Program Overview

University of Waterloo Architecture Program

The University of Waterloo currently offers a Master of Architecture (MArch) degree. This one-year curriculum program is designed to prepare students for professional qualification as architects. Combining elements of a professional and a research-based master's program in preparation for entry into the profession of architecture, this program is designed for students with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) or equivalent undergraduate degree.

Program Details

• The program is designed to prepare students for professional qualification as architects.
• The program combines elements of a professional and a research-based master's program.
• The program is designed for students with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) or equivalent undergraduate degree.

Accreditation Information

The professional Master of Architecture in conjunction with the pre-professional Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree from the University of Waterloo compromises an accredited professional education.

• In Canada, all provincial/territorial associations/institutes/orders recommend a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure.
  • The Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) is the sole agency authorized by the Regulatory Organization of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) to accredit Canadian professional degree programs in architecture for the purposes of architectural licensure.
• The CACB recognizes two types of accredited degrees offered at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture: the Master of Architecture (professional) and the Bachelor of Architecture (pre-professional).
• A program may be granted a six-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on its degree of conformance with established educational standards.
• Master’s degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education.
• However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.
• The program in Architecture at the University of Waterloo received accreditation for a 6-year term by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) in 2024.
• The program is scheduled for its next review to continue maintaining its accredited status in 2030.

Graduation Requirements

• In order to graduate, students must ensure that they have returned all books/equipment and have no fees owing to the university.

Research Areas

The program combines elements of a professional and a research-based master's program, preparing students for entry into the profession of architecture.

Program Structure

The Master of Architecture (MArch) degree is a one-year curriculum program.

University Acknowledgement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.