Graduate Admissions

For admissions to UNC Charlotte, we require demonstrated English proficiency with an IELTS overall minimum score of 6.5, a minimum paper-based TOEFL score of 577, or a minimum internet-based TOEFL score of 83, or a minimum Duolingo score of 115.

To be official, scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to UNC Charlotte and typically should be within the past two years. More detailed information about the tests, submission process, and who is exempt from these requirements can be found at the UNC Charlotte Graduate School’s English Language Proficiency website.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language proficiency requirement will not be admitted to UNC Charlotte. They may, however, choose to enroll at UNC Charlotte’s English Language Training Institute (ELTI) and then re-apply to the Graduate School. For details, see the ELTI website.

International students admitted to a graduate program at UNC Charlotte must confirm their intent to enroll before the University can begin paperwork for the F-1 or J-1 visa. As part of the online enrollment form, and prior to generation of visa documents, international students must provide a financial certification that they are able to cover the full cost of attendance.

The International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) manages the 1-20 process and faculty and staff within the School of Architecture are not able to answers questions about the visa process.

For more detailed information about post-acceptance requirements, included applying for a U.S. visa, please see the UNC Charlotte web page for Enrollment Requirements for New Intentional Applicants and Information for New International Students and the FAQ for new International Students.

There are dormitories and other housing options on campus as well as many apartments for rent within walking distance of the university. For more information about on-campus housing, please see the Housing and Residence Life website. In addition, information about moving to Charlotte can be found on the International Students website.

All international students studying at UNC Charlotte (on F-1 or J-1) are required to have health insurance provided the Student Health Center. The costs for this will be billed automatically to their tuition bills. For more information, please see the Health Center’s Insurance web page.

As international applicants plan their arrival in Charlotte, they should keep in mind mandatory International Student Orientation dates that begin mid-August.

The application process is submitted online via the University’s Graduate School Apply Now link. All materials for the application process are submitted electronically (transcripts, recommendations, statement of intent, GRE test scores, etc.).

You are responsible to make sure that all of your materials have been submitted via the electronic application process. Please do not forward any materials by mail or email to the David R. Ravin School of Architecture during the process.

Application completion status can be checked via the Graduate School’s application portal by logging back in to the application. Applications will only be reviewed if they have been officially completed. It is critical that you check your online application frequently in order to insure everything has been received.

Most interior design and architectural tech programs do not provide the necessary design studio experience for entry into our 2-year MArch program. At the same time, applicants with these undergraduate degrees may feel that they have taken some or all of the additional coursework for the 2-year program (e.g. the completion of history, structures, materials, environmental systems, etc.) during their undergraduate degree. In all cases it is recommended that these degree holders apply to the 3+ MArch (3-1/2 year program) to begin with. During the acceptance process the Admissions Committee will evaluate your application for any advance standing.

In some cases, the School of Architecture may waive a required course if we determine it is redundant to your studies. In such cases we will need to evaluate the course by reviewing its syllabus, all assignments, as well as the final grade you received for the class. If a waiver is permitted, then you will be asked to enroll in an advanced elective course to replace the required course credit. By the same token, credit may be given for prior academic material through “credit by examination” at the discretion of the Associate Director.

Some four-year architecture bachelor degree holders may have to take one or more courses to fulfill the basic entry requirements for the 2-year MArch program (refer to Graduate Catalog). Hence non-studio coursework – such as, Environmental Systems, Structures 2, etc. – may have to be completed. Such coursework may be fulfilled after acceptance to the program. In some cases, the program of study may be longer in order accommodate these additional classes.

Your portfolio is an expression and demonstration of your creative work. This should be common practice for 2-year MArch applicants familiar with the process of creating one. For 3+ MArch students (who typically have degrees in fields outside of design), it is suggested that you include work from courses in: visual art, sculpture, photography, personal projects, etc. You may also include samples of architectural work from offices if you’ve had such experience. In addition, you may also consider any creative work such as essays or reports that you have authored during your college/professional career(s). In general, any creative work you deem worthy may be included in the portfolio.

Digital Portfolio Requirement: The format for the portfolio is limited to a maximum size of 8-1/2” x 11”. It should be formatted as a pdf document and uploaded as part of the online application process. What you include in this folio is an indication and demonstration of your creativity. In all cases it should be elegant, concise, and a demonstration of your skills and visual sensibilities. A typical portfolio may have a total of 15-20 pages that demonstrates your accomplishments in an organized, narrative, and visual manner. Each piece featured should be presented with high-quality images and a brief text description. The careful composition, layout, and visual presentation of the portfolio are also important indicators of your creativity.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.

3+ MArch applicants are asked to take, before starting the program ,coursework in pre-calculus and basic physics. 2-year MArch applicants with a 4-year degree in architecture are expected to have a minimum of: 6 semesters of design studio, 2 semesters of introductory architectural history/theory, 2 structures courses, 1 environmental systems course, and 1 architectural materials course.

