Current graduate students

a student defends their architecture thesis in front of a seated audience

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.

Contact the Graduate Program and Research Coordinator, for inquiries regarding Master of Architecture (MArch) admissions, courses and consultation.

In order to graduate, you must ensure that you have returned all books/equipment and have no fees owing to ACM or the Musagetes Library.

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. In Canada, 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.

View the 2024 Visiting Team Report.

Guide to Program and Student Performance Criteria.