I would go to the main page for this forum and scroll to the bottom, you'll see a search field... enter "canadian schools" or "canadian architecture" and you'll see a number of threads about canadian architecture programs...

re: U of M... It's a good school... I believe that if you start in the B Env Des it doesn't guarantee that you get into the M.Arch program. Not sure what the GPA requirments are... The school itself is in a nice modernist building, I visited the school once liked the building... I believe they have an interior design program there as well... They have a materials research laboratory, "CAST" that does some interesting work... It used to be a school in a modernist tradition similar to IIT I think... Of course, that was a long time ago, and things are probably quite different now... You'd be in Winnipeg Manitoba which is a smaller city, gets pretty cold there in the winter (understatement)... I'd actually visit the schools if possible before making a decision, but when I visited there, it seemed like a nice school, some interesting looking projects posted on the walls at the time...

Ryerson is a decent enough school... Alot more adjunct faculty (so your profs will be practicing architects in the Toronto area firms)... It's in the middle of downtown Toronto which is a plus... Cool location and nice campus imo... Graduates usually go on to work or complete their education in an m.arch at another architecture school in canada or the states (since ryerson doesn't offer an accredited m.arch degree). Ryerson has some other cool schools outside of architecture, their film school is supposed to be quite good...

Carleton is a good school... It has had a reputation of being a bit more "artsy"... The "cooper union of canadian architecture schools"... some interesting architects like hani rashid graduated from there... has a reputation for maybe producing creative but not necessarily the most practical or technical graduates... but i'd say it's a good school... tough... I'm not sure if things are still the same way, but Carlton used to be a bit more of the experimental school I think... I'm not sure how it works anymore, but it used to be a 5 year accredited b.arch...

If I had to choose between those schools for undergrad, I might choose Carlton, but they are all different... There are also unacredited architecture degrees at U of T, UBC, McGill, Dalhousie, and Waterloo... Although for any of those schools, the emphasis may be more in the professional masters programs... At U of T and UBC, the undergrad programs I think will be theory and lecture/seminar focused I think, maybe interdisciplanary?... McGill's architecture program is in their engineering school... Waterloo and Dal have co-op work terms, so you come out of school with some work experience...

There's more info on other threads, do the "search"... I know there are a few Manitoba graduates on these forums...

Good luck! :)

i did undergrad and grad at UM, then phd at university of tokyo (with several years between each degree). the school has changed radically since i left in 2001 and the benv des is totally revamped starting this year. i am not sure exactly where the impetus for change has come from but bartlett's (UK) system seems to have played a part somehow as inspiration.

when i began undergrad the school was still very very modernist. when i did grad school it had switched to something much more funky and theoretical. both suited me fine. my thesis was of the funky modernist variety.

what it is now i could not say. perhaps is safe to say it is a work in progress, which is both good and bad.

talking recently to one of the folks in charge i got the impression that the new system is intended to give students all of their technical skills in undergrad so they can then go on to focus on more theoretical pursuits in grad school (which as someone mentioned above you will have no guarantee of getting into). So I would expect the school to be slightly funky but with a practical bent. although i notice that they no longer have all the structural engineering courses nor the math courses i had to take, so i am guessing maybe not TOO technical.

When i was working as studio assistant the undergrad students were very creative, making models with plaster and welding and such. there was very little holding them back from trying things out. i would attribute that output to the encouragement of the professors, many of whom are still there. so i am guessing the studios will be interesting at least.

about GPA i couldn't say. i think a prof did mention to me once that there are many students applying lately so things are a bit competitive, but don't trust me on that. i would be amazed if 4.0 is necessary, especially if you have good portfolio, but never know.

not sure if any of that helps...good luck!

Maybe I can help (I'm doing my M.Arch and TA-ing for undergrads at UofM)


The first year is called U1. This is like a general first year for everybody in the school, but you have the option of taking an intro-to-design course or two. This will give you the chance to decide if design is really something you want to do.

To be accepted into the undergrad program, right now you need a GPA of 3.3, minimum. This will be going up over the next few years, I'm told.

What else.... Yes, the technical courses are loaded into the undergrad degree, so that your Master's year is freed up for more exploratory work. It should be noted, however, that a comprehensive project is expected during your Master's years, so you will constantly be working with real-life technical constraints. Technical aspects haven't been stressed too much in the recent past, but this is changing very quickly, and expectations of students are rising - several people failed the technical course this past term.

If you do the undergrad degree here, it's not assumed you'll be admitted to the graduate program, and in fact, students are encouraged to apply to other schools instead of staying at U of M.

Not entirely sure what else to say. I enjoy it here, it's the right decision for me - I feel like I'm learning a lot of practical stuff, and I'm encouraged to explore as much as I want - and even beyond what I'd be comfortable with on my own.

