Best Universities for Architecture in Canada

For high school students, college graduates, and other young adults interested in studying architecture, finding the best undergraduate and graduate programs can often be a challenge. Canadian universities with top architecture programs are accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board, which ensures that the programs are of high quality and allows students to learn the knowledge necessary for passing the certification examinations necessary for becoming full-time architects. Many programs offer both undergraduate and graduate professional degrees in architecture, but not all top universities offer Ph.D. programs. Some graduate programs are available to students who have professional experience, while others are intended for students without any experience, so it is important for students to choose the programs that best suit their circumstances. Below is a list of some of the best universities for architecture in Canada.

University of British Columbia

university of british columbia architecture Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the University of British Columbia currently offers robust graduate programs in architecture and an undergraduate program in environmental design through its School of Architecture + Landscape Architecture. In 2019, QS World University Rankings has placed SALA as the number 1 university for architecture in Canada, and the World University Rankings system placed the University of British Columbia as the 37th best school in the world. In 2018-2019, domestic Canadian students paid $5603.76 Canadian dollars for the first year of their graduate program. A Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism has been sent to the Ministry of Advanced Education for approval and is slated to begin its direct-entry program in September 2020. The university offers six graduate programs in architecture and one dual degree, covering topics ranging from the Master of Architecture to Master of Engineering Leadership in High-Performance Buildings. The graduate architecture program at the UBC School of Architecture is a highly demanding, three-year program. UBC offers students the opportunity to take part in co-op programs in which they can work at top local and international architecture firms during their studies and receive compensation for their work, which can help offset the cost of attending school. Ph.D. programs are not offered at the university, but doctoral research related to architecture can be offered through other disciplines taught at the university. Students who hold undergraduate pre-professional degrees in a field related to architecture and environmental design have the option to be selected for advanced placement into the graduate program.

University of Toronto

university of toronto architecture Located in Toronto, Ontario, the University of Toronto offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in architecture through the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. In 2019, World University Rankings designated the University of Toronto as the top 21st university in the world, and the school has long been known for its strong teaching and liberal-arts approach for undergraduate students. The university offers a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies and eight masters programs related to architecture. Graduate programs include the Master of Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Urban Design, and more. The graduate professional programs are highly demanding and span seven terms. For the 2018-2019 school year, Canadian permanent residents and citizens paid $6780 Canadian dollars for the first year of the undergraduate program. Non-domestic students paid $12,670 for graduate architecture programs. The architecture program at the University of Toronto focuses on architecture, urban design, and landscape architecture, using the greater Toronto region as a canvas for students and faculty to gain firsthand experience in the field. Students are able to draw on the cosmopolitan nature of the city as inspiration for their designs, as well as the network of design and architecture professionals who work in the city.

McGill University

mcgill university architecture Located in Montréal, Québec, McGill University is known to be one of the top universities in Canada. McGill’s School of Architecture stands out for its annual Sketching School program, which helps train architectural students in sketching, a fundamental skill for successful professionals in the field. The one-week exercise takes place at the end of summer in a small to medium-sized town that is within a day’s travel from Montreal and is led by two faculty members. In 2019, World University Rankings placed McGill as the 44th best university in the world. For the 2018-2019 school year, non-Quebec Canadian citizens and permanent residents paid $7631.70 Canadian dollars in tuition for both undergraduate and graduate programs. The Peter Guo-Hua Fu School of Architecture offers a six-semester Bachelor of Science in Architecture and two non-thesis professional graduate programs, a three-semester Master of Architecture and a four-semester Master of Architecture with an added Directed Research component. Graduates who already have some professional experience under their belt and are interested in pivoting towards a career centered on architecture are encouraged to consider the university’s post-professional Master of Architecture programs. The post-professional programs are three semesters long and students may choose to focus on either the History and Theory of Architecture or Urban Design and Housing. McGill University also offers a Ph.D. program for students of architecture, with a key focus on deep research in the field of architecture, culminating in an original thesis. Students must remain in the Ph.D. program for a minimum of three years. Students in graduate programs at the School of Architecture may be eligible for a limited number of awards and teaching assistantships to help offset the cost of attendance, but spots are limited so students are encouraged to seek financial support through other organizations.

University of Waterloo

University of Waterloo architecture Located in Cambridge, Ontario, the University of Waterloo is widely regarded as one of the toughest universities to both gain entrance to and graduate from in Canada. The school offers both a Bachelor of Architectural Studies and several two-year Master of Architecture programs. Students who hold a pre-professional undergraduate degree in architecture can elect to enter the MArch program as a second year. For the 2018-2019 school year, Canadian citizens and permanent residents paid $11,370 Canadian dollars in tuition for the undergraduate program. Citizens and residents paid $5856 for the full-time graduate program. In 2019, World University Rankings placed the University of Waterloo at the top 201-250 universities in the world. For its undergraduate architecture program, the University of Waterloo accepts 450-500 students for admissions. Students are expected to have scores of at least the mid-70s to gain admission to the program. The architecture program at the University of Waterloo is focused on teaching students elements of architecture spanning construction, development, prototyping, effective data usage, and “green architecture.” A standout feature of the University of Waterloo program design is its move to integrate taught education with valuable hands-on experience through its undergraduate co-op program. The co-op program allows students to alternate 4-month school terms with 4-month paid co-op terms, during which they work for architects and designers around the world to gain real-world experience. The paid nature of the program also allows students to reduce the cost burden of their undergraduate education. If you’re just starting to design a portfolio and are trying to come up with a basic layout, we offer a number of architecture portfolio templates to save you time. If you’re either in school or recently graduated use coupon code “student” at checkout for an additional 15% off your purchase. architecture portfolio templates banner

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