School of Architecture

Faculty of Architecture and Planning

Year 4 Reviews

Throughout the academic year, all B3–B5 students should assemble their process portfolio for the Year 4 review in April, at the end of the winter term. For details, download:

Graduation Decisions

A recommendation for graduation indicates that a student has completed the BEDS program successfully. A passing grade must be achieved in all Year 4 courses, and evidence of advanced humanities and technology knowledge in design work is also expected. The year-end review committee works within the following guidelines:

  • If a student has achieved a satisfactory standard in all Year 4 courses (C– or higher), he/she will be recommended for graduation. 

  • If a student has one or more D grades in Year 4, the year-end review committee will look closely at the student's record and design portfolio. D is a marginal grade that the committee may regard as either a pass or a fail, depending on the student's overall record and design portfolio. If a satisfactory standard is evident, the student will be recommended for graduation. If not, the student must repeat a course with a D grade before being reconsidered for graduation at the end of the following winter.

  • If a student has one or more F grades, he/she is not eligible to graduate, and must repeat the course(s) before being reconsidered for graduation at the end of the following winter. A year-end review committee cannot change grades.

BEDS graduation and MArch admission results are announced by e-mail in April.

Interim Year

For a student who is required to repeat one or more Year 4 courses, an interim year is a time to develop one's architectural knowledge and skill. Before beginning an interim year, a student should seek academic advice from the director.

During an interim year, a student may repeat a Year 4 course that has already been passed if he/she wishes to improve abilities in that area. Both grades will appear on the student's academic record but only the higher grade will be counted in the GPA. At the end of this interim year, another Year 4 review committee will consider the student's record. If a clear passing grade of C- or higher has been achieved in all repeated courses, the student will be recommended for graduation. If not, the student must withdraw from the BEDS program.

MArch Admission

See BEDS - Years 3 & 4 for a description of the Potential MArch Admission process in early August.

An application to the MArch program must be submitted by February 1. It is assessed in mid-April, after the B5 term. To be considered for admission to a graduate program at Dalhousie University, an applicant must have a GPA of 3.00 or more, but this alone does not guarantee admission. Admission also requires a 3.00 GPA in Design courses and evidence of graduate potential in the design portfolio. Check with the undergraduate coordinator if you need advice on the Year 4 grades needed to reach these levels.