Bachelor of Architecture in Canada: Complete Course Guide
A Bachelor of Architecture is designed to help the students in building a foundation in architectural studies. Bachelor of Architecture in Canada is a three to the four-year program offered at top universities like UToronto, UBC, etc.
- It covers different subject areas such as Design and Construction, Sustainable Design, Structural Engineering, Architectural History, and Regulations and Safety.
- International students are offered admissions for the fall session.
- Bachelor of Architecture in Canadian Universities is available as a Bachelors of Science, Bachelors in Arts, and Bachelors in Architecture.
Table of Content |
| 1. Why Study Architecture from Canada |
| 2. Top Universities |
| 3. Eligibility & Admission |
| 4. Cost of Study |
| 5. Scholarships |
| 6. Scope |
Why Study Architecture from Canada
- 7800 new job openings are expected in Canada for architects in the time frame of 2017-2026.
- New job seekers in the same time frame will be around 7400 including immigrants.
- More than 50% of jobs from replacement ensure generation of vacancies for new graduates.
- The basic per hour wage for architects ranges from 20.00 CAD to 59.49 CAD. The hourly wage-range in various regions of Canada is compared below:
Bachelor of Architecture in Canada: Top Universities
Some of the top universities offering the architecture as a bachelor's degree are listed below. Given below is a table discussing the rankings, program offered, and total cost of the program in Canadian Universities.
| University | QS World University Ranking 2019 | Program | Total Fee (in CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | 29 | Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies (4 years) | 221728 |
| McGill University | 35 | Bachelor of Science in Architecture | 94572 |
| University of Waterloo | 173 | Bachelor of Applied Science in Architectural Engineering | 206400 |
| Carleton University | 651-700 | Bachelor of Architectural Studies-Design | 132244 |
| Ryerson University | 801-100 | Bachelor of Architectural Science- Architecture | 115528 |
| British Columbia University of Technology (BCIT) | - | Bachelor of Architectural Science | 95724 |
| Laurentian University | - | Bachelor of Architectural Studies | 136376 |
| Other UG programs in Canada | |||
| Thompson Rivers University | 1561 | Architectural and Engineering Technology Diploma | - |
| New Brunswick Community College | 10227 | Diploma in Building Engineering Technology | - |
| Algonquin College | - | Ontario College Diploma in Architectural Technician | - |
Bachelor of Architecture in Canada: Eligibility and Admissions
The admissions to Bachelor of Architecture in Canada require international applicants to complete high school (senior secondary level). International applicants are also required to ensure that they have proof of language proficiency to submit. The details of university-specific eligibility are discussed in detail in the sections below:
University of Toronto
Ranking #1 (Nationally) UToronto is one of the best public universities in Canada. The university is ranked #39 by QS World Rankings for Undergraduate Architecture programs across the globe. The basic details of the program eligibility and admissions to UToronto are as follows:
| UToronto | BSc Architecture |
|---|---|
| Application Fees | 180 |
| Eligibility | Senior secondary school certificate, year 12 board results. |
| English language proficiency | IELTS- 6.5 TOEFL: 100 & 22 on writing CAEL: 70, part score 60 |
| Document Required | Transcripts, test scores, supplementary application |
| Deadline | January 10 for 2020 September intake |
McGill University
Nationally ranking #2, McGill is also recognized in QS World Ranking for UG architectural program #45. The eligibility and admissions details are as follows:
| McGill University | Bachelors of Architectural Studies |
|---|---|
| Application Fees | 114.37 |
| Eligibility | Senior secondary school certificate, Minimum 60% grade, Mathematics and physics in 11 and 12th. |
| English language proficiency | IELTS- 6.5 TOEFL: 90 |
| Document Required | Transcripts, test scores, supplementary application, portfolio |
| Deadline | March 7 |
The portfolio should be submitted as per university’s instruction within an envelope marked Architecture Portfolio.
University of Waterloo
Ranking within the top 150 global universities offering undergraduate architecture program, the University of Waterloo is one of the top 10 universities in Canada. The details of admissions are as follows:
| University of Waterloo | Architectural Studies (Honors) |
|---|---|
| Application Fees | - |
| Eligibility | Minimum final grade of 70% in each- maths & physics, 75% in English and overall grade 80% in class XII Interview |
| English language proficiency | IELTS- 6.5 TOEFL: 90, 25 in speaking & writing CAEL: 70, band score 60 |
| Document Required | Transcripts, test scores, portfolio |
| Deadline | January 15 |
The university reviews applications in March and contacts around the top 400-500 students only. You will be invited to send the portfolio and appear for an interview if you make it to this list.
