Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I choose Daniels over other schools?

First, Daniels is located in the vibrant downtown of a city of over four million people. Students not only have the city’s fabric to use as a laboratory, but also have access to Toronto’s professional design community, many of whom teach at the school. Second, as members of a small community of 300 students on a campus of 50,000, our graduate students get the best of both worlds—a supportive, intimate environment where they get close attention from the faculty and a bustling campus offering a rich menu of research and cultural opportunities. Third, Daniels' focus on interdisciplinary training and research will test your limits and challenge you to rethink design for the 21st century.

What kind of background must I have?

Our MArch and MLA programs are designed to educate students who come from a variety of background, not just those with an undergraduate background in architecture or design. Daniels is looking for students with the ability to create, conceptualize, and communicate. In order to maintain and develop this diverse student body, we encourage applications form students of every possible background. To name a few, our graduate programs currently include students with degrees in English, fine art history, Asian studies, computer science, philosophy, engineering, botany and cultural studies. And the thesis, which develops in latter half of each program, is designed to build on students' individual backgrounds. You do, however, have to meet specific admissions requirements. See the Programs section for more details.

What makes a good application?

A solid academic record, strong letters of reference supporting your academic ability, evidence of independent intellectual work, and a portfolio demonstrating creative ability are the three most important aspects of your application. 

What are you looking for in a portfolio?

We are looking for evidence, not of special skills in architecture, per se, but of creative ability. Portfolios have in the past included a wide range of work, amongst them sketches, musical compositions, and engineering designs. Note that, for the MLA, community and environmental work may also count as a portfolio element. The portfolio is most successful when it is itself comprehensively composed as a piece of design work.