Portfolio
Academic performance, grade point average [GPA] calculated for the applicant’s junior and senior year of undergraduate work. Specifically we calculate the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, or [if the applicant is a second semester senior] not less than the last 45 hours.
Letters of recommendation
Statement of Intent
Architectural related work experience
Extra curricular leadership and activities
Portfolio Requirements:
A portfolio of student and professional work is required of all applicants demonstrating the applicant’s abilities in architectural design and communications. Examples of work should include undergraduate design studio work, sketches, free hand drawings, construction drawings, photos of architectural models, and digital models and drawings demonstrating the applicant’s abilities to use architectural graphic programs such as Sketchup, Sketchbook Pro, Rhino, and others.  Portfolio content should meet the following minimum requirements:
Show at least six [6] undergraduate design studio projects completed as a student.
Show introductory analysis, conceptualization, project context, and project development as well as final products for each project entry. A short narrative must accompany each entry.
Demonstrate two- and three-dimensional design development
Demonstrate increasing complexity across the projects
Demonstrate increasing attention to detail development of the design across the projects
To receive full consideration, professional work should include a statement from the employer indicating the extent of the work performed by the applicant. All examples of design studio work should state whether the project was completed individually or by a student team. For projects completed by a student team, the applicant must include a statement outlining the number of team members and the applicant’s responsibilities as part of the team.
Please submit the portfolio in either hard or electronic format (not both). If submitting in electronic format, please email to arch-grad@illinois.edu. If submitting in hard format, please mail it to:

Illinois School of Architecture
Graduate Admissions
104 Temple Buell Hall
611 E Lorado Taft Drive
Champaign, IL 61820

Watch an inforamative video on how to approach creating your portfolio HERE. This video also addresses frequently asked questions regarding portfolio creation and submission.
Hard Copy Portfolio Specifications:
Maximum number of sheets: 25 [50 numbered pages]
Maximum weight: 16 ounces.
Electrionic Portfolio Specifications:
Required file format: PDF
Maximum number of sheets: 25 [50 numbered pages]
Maximum file size: 20MB
Hard Copy Portfolio Return Policy:
Portfolios will not be returned by mail or delivery
Portfolios will be held for pick up by applicants for two months after letters notifying applicants of admissions decisions are mailed. After two months portfolios not retrieved will be discarded.