There are a number of awards that all accepted applicants are assessed for during the admission process. These are awarded to the most promising new graduate students on a merit basis. For MArch applicants with design backgrounds, awards are based on prior academic and professional experience as well as skills and achievements in architecture. For 3+ MArch students, awards are based on academic achievement and promise.

There are four types of awards:

a. Graduate Assistant Support Plan (GASP): These awards are for resident and non-resident students and provide support for two or three years of tuition during the regular academic year. Each award also includes a yearly stipend (in past years this amount has been approximately $9,000/year) that covers research assistant work within one of the School of Architecture’s three research centers – Digital Arts Research Team (DArts), Design + Society and Research Center (DSRC), and the Center for Integrated Building Design Research (CIBDR). These awards are available for both to 2-year MArch and 3+ year MArch applicants based on their academic merits and record during the admissions process.

b. Tuition Awards: These awards are for both in-state and non-resident applicants. The award reduces annual tuition liability equal to the amount of in-state tuition or the difference between in-state and non-resident tuition. These awards may also include a research assistant stipend (in past years this amount has been approximately $7000/year). These awards do not apply to summer semesters (fall and spring only) and are available for both 2-year and 3+ year applicants.

c. Teaching/Research Assistantships: Stipends for assistantships are available for qualified masters candidates and ongoing students in the MArch program. The amount varies according to departmental needs for teaching and the candidate’s expertise. Awards are typically given to students that have some experience in the education of architecture. Assignments include: undergraduate assistant roles, class administrative duties, and laboratory research assistants.

d. David R. Ravin School of Architecture Scholarships: There are also endowed School of Architecture scholarships that any matriculated student may apply for in the Fall semesters of their academic careers. These are offered via an application process at the beginning of each fall and spring semester. These competitive awards range from $1000 to $2500.

MArch AS applicants should apply for the Summer term as they will start their program in the summer during the first summer term in May.

MArch I applicants should apply for the Fall term, but will in fact start their program at the beginning of August with a 2-week Kickstart program that introduces them to studio culture and some tools they will need during their degree. In some cases, participation in the Kickstart program may be waived for applicants with an undergraduate degree in a related design field (e.g. Interior Architecture).

MArch II, MS, and MUD applicants should apply for the Fall term and will students begin their programs in the late August. However, new MUD students without any design background will be asked to participate in the Kickstart program that begins in early August.

You must formally apply and be admitted to either the two MArch programs before you can take required coursework. Some applicants, however, have enrolled in non-required courses such as Liberal Studies (LBST) general education undergraduate lecture classes as an introduction to architecture. These courses do not count towards their master’s studies. Another option is to enroll at UNC Charlotte as a Post Baccalaureate student. Post Bac status will allow students to take graduate level elective coursework at UNC Charlotte with instructor approval and if space is available. Up to 6 credits of Post Bac studies may be transferred into a graduate program should the student be accepted as a graduate student.

The School of Architecture is a full-time enrollment program in which all of our graduate students take courses beyond the full-time graduate load. The typical graduate student enrolls in at least 9 credits of coursework per semester; Master of Architecture students typically enroll in (on average) 15 units per term. Given this heavy course load and given the significant amount of time needed to complete assignments and projects, the School of Architecture highly recommends that students not seek outside employment.

The School of Architecture realizes that full time enrollment in graduate school is a costly endeavor; some students will find it necessary to work off campus to make ends meet. This will represent a significant demand on student time and, therefore, may conflict with the demands of graduate study.

The School of Architecture offers a broad-based program of study through its MArch program.

Faculty expertise and therefore program coverage is especially strong in Applied Critical History, Emergent Material Practices, Regenerative Systems Design, Social Justice Futures, The Computed Environment, and the Engaged City. More about what distinguishes the Ravin School of Architecture can be read about on our website.

The Master of Urban Design and the MS concentrations in Critical Heritage, Design Computation, and Sustainable Building Technology offer opportunities for SoA students to specialize in one of these areas as well as to get involved with faculty research in the SoA City.Building.Lab (CBL), designLab, and Integrated Design Research Lab (IDRL) as well as the College of Arts + Archtiecture Digital Arts Lab (D.Arts) and Research Center for Community, Heritage, and the Arts (CHArt). More information about these labs and centers can be found on our Research Labs and Centers website.

The priority deadline for all application materials to be submitted online for the MArch, MS, and MUD programs is January 15 for admission to the following academic year. Only applications received by this priority deadline will be considered for funding. Applications received after this date will be reviewed on a rolling basis as space permits in the programs.

The School of Architecture offers a general Open House in the fall semester (typically the third week in October) and a special spring Open House event (the last week in March) for applicants accepted to the program. Though different, each of these Open House events features a tour of the School, introduction to faculty and student work/projects, and an opportunity to see the program in action. Please contact soa-info@charlotte.edu to learn of the exact dates as well as to schedule your participation at one of these Open House events.