i don't know about the entry requirements as i went to U of manitoba for bach env. design and master of architecture...but about jobs i think it is about the same as any position really. probably health care is best/easiest, but there is not anything intrinsically difficult about finding work as architect in canada.

although now that i think on it most of my friends, and especially the ones i have kept in touch with, are all over the world, from europe to asia to canada and the usa. seems like no two of them ended up in the same city.

which is perhaps something you can take either way. it is positive cuz it means the degree from canadian school travels pretty well around the world. or if you prefer a negative reading it means everyone had to leave the place they got that education to find a good job.

but to be honest i don't think any of us felt we had to leave, we just wanted to see a bit more of the world than was available in canada.

so if you are interested in architecture i wouldn't worry overly much about the job market. there will always be something, especially if you don't mind moving. the pay however may not be what you expect. but that is another story altogether...:-)

I echo jump's comments. Plenty of architecture grads are currently working very good jobs in Canada and abroad. Canadian unis are generally quite good... on par with just about any school in the world, minus the few really big name places. Of course, the economic situation doesn't look too bright right now, but these times won't last forever. Besides, Canada is actually looking at a pretty severe shortage of architects in the coming years as the baby-boom retires. I think job prospects should be quite good.

As for your particular situation, I think it all depends how far into your current studies you are. If you have over a certain number of credit-hours (usually equivalent to an entire semester) you'll be applying for transfer based on your university grades rather than highschool marks (or CEGEP for those of you in Quebec). This is something that you'll have to consider. Speak to a councilor or someone in the faculty or administration.

If I were to do it all over again however (current Environmental Design student at Manitoba) , I would have done a non-arch undergrad. Architecture school, although at times fun and stimulating, can be extremely stifling and oppressive as well. Because of Canada's exclusive use of the M.Arch (there are no longer professional bachelors degrees in architecture), it is very easy (and common) for non-architecture undergrads to pursue architecture at the master's level.
Perhaps it's the age/maturity thing, but I always feel that the non-arch grads attack design school with a much broader base of knowledge and experience than the E.D. students.
If I were you, I would pursue something that you're interested in at the undergrad level and then look at masters. Engineering, music, english, environmental sciences, philosophy, history, whatever... All of which I'd consider just as valuable as the undergrad education I'm getting. Plus, in these other faculties you'll have the time and energy to keep up with all the other things you enjoy in life.

I am from McGill too. They put me on waiting list last year since space is very limited for faculty-transfers + fierce competition : I heard there are some 60 applicants in transfer-pool for 3 to 4 seats at most.But well, I only spend a week on assembling my portfolio, so you get what you pay for I guess.

Grades aren't that important as long as you pass certain threshold like 3.3+ sth for example. Just make sure your portfolio is dazzling.

I don't know much about the current arch market in Canada. One thing is for sure: you have to climb your way up. The pay is pathetic for new interns but will gradually go up as you gain more experiences like 10 or 20 years in the field. With the economic downturn, I am getting my civil ngineering degree first as a safety valve, then a M.Arch somewhere else. Even jobs in engineering are scarce nowadays.

Though I agree with IamGray's post about the benefits of getting an undergrad degree in something other than architecture (school shouldn't be just career training), I would only add that it's mostly a personal decision that may have its consequences too. I have a B.Arch from McGill, and I'm finding the time spent away from school before getting my master's just as important as my undergrad degree. I get the feeling that some of the friends from my year who recently finished their master's without any time in between are pretty confused and may have been missing some perspective before deciding to commit to a couple of years of even more school.
I guess what I'm saying is that M.Arch without having the chance to work/explore/play in the field seems pretty risky to me too. Firms don't usually hire people without any previous experience in architecture.
Pay is fine as a architecte stagiaire in Montreal; chances are if you find a paying job (most) you won't get the same level of exploitation that you get in New York, for example.
You should schedule an appointment with Mary when she gets back from holidays, though. She's pretty helpful, though you might have to push to get some straight answers from her.

Hey thanks a lot for all your replies. I just finished a semester in engineering and seeing as it isn't for me (at least for that field of engineering) I transferred into another program in the mean time, since mcgill arch only accepts in fall. I saw that a lot of you talked about doing the M.arch afterwards. If i'm not mistaken, McGill's m.arch program requires that applicants complete the b.arch first...so I'm just wondering, which canadian universities allow students into the m.arch from any other field of study? Also, if you have any experience with this, how was it going into m.arch without the basic architecture training that one would gain from a b.arch. McGill stats are pretty hard to find compared to the other architecture schools in quebec, but I was wondering if anyone knew how many people were accepted every year and if they had a quota for university students?

most of canada's schools have a progam for m.arch with other undergrad degree. check each school's website or call to confirm which do and which don't...

more importantly, at least from my perspective, is that the undergrad E.D. or whatever + M.Arch. is better simply because it means you can get reciprocity in Europe and UK, etc. Lots/most countries require 5 years archi-education and an undergrad in something else will not give you that. which means if you want to go to london and get RIBA part III (their equivalent of full architect) you are SOL.

I am biased because my career has been defined by travel, but there are many times i have thanked lucky stars that i did 6 years of archi-school, because i didn't have a clue about any of that stuff and no idea i would be leaving canada either. the broader education may be helpful (though i don't believe so - personality is more important in my opinion), but the flexibility is undeniably a good thing...

Mtlstudent,

UBC, Calgary, Manitoba, Toronto, Carelton, and Dal have some type of masters program for non-arch undergraduates. Usually these take 4 years to complete.

At Manitoba for example, you enter into the Pre-master's (PM) program. This program is essentially a compressed version of the Environmental Design degree that I am currently doing (2 years vs. 1+3 required for E.D). Following your second PM year, you then apply to the actual Master's program (which is another two years). Currently you don't really get any acknowledgment for the PM program, but that's in the process of change. In the future, graduates of PM will receive a Bachelor of Environmental Design after Degree.

While I can't speak to the transition from unrelated undergrad to architecture school, I can reiterate my earlier comments that I find the PM students are generally more mature, focused, and well... interesting than most of my colleagues . Perhaps I'm just being hard on myself / classmates, but I just find the nature of design school (ie. extremely time consuming) doesn't lend itself well to self discovery or gaining a broad wealth of knowledge (things that I think are extremely important out of an undergraduate education).
That being said, I still think the environmental design graduates produce better work than their non-arch counterparts. So take that for what it's worth.

Really, it's all just a personal decision. Doing an undergraduate degree in architecture will get you done school faster, you'll probably have a better portfolio (those extra couple studios will help), and like Jump mentioned, you'll have better employment / academic opportunities overseas.
On the other hand, you have to know that architecture is what you want to do NOW. If you're not totally committed to architecture, you'll have a very difficult time.

mtlstudent

if u read my post, u will find some stats on McGill arch

they have around 60 spots for U1 class.