All graduate admissions are processed within the Department of Architecture. However, specific procedures and requirements vary depending on the degree program and discipline. As noted above, this section gives only general guidelines. Applicants should follow instructions detailed under the degree program of their interest.

Deadline and Submission

The application deadline is December 15. All application material must be received by deadline, with the exception of portfolios, which might be submitted by January 3. Late applications will not be reviewed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to be sure that the completed application forms and all supporting materials are at the following address by the deadline.

• MIT Department of Architecture
• Attn: Admissions
• 77 Massachusetts Ave., Room 7-337
• Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
• Telephone: (617) 715-4490

Online Application

Although we accept paper-based applications, we strongly prefer that all graduate programs applicants use the MIT graduate application website. Online applications are processed through CollegeNet.

http://web.mit.edu/admissions/graduate

Application Fee

Application to MIT requires a non-refundable fee of $75 USD.

Recommendations

All applicants must submit at least three letters of recommendation. Recommenders may submit their letters through CollegeNet as well.

Transcripts

Transcripts must be requested as original documents from your previous schools. Transcripts may be forwarded by the applicant if they are in the original, sealed envelope. Non-English transcripts must be translated into English, and if necessary, signed by a licensed notary and accompanied by the original version.

Statement of Objectives

Research our faculty members and the work they are doing. Make note of the work you find interesting in your personal statement. A match between your academic pursuits and the work performed here is important.

English Proficiency Requirement

IELTS/TOEFL scores are required for EVERY applicant whose first language is not English. There are no exceptions. Previous education in English will not suffice. Check English Proficiency Requirement under the degree of your interest for specific information on minimum scores.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Some degree programs require GRE scores, but not all of them. There is no minimum score. ONLY the General Test is required (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical). You DO NOT have to take any subject tests.

Portfolios

Many of our degrees require that you submit a non-returnable portfolio, including for those applicants who do not have a previous architecture degree or background. The portfolio should include evidence of recent creative work: personal, academic and/or professional. Choose what you care about, what you think is representative of your best work, and what is expressive of you. Written material (articles or papers) may be included with the application, and are particularly appropriate for the PhD programs. Portfolio requirements vary by program. Be sure to review the portfolio requirements specific to the program to which you are applying. After the application process is complete, portfolios for those not accepted will be shredded.

Resumes / CVs

Resumes / CVs are not required. If you must submit a CV, please include it as a page in your portfolio. There is no place to upload a copy of your CV, and we will not forward paper copies to the admissions committees. They will be destroyed if not part of the portfolio.

Interviews

An interview is not required for application but are recommended for all the PhD programs, the Master of Science in Art Culture and Technology (SMACT) and Master of Science in Building Technology programs (SMBT).

Reapplying

Students who wish to reapply should contact the Department to let us know. We save applications for two years, but not portfolios. Applicants should use the online application system to submit a new application. We will retrieve your previous transcripts, recommendation letters and test scores and combine them with your new materials. Plan to update any documents that may have changed, such as test scores or transcripts. If possible, include one new letter of recommendation to show the admissions committee that you are actively reapplying.

Contact

Admissions coordinator:

• Telephone: (617) 715-4490
• Facsimile: (617) 253-8993
• arch@mit.edu

MIT is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment and abides by its nondiscrimination policy in administering the admissions process.

I submitted an application but would like to know if you have received it, or if anything is missing. How do I check?

You will receive an email from our automated admission system by January 6. This will contain a link to your personal application website. This site will let you know if anything is missing from your application. Please check this website periodically. Because of the large volume of applications it is difficult to let applicants know individually.

If you have not received this email by January 7 with your personalized URL, please email arch@mit.edu with the subject line "lost URL" and we will send you one.

My recommenders had trouble submitting my recommendations by the deadline, what do I do?

Because the online system will close on midnight of Dec. 15, recommenders who have not yet submitted letters can use the downloadable PDF form. These letters should be mailed and arrive to us no later than the portfolio deadline, which is January 4. Any recommender can use this form if the online system is inconvenient. Applications may be submitted online before all letters are submitted.

Please note that the online application system is a different system than the one we use in the Department. Letters submitted to the online application system need to be printed and then put in your file before they show up in the system you see.

Do I need to upload a writing sample?

You only need to upload a writing sample if it is relevant to the program to which you are applying. Normally, this is only for the History, Theory and Criticism programs.

My IELTS (TOEFL) score is below your requirement, should I still apply?

If your scores do not meet the minimum required for admission, or if you have not taken the test, we will not be able to admit you. Applications with low and missing test scores will not be reviewed. The latest possible test date that you can take and still submit the scores to us is December 15. If you do not think you need to take this test, see the next question.

Must I take the IELTS (TOEFL)?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of each and every single applicant whose first language is not English, regardless of citizenship or residency in the US while attending other educational institutions. No exceptions are made. If you did your undergraduate studies in the US but are from a non-English speaking country you DO need to take the IELTS/TOEFL. If you are from the US but were raised speaking another language, you DO need to take the IELTS/TOEFL. However, if you were raised in a non-English speaking country but have spoken and been educated in English all your life, you do not. The Admissions Committees regard English proficiency as crucial for success in all degree programs. In order to meet the December 15 Fall admissions deadline, it is recommended that candidates take the IELTS or TOEFL on the earliest possible test date. Applicants must request that an official copy of their test results be sent directly to MIT by the Educational Testing Service. Scores must be no older than two years.

I applied to MIT Architecture before. Do you still have my materials?

We save applications for two years but do not save portfolios due to space and because this is often the reason an application was not accepted. To reapply, students should complete a new form online and indicate that they have applied before. We will retrieve the materials from your old file. However, students should submit any paperwork that has changed, such as test scores or transcripts. Students should also submit one additional recommendation letter. English test scores (IELTS/TOEFL) are only valid for two years and GRE scores for five, so these need to be replaced if old.

For applicants who were accepted but did not enroll, we will still have their portfolios and the admissions committee will know the application was accepted. Applications that were accepted one year have no guarantee of future acceptance. All applications are reviewed in light of the current applicant pool. No deferrals of admission are permitted.

Can I or should I apply to two different degree programs?

In most cases, applicants should choose one program that interests them when applying. If you think you are qualified for two of the programs, please call Darren Bennett to discuss your plans. MArch applicants are rarely qualified for SMArchS programs, and SMArchS applicants are overqualified for MArch. Applicants who wish to apply to two SMArchS programs should be aware that we will automatically consider all SMArchS applicants for admission to any other SMArchS program the faculty think is a better fit. PhD applicants who are deemed by the committee to be a better fit for the SMArchS program may instead, or also, be considered for the SMArchS program. These applicants will receive an email in January asking if they wish to be considered for SMArchS if they have not already specified. The online system will not allow multiple accounts with the same information, so if you do apply to two programs, you will need to complete the second application using the downloadable paper application.

Can I "friend" staff members of the Department on Facebook or other social media sites?

Please don't. We have official Facebook and Twitter feeds that are meant for this purpose. You can learn more about them on the School's website, here: http://sap.mit.edu/resources/media/social