Carleton University
Applications at Carleton are based on fulfilling program-specific requirements along with general international admission requirements. The details for the same are as follows:
| Carleton University | Architectural Studies (Honors) |
|---|---|
| Application Fees | 100 CAD |
| Eligibility | English, Physics, Maths as a part of Class 12. (Calculus-recommended) |
| English language proficiency | IELTS- 6.5 TOEFL: 86, 22 in speaking & writing CAEL: 70, band score 60 |
| Document Required | Transcripts, test scores, portfolio |
| Deadline | October 15 |
Ryerson University
Nationally ranked #26, Ryerson University offers BArchSc (Bachelors of Architectural Sciences) as a co-op & full-time program. The admission requirements and eligibility for the same are as follows:
| Ryerson University | Architectural Sciences |
|---|---|
| Application Fees | 90 CAD |
| Eligibility | English, Physics, Math, Calculus as a part of Class 12. (Calculus-recommended) |
| English language proficiency | IELTS- 6.5 TOEFL: 92-93 CAEL: 70 |
| Document Required | Transcripts, test scores, portfolio, writing & sketching exercises, |
| Deadline | February 1 |
Admission Decisions
Admissions to Bachelor of Architecture in Canada are highly dependent on the high school grades, portfolios, and fulfillment of core subject requirements. This means that international students should ensure that subjects like maths, physics, calculus, and English are a part of their high school curriculum. If this requirement is not met the chances of admissions to the program are reduced.
Cost for Studying Bachelor of Architecture in Canada
International high school graduate planning to study in Canada may spend an annual cost of INR. The major costs experienced by international students include the cost of various exams & others that are faced once tuition fees and cost of living. The detailed cost bifurcations are given below.
Pre-arrival Cost
Students have to undertake a few tests for applying in Canadian universities such as IELTS, GRE, etc. Their registration, airfare, visa and application are listed below:
- IELTS Fee: 245-250 CAD
- TOEFL Fee: 210-330
- Canada Study Permit Fee: 311
The cost of the exam varies depending on the place of application. Study permit cost includes biometric fees.
Bachelor of Architecture in Canada: Tuition Fees of Top Colleges
Given below is a graph that compares the annual tuition fees for the top universities offering Bachelor of Architecture in Canada:
Cost of Living in Canada
The cost of living in Canada for international students contributes drastically to their expenditure. This cost is highly dependent on the type of accommodation one chooses. Given below is a table detailing the costs of living in various accommodation types:
| Housing Type | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| On-Campus | 6000 |
| Homestays | 9600 |
| Dormitory | 7500 |
| Private | 8400 |
Housing contributes to 25% of the expenditure. The remaining is books & material costing around 1800-2000 CAD (yearly). The food & beverages cost around 3,000 to 4,000 CAD monthly (depending on the lifestyle).
Bachelor of Architecture in Canada with Scholarships
The Canadian Universities offer a wide range of scholarships and prize awards to international students studying Bachelor of Architecture. Some of these scholarships are mentioned below:
| Scholarship | Amount offered (CAD) | University |
|---|---|---|
| Seitali & Mary Kole Kerim Scholarship UToronto Future Leaders Scholarship | 1250 8000 | University of Toronto |
| Maureen Anderson Prize in Architecture Sheila Baillie Scholarship in Architecture | 400 5000 | McGill University |
| International Student Entrance Scholarship President’s Scholarship | 10,000 2000 | University of Waterloo |
| Cyril M. Leeder Award | Varies | Carleton University |
| President's Entrance Scholarships | 10,000/yearly | Ryerson University |
| BCIT Entrance Awards | No awards to freshman | BCIT |
| Architecture Design Prize | Varies | Laurentian University |
For details on other scholarships available for studying in Canada, click here.
Bachelor of Architecture in Canada: Scope
Once you have completed a bachelor's in architecture, you can plan your masters in architecture from Canada. You can also work in Canada. As per the salary trends for the past 4 years, the average annual salary for architects has increased by an additional 4% annually (2016-2019). Some of the high paying jobs in Canada post your bachelors are listed below with the average salary band.
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary (CAD) | Job Title | Average Annual Salary (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architect | 116,200 | Architectural Technician | 119,000 |
| Architectural Designer | 107,900 | Architecture Consultant | 120,000 |
| Architectural Drafter | 91,000 | Architecture Estimating Manager | 128,000 |
| Architectural Manager | 145,600 | Architecture Specifications Writer | 83,000 |
| Assistant Architectural Manager | 128,000 | Design and Decoration Assistant | 98,800 |
| CAD Manager | 117,000 | Drafting Supervisor | 101,000 |
| Landscape Architect | 113,000 | Facility Planner | 120,000 |
| Interior Design Assistant | 81,500 | Interior Designer | 124,000 |
Some of the best cities in Canada, like Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Winnipeg, Ontario, and Quebec have a particularly high demand for this occupation. This is because of the construction driven economic boom experienced by these cities.
With the high demand of architects, a number of universities offering the degree and various job prospects available after pursuing it, studying Bachelor of Architecture in Canada appear to be a promising and rewarding degree for the students interested in building a career in this field.