Be sure to check out all the schools, and ask students (via boards like these, or school-specific websites if possible) what they like and don't like.

PS. It's cold here, but you'll probably survive.

sorry, that should say "...your Masters yearS are freed up for...."

rad guys thanks


brink ' ive searched and read through it all now too


hey Dustin, 3.3 now... any guess on how much that is expected to go up next year?? I'd hate to move to Manitoba...do the first year, and have to change schools/programs if I'm below something like 3.8 nahmean.


sry this is a specific question maybe i should ask the schools but...
think an 85% in highschool is enough, if I have a nice portfolio, to get into carlton etc?

Thanks:)

Not sure, but I think 85% should be good enough... The portfolio is definitely important to the application. When preparing your portfolio, try to show some diversity, not just architecture related content, you can also include art, photography, other things... One of my classmates submitted music compositions in their portfolio...

I wouldn't restrict your applications, if you are thinking Ontario, I'd also try U of T and Waterloo in addition to Ryerson and Carlton since you can apply to 4 schools out of highschool I believe... Waterloo I think is a very good program, it's probably the toughest to get into though I think...

Just thought I would throw my two cents worth in...I am currently in my 2nd year in the faculty and therefore I am part of the new crop of students who are experiencing the restructured program.

Re gpa...I know that the lowest admitted GPA this year was a 3.2 BUT I do know that the average entering grade was about a 3.6 and many of us had around a 4.0, so the GPA thing is definitely something to take into consideration.

As for the program, I am not really sure what would be considered "more" technical or conceptual but I can say that I find we get a good mix of technical restraints, as well as the freedom to explore.

I can't say how the UofM stacks up compared to other schools, but I can say that I am satisfied that the UofM was a good choice/fit for me. Don't let the "middle of nowhere" thing deter you, Winnipeg actually has a very strong design culture, thanks in part to our faculty.
Hope this helps

I can't say how much minimum GPA will go up, this is just what I've been told.

Having said that, your portfolio is the most important consideration. bRink's advice is spot on.

lol I just noticed that in Winnipeg it's -34 if you include windchill...oh dear

-hmm yah I'm working on diversifying bRink , the applications all seem to be very hype on a wide range too, and seem to prefer creativity over other things. I compose very noisy experimental music, is that kind of thing acceptable? or frowned upon?ummm I just did this silly art project: I recently built a 3foot tall cardboard robot - took a picture of it, and made tons of 'Lost Robot' posters with my phone number, I put the posters up all over the place, and then I hid the robot outside...still waiting for someone to find him :) lol. is this just wayyyy toooo ridiculous? or an action I could somehow carefully represent with maybe photographs in a portfolio? - actually maybe impossible.

thanks for all your help guys

Oh, it's colder than that in much of Winnipeg this week. The past few nights it's reached -48. But it's a dry cold, right?

I don't think anything is ridiculous... Actually, IMHO a sense of humor in anything is a plus, so long as your work is overall strong and creative... Supplement the "robot performance art" project with other interests, just be yourself...

Actually, better to be ridiculous and outside of the box than to be conformist and boring in developing a portfolio for school applications, but I think a professional presentation is also important. (Just make sure that whatever you do, do it well, presentation is important)... And show some diversity in your skills as well as ideas...

I think between your portfolio and your essay, you should try to tell them something about yourself that shows a little bit of your own point of view and personality... (or tremendous artistic or graphical skills too) but I think the admissions committee, which is usually made up of faculty members and a few students will be looking to populate their student class with diverse and interesting people, to foster creativity from student to student, you learn as much from each other as from your profs...

But presentation is important, so ya work on a nice portfolio, do your best, be yourself... You can even be crafty or clever in your presentation... I've seen portfolios that are a series of postcards in a neat little box that the applicant made...

Good luck! :)

Yeah it reached -51 here this past week.

Good art and music scene though. I don't know what to call it but I think the "nothingness" vibe to the city helps incubate some powerful creativity. I mean there's not much to do, it's not a very beautiful city, and it's freezing for more than half the year, but for some reason the city has a tendency to be a breeding ground for the creative mind. Probably cause there isn't much to do. So that's one thing you don't have to worry about when coming here for school. You can concentrate on studies.

In art Marcel Dzama and Sarah anne Johnson went to school here, now doing well in New York. The Pratkaus in architecture, did undergrad here. Like most people, I have a love hate relationship with Winterpeg. I myself can't wait to get out, but that's cause I've been here since I was 8.

dont forget neil young burton cummings and the crash-test dummies! and that lady-actor from my big fat greek wedding too.

and Harry Seidler for earlier generation of architects. and me too of course. famous like nobodies business I am.