Do I need to complete a special application for financial aid?
No. If your complete application packet reaches us by January 1 (for international students) or February 1 (for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, or international applicants to the spring semester), it will automatically be considered for any financial aid that is available through the School of Architecture Graduate Program. The only exception is for applicants who wish to be considered for a Teaching or Research Assistantship.
I am an international applicant. Will I qualify for financial aid?
All international students will be considered for financial aid if their applications are complete and reach us by January 1. Please note that in order to qualify for a Teaching Assistantship, international students must also meet one of the following requirements:
Have a minimum iBT TOEFL score of 90 overall and 26 on the spoken English section
Have a degree from a U.S. university
Be a citizen of an English-speaking country
What guarantee is there that I will receive financial aid?
Financial aid is limited and awards are made on a competitive basis by the Admissions Committee. Your letter of acceptance to the program will contain details of any financial aid that may have been awarded to you.
What guarantee is there that my initial financial aid award will remain the same?
The School of Architecture strives to maintain the highest possible level of financial assistance to students. However, some awards and scholarships are available only to incoming students (such as Graduate College Fellowships and some special, one-time scholarships) to help them defray the costs of relocating to Tucson. These time-limited awards will be clearly indicated as such in the financial offer letter.
Do you admit students in fall as well as in spring?
Spring admission is possible in the M.S.Arch program, but fall admission is strongly recommended, and is required for the M.Arch II and M.Arch III programs. Spring admission to the M.S.Arch program will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The primary reason for this is that the curriculum is integrated and courses are offered in a sequenced manner that favors a fall start. Another reason is that all financial aid awards for the following academic year are made in the fall; therefore, applicants who wish to enter in spring and wish to be considered for financial aid must meet the fall application deadline.
Do I need a special form for letters of reference?
You will be asked to provide us with a list of three persons who can provide a reference for you. We will contact them and invite them to complete a form on our website, where they will also have the opportunity to upload a letter or add text. Any letters should be written on the letterhead of the organization with which your recommender is affiliated.
What should I include in my statement of intent?
There are good sources of guidance about a statement of intent (also known as an admissions essay or personal statement) on the Internet. Here are two resources you can use: GradSchools.com; Peterson's Essay Edge.
What should be included in my portfolio?
Examples of your abilities such as problem-solving, creativity, and skills relevant to the field of study you have chosen. These can be examples from school or work, but preferably both. All images depicting academic or professional work must be clearly labeled and accompanied by brief descriptive text to indicate their relation to an assignment. Assignments that involved a team must clearly show and describe your contribution to the joint effort.
What are the computing requirements for graduate students?
All students in the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (CALA) are required to have a laptop computer that meets College specifications. Please consult the most recent specifications list, which can be found on the CALA Computing site, and which is regularly updated each summer, prior to the beginning of the next academic year.
