Create the blueprints for a great career
In one of North America’s top schools of architecture, you’ll get a broad education that covers everything from building materials and construction techniques to cultural history, social context, green architecture, and more. Not to mention you'll combine it all with paid co-op work experience.
However, the core of pre-professional program is design courses, starting right in year one. You’ll get your own dedicated space in our studio where you’ll develop your ideas and skills through a series of hands-on projects.
Learn about society and culture, the principles of physics, materials and techniques of construction, human interaction with the natural and built environment, critical thought, and the diverse forms of creative expression.
It all happens in a beautiful historic building in the city of Cambridge, about 30 kilometres south of the main Waterloo campus, complete with labs, exhibition galleries, and a world-class design library.
Program highlights
- Study in Rome. The Coliseum is calling! You’ll spend the fall of your fourth year at our studio in Rome, one of the world's great cities for culture and architecture.
- Kick-start your career as an architect. Join the only school of architecture in the world where you’ll get two years of paid co-op work experience in Canada and abroad.
- Offered as a co-op program only
- Graduate with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies
- Offered by the Faculty of Engineering
Build your Architecture degree at Waterloo
The School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo is a leader in design education and research. All students gain valuable paid co-op work experience and the program has been rated the greenest architecture curriculum in Canada.
What will you learn?
During your first year, you'll take a mix of design, communication, and building courses. In upper years, most of the classes you'll take will be Architecture courses.
Learn more about courses you'll take for your Architecture degree.
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Architecture degree admission requirements
Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- English (ENG4U) (A minimum final grade of 75% is required)
- Advanced Functions (A minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Calculus and Vectors (A minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Physics (A minimum final grade of 70% is required)
Recommended: Grade 11 or 12 art courses, independent art studies, creative and cultural studies such as visual arts and history
Admission average: Individual selection from the mid-80s
Selected students will be invited to submit a portfolio of creative work and to complete an English précis-writing exercise as part of the application process.
Complete the Admission Information Form once you've applied.
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.
How to apply
Apply directly to this program on your application.
