Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate work must be submitted. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the program requirements as listed below. See the School of Architecture website for the most up-to-date application requirements.

Baccalaureate Field of Study Applicants must have an accredited professional degree in architecture or its international equivalent.

Grade Point Average 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study.

Tests Required^a GRE General

Minimum English Competency Test Score (one of the following is required unless English competency is exhibited by prior work or education in the U.S.):

• TOEFL 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Test); 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21 (revised Paper-Delivered Test)
• IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores
• PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.

Letters of Recommendation Three required, preferably from individuals acquainted with the applicant’s recent academic, professional, or creative work. Letters from professors who can assess the applicant’s academic abilities and potential for graduate school are the most useful. Letters from employers are also acceptable.

Personal Statement The statement should address academic interests and objectives and how they can be pursued through study at UIC specifically. See the School of Architecture website for the complete personal statement prompt.

Other Requirements Portfolio review and evaluation of previous academic, creative, and professional work is required for all applicants. The portfolio indicates an individual’s aesthetic sensibility and intellectual curiosity. Both in the works themselves and in the inquiry or argument framed through their presentation, applicants should exhibit their potential to develop original design work. Individual work is preferred, but when including group work the applicant’s role and contribution should be carefully noted. The portfolio should not document CAD drafting skills or technical course work that is independent from design work. Work from an architecture office, such as construction drawings or renderings, should not be included unless the applicant had a significant role in the design process.

Deadlines The application deadline for this program is earlier than the Graduate College deadline; for information about current deadlines, please see the School of Architecture website. 

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The GRE is not required for the upcoming Fall 2024 admission cycle.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 32
• Course Work At least 24 hours must be at the 500-level in architecture

• Comprehensive Examination None
• Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Course work only