1. Personal and academic information.
2. A statement of objective of educational and career goals.
3. A resume/curriculum vita (to include education and employment history, honors, awards, and extracurricular activities).
4. Three letters of recommendation, to be completed by individuals who know the personal and academic qualities of the applicant (preferably—although not necessarily—academic instructors). These three letters will be submitted through the online application process. Please note that, along with other contact information, the applicant will need to provide each recommender's accurate e-mail address.
5. A nonrefundable $85 application fee. Note: The $85 application fee will be waived for applicants who complete their online application by November 30. Beginning December 1, the application fee is $85, and must be paid online by credit card.
6. Official transcripts. Upload a digital copy (PDF format) of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. When submitting digital academic records from multiple schools, please organize those records for submission as a single PDF upload.
*NOTE: At a later stage in our process, applicants who are admitted and plan to enroll must arrange for us to receive official, hard-copy transcripts. At that time, only official transcripts sent to us directly from the schools attended will be allowed. Additionally, students who have attended a Chinese university must have their degree verified—in English—by the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center. The degree confirmation should include verification of the English versions of final transcripts and degree certificates. All verification reports must be sent to us directly by the CDGDC to be considered official. Official transcripts as well as degree verifications are due to our office no later than August 1.
7. GRE scores, provided by the testing services (optional). While GRE scores are not required, they are strongly recommended. To ensure official test score reports arrive as needed, please use our institution code (6929) and department code (4401) when making arrangements with the testing agency.
8. English language scores (if the applicant's native language is not English). A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score is required if the applicant's native language is not English. The minimum acceptable TOEFL scores are 90 on the Internet-based test, 577 on the paper-based test, or 233 on the computer-based test. The IELTS score minimum is 7.0. Note that an exception to the English test score requirement is made for candidates who have studied four years toward a baccalaureate degree in the United States. To ensure official TOEFL test score reports arrive as needed, please use our institution code (6929) and department code (12) when making arrangements with the testing agency. IELTS scores must be sent in hard-copy form to our office.
9. Portfolio. A digital portfolio showing examples of design work or work in the visual arts must be uploaded to our online application system. Please review our instructions below carefully.
The work represented in the portfolio—whether it includes drawings, photographs of architectural models, or artwork (including various types of media such as paintings, sculpture, ceramics, or photography)—should be the best examples of the applicant's efforts.
Applicants who have not studied architecture previously should submit at least 15 examples of work in the visual arts and—if available—in the constructive arts (for example, photographs and drawings from small, three-dimensional built projects such as furniture, kiosks, or decks.) The overall intention is to show work that demonstrates potential for accomplishment in further creative study.
Applicants who have pursued formal studies in architecture or landscape architecture must include examples of their design work related to those areas but are also welcome to include examples of other artistic endeavors.
Important: Applicants submitting work done collaboratively, either in school or in the profession, should note that the work was not entirely completed through their own efforts and should be as specific as possible about the extent of their personal involvement in such projects.
Portfolio Formatting/Technical Requirements
- Please submit the portfolio as a single PDF document, with a maximum file size of 20 MB and a maximum resolution of 150 dpi. All work should be produced in high-resolution digital images.
- Prepare the file for computer monitor viewing (i.e., horizontal orientation), with text that is at least 8 points large so that it is legible when viewed full-screen.
- Applicants may submit a maximum of 25 pages (note: 2-page spreads count as one page). Front and back cover pages are allowed and would increase the maximum page limit to 27.
- The layout of the portfolio pages should be clear, with brief descriptions for each piece or project.
HARD-COPY APPLICATION MATERIALS
Applicants who are submitting IELTS scores must arrange to have the testing service send a hard-copy report of the scores to our office.
Our mailing address is:
Admissions: Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design
Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts
Washington University in St. Louis
Campus Box 1079, Givens Hall, Room 105
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130