Graduate Admissions

Admission to Graduate Programs

All graduate applications to the School of Architecture + Design must be completed through the Virginia Tech Graduate School. (See the Graduate School Applications Web Page)

For information on admission to the Master of Landscape Architecture program, please visit the following links:

For information on admission to the Graduate Architecture Program (Master of Architecture, Master of Science in Architecture, and PhD in Architecture and Design Research degree programs), please see below:

Students are admitted to the Graduate Architecture Program on a competitive basis. Applicants are reviewed by an admissions group comprised of faculty members from the School of Architecture + Design and are evaluated on the basis of their previous background, including academic performance and relevant work experience. It is essential that applicants demonstrate qualities necessary for successful study at the graduate level through their previous academic work, and that they have shown responsibility, judgment, motivation, imagination and receptivity to new ideas.

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to use the on-line application to the Virginia Tech Graduate School. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the completed application and required supporting materials are received by the University Graduate School and the Graduate Architecture Program, including the portfolio (required for M.Arch. 1 & 2 candidates), no later than January 15th for admission for the following fall semester. The application deadline for the MLA program is February 15th. If all materials are not received by the deadline, the application may not be considered for admission.

Every effort will be made to notify applicants by mail of the admission decision by the first week of April. However, some applications will be held for further review pending available space.

Applicants who are accepted and cannot attend the Fall Semester, may request that their admission date be deferred; however, this deferral is not automatic and requires the approval of the Graduate Architecture Program Chair and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Applicants to the M.Arch.1, M.Arch.2, and Ph.D. programs who plan to begin their studies at the Washington-Alexandria Center should so indicate in their application. However, ALL APPLICANTS for graduate study in architecture should send required application materials to the Graduate Architecture Program office in the School of Architecture + Design on the Virginia Tech Main Campus in Blacksburg, VA.

Admission Prerequisites

Admission to the graduate programs at Virginia Tech is normally contingent upon holding an appropriate undergraduate baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and presentation of evidence of potential to successfully pursue graduate level work in architecture. Completion of the Bachelor’s degree with a high academic standing is expected.

Beyond the University academic requirements described in the application package, applicants to the graduate program in architecture must have the following preparation:

  • M.Arch.1 - Admission prerequisites: first professional degree (5 year), Bachelor of Architecture, NAAB accredited, or equivalent. (Note: The one-year Master of Architecture from Virginia Tech is a post-professional degree and does not constitute an accredited first professional degree in architecture. International applicants who hold architecture degrees from schools outside the U.S. and who aspire to professional licensure in the U.S. are normally advised to apply to the M.Arch.2 program. Please refer to additional information regarding professional licensure for architects in the U.S.)
  • M.Arch.3 - Admission prerequisites: Bachelor’s Degree, no limitations on a particular discipline. The following non-mandatory coursework is recommended in preparation for graduate study in the M.Arch.3 program: mathematics through college algebra, trigonometry and analytic geometry, one term of general physics, and a survey course in architectural history.
  • MS.Arch. and Ph.D. - While a degree in architecture or a related field is not absolutely required, applicants must demonstrate relevant background and experience, as well as capabilities for undertaking advanced academic study.

Note: Applicants should make certain to note on the application the specific program option (M.Arch. 1, 2, or 3 or specific research concentration for M.S.Arch. or PhD) in which you intend to study. Changes from one program or program option to another are generally not possible without approval of a written request prior to admission.

Procedures

Graduate study in all Master of Architecture programs typically begins in August, during the Fall semester each year. It is normally not possible to begin M.Arch. studies during the Spring semester.

For all graduate programs in architecture, a complete application should be received by Virginia Tech by January 15th for admission for the following fall semester.

In order for an application to be considered, the following items must be submitted:

  • A completed graduate application (on-line strongly recommended), including payment of a nonrefundable application fee.
  • Two official, complete, and up-to-date transcripts of undergraduate and graduate records sent directly from all previous colleges and universities attended. One copy should be sent to the Virginia Tech Graduate School and the other to the Graduate Architecture Program office. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale) for the last 60 semester credit hours, or equivalent, is required. An applicant whose previous academic performance is deemed slightly deficient (grade point average of 2.75 to 2.99) or whose transcripts are not current may be admitted as a “Provisional” student, as described in the University Graduate Catalog.
  • Three letters of recommendation from teachers, professionals or other people knowledgeable about the applicant’s work. Letters of recommendation that are not submitted on-line should be sent directly to the Graduate Architecture Program office.
  • A Resumé and a Statement of Intent briefly describing the applicant’s background, personal interests, motivation for the study of architecture, and, if applicable, proposed area of research focus. In lieu of the brief Statement of Intent, PhD applicants must submit a 2,500-word statement of research focus.
  • The Graduate School requires official test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and TOEFL for all International applicants. The School of Architecture + Design requires official GRE scores for applicants for the M.Arch.3, Comprehensive Professional Studies program, the Master of Science in Architecture program, and the Ph.D. program. GRE scores are recommended for all other applicants.

