenders" link in the recommendation section.

If absolutely necessary, we will also accept hard copy recommendations if they are on university or company/firm stationery. The form and letter must be placed in an envelope, sealed, and signed across the seal by the recommender to ensure its authenticity. If submitting a hard copy, please have your recommender complete and attach the following recommendation form. Please request your letters of recommendation sufficiently early to ensure your recommenders submit their letters by the January 15th deadline.

Master of Urban Design Recommendation Form (PDF 1.1MB)

Official Transcripts

The college requires applicants, domestic and international, to provide one official transcript or certified credentials (transcripts) from all universities and community colleges attended. Have two transcripts sent to your address. Have one of the transcripts sent in the original unopened envelope sent in one package/envelope with your other hard copy materials. Do not have transcripts sent to Taubman College piecemeal. Open the second transcript, scan it, and upload the transcript in the "Previous Education" section of the online application. Unofficial transcripts can also be uploaded. If your academic credentials are in any language other than English, you must submit both the original document and a certified English translation. International credentials should include a certified copy of the diploma, if awarded. Applicants holding degrees from Bangladesh, Sri-Lanka, Burma, India, Nepal, or Pakistan must include detailed examination records for all years of the program showing subjects, marks received, and class obtained. UM graduates and current students do not need to submit a transcript from the University of Michigan but should request transcripts for any other schools they have attended.

Portfolio

All applicants are required to submit samples of their academic work and, if possible, their professional work. The following guidelines have been prepared by the Graduate Admissions Committee to help applicants select and prepare these samples. Please see the Portfolio Guidelines for further details.

Graduate Record Examination

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all students. Information about the GRE including test dates and locations can be found at http://www.gre.org. Please contact ETS (www.ets.org or www.gre.org) to have an official score report sent to the University of Michigan (Institution code 1839, department code 4401) at least 4-5 weeks prior to the deadline. GRE scores must be no older than five-years old to be valid. There is no minimum requirement for the GRE test.

English Proficiency

All non-native English speakers must take the TOEFL or the MELAB Examination. Scores must be no older than two years old to be valid. Non-native English speakers who have earned their degree from a university, where English is the primary language of instruction, are not required to submit a TOEFL or MELAB score. The student must have attended the institution for a minimum of four years, and achieved a 4 year degree from that institution to receive a TOEFL, IELTS, or MELAB waiver. We do not accept IELTS test scores. U.S. citizenship does not exempt applicants from taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or MELAB test if his/her native language is not English. Applicatns only need to take one of the above listed tests.

TOEFL Examination (International Students Only)

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Internet Based Toefl (IBT) is required of all non-native English speakers. Information about the TOEFL/IBT including test dates and locations can be found at www.ets.org/toefl/. Please contact ETS (www.ets.org) and have an official score report sent to the University of Michigan (Institution code 1839, department code 12) at least 6-8 weeks prior to the January 15 deadline. TOEFL/IBT scores must be no older than two years old (not before 2009) to be valid. The minimum requirement for the TOEFL test is 220 computer based or 560 paper based. The minimum requirement for the IBT test is 84. If you have taken the TOEFL exam and not achieved the minimum requirement you must continue to take the test until you achieve the minimum score to be considered for admission. Taubman College does not admit students taht have not met the minimum score.

MELAB Examination (International Students Only)

Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) Examination can be found at http://lsa.umich.edu/eli/testing/melab. Please take the MELAB exam 5 weeks prior to the January 15th deadline in order for your score to be received in time. The minimum score for the MELAB is 78.

Financial Certification (International Students Only)

The financial certification deadline is January 15th.

All international students are required to submit financial certification as part of their application to show they have funding available to study in the U.S.A. The estimated financial certification for 2012-2013 academic year is $68,916 USD. The final tuition rates will be set in July and an exact figure will be available then. Financial certification is an administrative piece necessary to process I-20 forms for admitted students. Only funds in a liquid account, such as a checking or savings account will be accepted: Property, life insurance, stock, bonds, jewelry, mutual funds, land, medical savings, benefit certificates, trusts, securities, retirement accounts, and long term savings for housing do not qualify. If a student is supporting him/herself, we will only need an original bank statement in the student's name showing sufficient funds.

If a person other than the applicant will be sponsoring the student, the applicant must submit two important documents for the financial certification. You must submit either #1 and #3 OR #2 and #3 below. An applicant may have several different sponsors. We will need the following documentation from each source of funding.

  1. A letter of support (stating who will support the student and their relationship to the student) signed by the family member(s) offering financial support to the student. It must have an original signature(s). Or
  2. A completed financial certification form (found in the online application) with original signatures from the family member(s) offering support and the proper boxes checked. And
  3. An original bank statement (on bank letterhead), showing the type of account, the exact balance of the account, and be signed by a bank representative (original signature required). The statement must also show the account holder's name and it must exactly match the name of the person offering support.

Estimated Financial Certification 2011–2012 (PDF 1.2MB)

Passport Copies (International Students Only)

Each international applicant should submit a copy of their passport (and copies of any dependent family members' passport that would be accompanying the student to the U.S.A.) with their application materials. Passport copies are required in order to process an I-20 form. In order to avoid processing delays, please submit the passport copies with your application materials.

I-20 / Visa (International Students Only)

Applicants that are currently in the U.S. should also send a copy of their current I-20 or I-94 form. A Transfer-In form is also required if an applicant is currently attending another U.S. school or college and is admitted to the program.

Transfer-In Form (International Students Only)

A Transfer-In Form is also required if an international applicant is currently attending another U.S. school or college and is admitted to the program.