Undergraduate Application
A complete application consists of six or seven items. For students who have not yet studied architecture, the application portal will open in January and the deadline is March 1. For transfer architecture students, the portal is open all year round. Here are the steps:
- Go to Dalhousie's Application Portal.
• Start New Application (or open your in-progress application).
• Academic year: 2024-25 for transfer students; 2025-26 for new BEDS students
• Dalhousie Undergraduate Application - Welcome Page
• fill in the blanks - Personal Background
• fill in the blanks - Program Selection (for transfer architecture students)
• I want to apply to: Individual courses
• Select the program you intend to study: Non-degree
• Select your intended major: Architecture and Planning
• Admission term: 2025 January
• Is there a particular course you're looking to take? ARCH - Program Selection (for new BEDS students)
• I want to apply to: a degree
• Select the program you intend to study: Environmental Design Studies
• Admission term: 2025 September - Additional Information
• fill in the blanks - Academic History
• fill in the blanks - Informed Consent
• fill in the blanks
Please upload the following items to the application portal. For each item, indicate your surname at the start of the file name. A complete set of files might be named, for example,
• trudeau-transcript-toronto.pdf
• trudeau-transcript-mcgill.pdf
• trudeau-portfolio.pdf
• trudeau-statement.pdf
• trudeau-resume.pdf
• trudeau-reference-biden.pdf
• trudeau-reference-harris.pdf
• trudeau-english.pdf
a) Official academic transcript from each post-secondary institution you have attended
A transcript in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by a certified translation into English. Independent test scores (e.g., SAT, GRE) are not required.
b) Digital portfolio of design work (about 10–15 items)
The portfolio is intended to demonstrate your creativity and/or artistic skill. It may include free-hand sketches, precision drawings, paintings, furniture, sculpture, craft objects, creative photography, construction projects, etc. Items should be submitted in a single multi-page PDF, max. 20 MB, with your name on the first page. For any collaborative projects, include a list of the team members and a description of your role. In the PDF, please do not include animations or links to external files or websites. To keep the PDF file size small, please adjust the resolution of your images first. Do not include your statement of intent, resumé, or reference letters in the portfolio; they must be submitted as separate PDFs.
c) Statement of intent
In this letter to the Admission Committee, please describe your interest in architecture and in the program at Dalhousie. The statement may also mention your aspirations, interests, travel, activities, etc.
d) Resumé
1–2 pages
e) Two letters of reference
At least one letter should be from an academic instructor, preferably at university level. A referee may submit a PDF form (tinyurl.com/dal-arch-reference) or a letter saved as a PDF. To be valid, it must be signed by the referee. Please ask them to name their file with your surname, reference, and their surname; e.g.,
• trudeau-reference-biden.pdf
f) Evidence of English language proficiency (if required)
Because the BEDS program typically leads to the MArch program, the BEDS English requirement is the same as for graduate admission. If your first language is not English, an official test result must be submitted. The typical requirement is IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 92 iBT; other tests are also acceptable. A lower score, followed by university courses, is not sufficient. Completion of Dalhousie's English Language Studies Department EAP Level 2 course with a grade of A– or higher is also acceptable. A Duolingo test is not acceptable. A certificate from a language college also is not acceptable. If you have completed a degree at an English-language university, this requirement may be waived. For Canadian students whose first language is French, an English test is not required for undergraduate admission.
Confirming that Items have been Received
To confirm that all of your items have been received by the Registrar's Office, please check the Dalhousie admission portal.
Admission Result
The university will notify new BEDS applicants of their admission result in mid-May. Transfer applicants will be informed throughout the year.
Graduate Applications
Please refer to the Graduate Application page.