International Students

All international applicants should refer to the Virginia Tech Graduate School website concerning additional admission requirements.

Portfolio

Candidates for admission to the M.Arch. 1 & 2 programs must demonstrate their competence in design beyond the academic transcript. A portfolio of studio work in architectural design and related visual studies is required of these applicants. For candidates for admission to the M.Arch.3 and MS.Arch. programs, submittal of a portfolio is not mandatory due to the variety of academic backgrounds of applicants. However, if an applicant has educational or professional experience in architecture, design, construction, or visual arts (drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, etc.), submittal of a portfolio is recommended. Portfolios should be sent directly to the Graduate Architecture Program office. Portfolios will be returned to those applicants furnishing a self-addressed envelope with postage.

No particular format is required for the portfolio; however, some form of notebook or folder, suitable for clear presentation of your work, should be selected. The admissions committee does not have facilities to handle large drawings or original samples of an applicant’s work. Applicants should present a limited set of work, representative of their best efforts and most expressive of their interests and abilities. Applicants are discouraged from submitting digital portfolios; those choosing to submit a digital portfolio do so at their own risk, since, due to possible hardware and software compatibility issues, some members of the admissions committee may not be able to view it.

Interview

Faculty and students at Virginia Tech are available to talk with prospective applicants, provide tours of the architecture facilities, and answer questions about the graduate architecture program, so that applicants may determine whether study at Virginia Tech is appropriate to their educational goals. It is desirable for prospective applicants to visit the campus and talk with an advisor if at all possible; however, since travel is an obvious financial burden to many applicants, an interview is not required for admission to the graduate program, and lack of an interview will not reduce one’s chances of admission. If you wish to schedule an interview or a visit to the campus, please contact the Graduate Architecture Program via e-mail at garch@vt.edu or via telephone at (540) 231-5683 for an appointment. Applicants are asked to consult the Virginia Tech calendar to avoid requesting an interview during the first and last weeks of each semester.

Computer Requirement

All incoming students in the Master of Architecture program are required to have a personal computer. Recommended specifications are identical to those for undergraduate architecture students. Please see the School of Architecture + Design computer requirement web page.

No student will be denied admission to Virginia Tech based on an inability to purchase a computer. Graduate students on financial aid may include their computer purchases in their cost of attendance.

Financial Assistance

Several forms of financial assistance are available to graduate students, including grants by federal agencies, fellowships, and scholarships awarded by corporations, foundations, and professional organizations, as well as low and moderate-interest, federally-insured loans, including subsidized loan programs. Interested students can obtain detailed and updated information directly from the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and The Graduate School. The School of Architecture + Design awards a limited number of graduate assistantships each year. Assistantships are service positions and normally involve providing support to faculty for research or teaching; typical duties include providing tutorial assistance in the various workshops, providing teaching assistance in design studios or for required courses, research project assistance, and photographic assistance in project documentation and presentation. Stipends depend on the student’s academic achievement and experience. Students seeking a Master’s degree are usually not awarded an assistantship position for more than two academic years; assistantships are not normally available to first year students in the M.Arch.3 program.

More information on Financial Aid

Note: Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status. Anyone having questions concerning discrimination or accessibility should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity .

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Admission to the M.Arch., M.S.Arch. and PhD (Arch. and Design Research) Progams:

Q: When is the application deadline?
A: January 15th.

Q: What are the prerequisites to apply to your Graduate Program?
A: The basic requirement is an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. Specific graduate architecture programs or program options have additional prerequisites (see program descriptions above).

Q: What is the mailing address to which to send portfolio, reference letters and/or transcripts to the Graduate Architecture Program?
A: Graduate Architecture Program, School of Architecture + Design, 201 Cowgill Hall (0205), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061

Q: Do reference letters have to be on the reference form?
A: No, they can be in letter format, they can be emailed, or they can be faxed.

Q: Do you accept applications for the Spring semester?
A: Due to our sequence of course offerings, we usually do not admit for the Spring semester. Any exceptions would have to be made by the Graduate Architecture Program Chairman.

Q: How do I apply for an assistantship?
A: You are considered for an assistantship when your application for admission is reviewed. M.Arch.3 applicants are not normally considered for an assistantship until their second year in the program.

Q: What is the portfolio format requirement?
A: There is no particular format required. We do prefer that the portfolio be no larger than 8½” x 11” and either bound or contained in some type of folder.

Q: What is the minium GRE score?
A: PhD - 1150 (combined total of verbal and quantitative parts only); M.Arch/M.S. - preferably a score of 1150 or better (combined total of verbal and quantitative parts); however, we do not use the GRE score to eliminate applicants for the Masters programs.

Q: What is the minimum TOEFL score?
A: TOEFL score minimums are directed by the Graduate School: 213 for computer-based test; 550 for paper-based; 79-80 for internet-based.

Q: What is the institutional code for Virginia Tech?
A: 5859

For more answers to frequently asked admissions questions, please see the Graduate School Applications Web Page .

Last Modified: January 26, 2009