Do you have an eye for design? Have you always been fascinated by the built environment and how people interact with it? This could mean that a degree in architecture might suit you. Knowing what subject you want to study is one thing, but where is another. With this in mind, we place Canada under the microscope and take you through the top architecture schools in the country. One of these universities could be the perfect backdrop for you to study architecture in Canada.
University of Toronto
Frequently topping the charts of Canada’s best institutions, it’s little surprise to find the University of Toronto as the top university to study architecture in Canada as per the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021. The university is home to the renowned John H.Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.
The faculty offers 13 programmes of study including architectural degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level. This includes a specialist degree in landscape architecture and qualifications that place sustainability at the core of the curriculum, such as the Master of Forest Conservation.
The faculty commits to interdisciplinary teaching and research. This approach aims to address the key challenges faced by society in the contemporary world. If you choose to study at the University of Toronto you’ll be amongst 23,000 international students from countries as diverse as Iran and Taiwan.
Find out what makes studying in Canada so unique.
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) has the enviable reputation of being named as one of the best places to study architecture in Canada. The QS World University Rankings 2021 puts the university in the number one spot for the subject and at number 30 in the world. The School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture offers several master’s degrees in the field including:
- Master of Landscape Architecture
- Master of Urban Design
- Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture
With over a century of history, the university has seen its fair share of interesting developments, people and events. For example, the Vancouver campus boasts the world’s tallest wood building spanning 17 floors. The university has also served as the backdrop for many famous films including X-Men, Fantastic Four and Battlestar Galactica.
UBC has over 66,000 students studying at the university of which one third are international from 166 countries. Plus, studying in Vancouver means you’ll be in a city with a world-renowned reputation for a high quality of life, with a city that boasts a high liveability ranking.
Find out more about other top universities in Canada.
McGill University
If you want to study to become an architect in Canada, then McGill University should certainly be on your list of potential study destinations. Placing second in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 and third in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 for the subject it’s a real contender. The university is also rated by both THE and QS in the world’s top 50 for architecture.
The Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture is located on the main campus of the university in Montreal. The architecture school is named after world-renowned architect Peter Guo-hua Fu who is an alumnus of the school and made a CAD 12 million donation to support the study of architecture at the university. Programs on offer at the school include:
- Bachelor of Science in Architecture
- Professional Master of Architecture
- PhD in Architecture
There are also several scholarships and awards available for aspiring students including entrance scholarships and in-course awards. The university also hosts a vibrant international student community with over 30 per cent of all students coming from overseas.
Find out more about some of the other funding and scholarship options available to international students in Canada.
University of Montreal
Another of Montreal’s universities to appear on the list of the best places to study architecture in Canada is the University of Montreal. It’s little wonder as Montreal is a UNESCO city of design and famed for its architectural vistas. The university itself sits in 5th place on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 for architecture and in the same position on the QS World University Rankings 2021. Both rankings place the university in the top 150 globally.
The university is known for its international outlook with over 10,000 registered international students who study amongst a student community of just under 45,000 across 600 programmes. The School of Architecture at the university offers programmes certified by the Canadian Certification Council of Architecture (CCAC), one of only 11 universities with this accreditation in Canada. The school also actively looks to incorporate international culture and architecture into the curriculum and research activities.
Check out some of the other universities where you can study architecture in Canada:
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
- Centennial College
- Fanshawe College
- Carleton University
- Mohawk College
Ryerson University
Based in the city of Toronto, Ryerson University is a top 10 university for architecture in Canada and a top 200 world institutions as per the QS World University Rankings 2021. The university is also known for its co-op programmes which are actively integrated into their qualifications. This allows students to gain invaluable professional experience while undertaking their degrees.
The Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science offers an undergraduate qualification in architectural science and a master’s degree in architecture. The latter helps students to work towards a professional architectural license while developing dynamic and exciting design solutions. The degree also covers areas such as sustainable design, technology and global society.
Now that you are on top of the architectural studies landscape in Canada it’s time to find out how to apply to a university in Canada and to get a grip on the Canadian grading system. Make sure to stay in the know with our latest student news too.
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