Preparing Your Application | Graduate Studies

Applications are submitted via the Graduate Admissions Website. If you are a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident and you wish to claim Georgia residency for tuition purposes, you must complete the Application for Georgia Residence Status form (included with the on-line application).

You are required to upload supporting documents with your application.

International students are required to submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS, and proof of financial support for the first year of study.

The online application opens each year on September 1st for Fall Admissions to the following academic year. The deadline for submission of applications and all supporting documents is December 31 for all students (U.S. and International). Late submissions are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact an advisor in the School of Architecture to request a late submission exception.

If you hold a degree in Architecture and are applying to the Master of Architecture Professional Program for coursework necessary to eventual licensure as an architect in the United States, you should apply to the Fall term (two-year program).

If you hold a degree other than architecture and are applying to the Master of Architecture Professional Program for coursework necessary to eventual licensure as an architect in the United States, you should apply to the Summer term (3.5 year program). The 3.5 year program begins in late summer session each year (end of June) and ends the first week of August. Upon admission, we will review your previous degrees and determine if you need the initial semester of this program or if you can start during the the Fall term. This may include architecture-related degrees such as Environmental Design, Design, or studio-based degrees, but is decided on a case-by-case basis. We evaluate each application and will ensure that you are admitted to the correct term. 

Every applicant to the M.Arch program is considered for available funding. No additional application is needed. A ranked list of both 2 and 3.5 year applicants is developed during the review process and top applicants are offered funding until all is accepted. This includes both US and International applicants.

Materials

The following materials are required:

  1. Application
  2. Application Fee
  3. You will be asked to provide the email contact information for 3 recommenders. Your recommenders will receive an automated email asking that they complete an online letter of recommendation for you.
  4. A copy of your transcript from EVERY college attended since high school to be uploaded with your application, even if transfer credits from each are included in your current transcript. These may be unofficial copies. If admitted, you will be required to provide official copies.
  5. Official TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable. The GRE is required for Ph.D. admissions only (not required for M.Arch, M.S.Arch, or MSUD applications).
  6. Your portfolio, either in a PDF or a link to an online copy. M.S.Arch and Ph.D. students are not required to submit portfolios.
  7. A scholarly writing sample is required for M.S.Arch and Ph.D. applicants.

All supporting documentation except test scores are to be uploaded with your online application. If you have your paper TOEFL score report you may upload them with your application but you will also need to ask Educational Testing Service to send Georgia Tech your official electronic scores. If applying to the Master of Architecture Degree Program, you are required to upload a copy of your portfolio for review at the time of application.

A scholarly writing sample is required for the Master of Science in Architecture program, for all concentrations.  If you are applying to the Master of Science in Urban Design, you are required to upload either a PDF copy of your portfolio (preferred), or a scholarly writing sample.

If you are a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and you wish to claim Georgia Residence for tuition purposes, you must complete the Application for Georgia Residence Status form (included with the on-line application). Please also be prepared to upload a copy of your passport and driver's license if you are a US citizen and your Permanent Resident card if applicable.

Test and Scores

For those applying for the 2021-2022 academic year, the GRE is not required for those applying to the Master of Architecture, Master of Science in Architecture, and Master of Science in Urban Design programs.

The GRE is required for admission to the Ph.D. in Architecture program. The School of Architecture does not set minimums for the GRE, but the average among our students is relatively high. Admission to graduate study in the School of Architecture is competitive and based upon merit as evidenced in the applicant’s previous academic performance, GRE and/or TOEFL scores, portfolio, and other supporting documentation.

The School of Architecture requires a minimum TOEFL score of 100 or a minimum IELTS score of 7.5. These requirements exceed that of the Institute. International students must meet the School of Architecture minimum to be considered for admission to graduate studies in architecture.

Anyone who is not a US Citizen or a Permanent Resident of the US must take the TOEFL unless they have attended college for at least one year in the United States. In addition, anyone who is a citizen of or has attended college for a minimum of one year in the following countries is exempt from the TOEFL requirement: United Kingdom, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Granada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenadines, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua (West Indies). Please note that the TOEFL is the ONLY acceptable language test approved and recognized for admission by Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech does not accept the IELTS as an approved language test for admission.

Decision Notification

Notification of admissions decisions are generally out by early March. If the admissions committee considers your application competitive, and you were not offered admission during the initial review process, your name may be placed on a wait list for consideration in the event that space becomes available. You will be notified by letter if you have been placed on a waiting list.

Master of Science applicants are not considered until later in the review process, so we cannot give a specific notification deadline. Admissions decisions are influenced by available space and faculty in the specific area of concentration requested by the applicant.

Connect with our Advisors

Our advisors are here to guide you through your decision and your admissions process.