Admissions & Aid

Apply to the Miller M. Arch program

Coming from backgrounds as diverse as art, physics, philosophy, history, and the life sciences, students in this select program are inventive thinkers and doers.

Banner photo: For their elective on contemporary metral fabrication taught by Lucas Brown, students created a unique sculpture using custom, bent metal tubing painted bright red. Photo by Ruviendel Isenia.

Apply today, and put your marks on an evolving, growing program.

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Program eligibility

A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited college or university is required for admission. There are no course prerequisites, but Calculus I and Physics I are recommended.

If you have significant undergraduate study in the area of architecture, you may be able to waive certain classes based on prior coursework. This requires review of syllabi of previous courses, and is undertaken at the beginning of the semester. The waiver policy is meant to avoid repetition and allows you to explore your interests through electives or independent study.

Photo below: The auditorium at the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program becomes a forum where students share their work and visitors offer insights and critique during finals week. Photo by Daniel Luis Martinez.

Application deadlines

Applications open on September 1, 2024 for Fall 2025.

Domestic applicants

Applicants should submit their application by January 15, 2025. 

International applicants

All application materials must be received by 11:59 pm on December 15, 2024 for Fall 2025.

Steps to apply

You must apply for admission to the University Graduate School. Submit your online application at least two weeks before the deadline in order for your recommenders to have the opportunity to respond by the deadline. Your portfolio will not be considered if you do not submit this application. Please notify your recommenders of the deadlines.

You must provide the following information in the online application:

  • When asked to indicate your academic program, please select “SOAD Master of Architecture” in the drop down menu, then choose the Academic Plan “Master of Architecture.”
  • Three letters of recommendation: Submit the contact information (including the names, street addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses) of three people who will submit your letters of recommendation via the online application system. The online system will then email your contacts with instructions on how to submit their references online. The online recommendations should address your potential for academic success in a graduate program.
  • Personal statement: Submit a written personal statement (less than two pages) that outlines your academic and career goals. You may want to discuss how your prior experience relates to the program.
  • Resume: Submit a resume or curriculum vitae 1–2 pages in length.
  • Official GRE scores (recommended).
  • Submit your portfolio: More information about portfolio requirements can be found in Step 2. 
Start your application

International students must apply through the Office of International Services.

Submit your portfolio online as a PDF (up to 15MB) alongside your application materials in WebAdmit.

Provide 1–40 items. Portfolio may include images, video, audio, and models. You may also link to media from YouTube, Vimeo and SoundCloud within the PDF.

There are no specific requirements as to content, but it must be well-designed, cohesive, and representative of your work. Program-related projects are strongly encouraged, but the portfolio may include other creative work such as painting, furniture design, etc.

If you have specific questions regarding content for the portfolio, please reach out to our admissions team at soadarch@iu.edu.

The total cost for submitting the application is $70 for both domestic international applicants, paid upon submission of the online IU application.

The application fees are non-refundable.

Send official transcripts from all of the undergraduate institutions you attended, as well as from any graduate programs (if applicable).

The transcript must demonstrate a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

For international students, if the original documents are not in English, a verified translation must be sent with your official transcripts in your native language.

If you are in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree when you apply, a transcript showing your current enrollment in your course of study is acceptable. If admitted to IU, you must submit a final, official transcript verifying the completion of your degree and the date your degree was awarded directly to IU prior to your matriculation.

Mail official domestic transcripts to:

Attn: Admissions
Indiana University J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program
333 Second Street
Columbus, IN 47201

If your institution(s) can submit official transcripts electronically, please have them emailed directly to soadarch@indiana.edu.

Mail official international transcripts to:

International Admissions
Eigenmann Hall, Room 525
1900 E 10th Street
Bloomington, IN 47408

The testing service should report the TOEFL scores directly to Indiana University Bloomington.

IU’s TOEFL code is 1324.

Master of Architecture English proficiency minimum score requirements:

  • Non-native English speakers must provide a TOEFL minimum score 79, IELTS minimum score 6.5, or a Duolingo minimum score 100.
  • If your native language is not English, we require you to take IU’s English Proficiency Examination (IEPE) upon arrival at the university to determine if you must take any English courses. Students must agree to take any English courses prescribed from the results of this examination. Fees for special part-time English courses are the same as for other courses; however, credits earned in these English courses do not meet degree requirements.
  • If the results of the proficiency exam indicate that full-time work in English is required, you will be assigned to the Intensive English Program (IEP). Students enrolled in IEP do not take academic courses until they achieve adequate English proficiency. If you have serious doubts about your English ability and are not financially prepared to undertake the additional time and expense of an intensive English program here, you may consider delaying your application to a future semester.
  • Finally, students who are eligible for an associate instructorship position must meet additional English language requirements including passing the Test of English Proficiency for International Associate Instructor Candidates.

Evaluation Criteria for Admissions

Our professionally accredited Master of Architecture degree is distinct for its integration of fine arts and design courses into a comprehensive, three-year curriculum. Students enrolled in the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program benefit from a strong visual education where creative practice, community engagement, fabrication, sustainability, and research are explored through multiple lenses. Our admissions process emphasizes the personal strengths and achievements of each applicant. We seek out creative and passionate individuals from all backgrounds who have the potential to thrive in our unique educational environment.

The portfolio, personal statement, résumé, academic transcripts, and recommendation letters all contribute to a broad understanding of a candidate’s past achievements and future aspirations. A committee of full-time faculty members evaluates each component of the application and recommends candidates for admission by consensus. We believe that our program thrives when diverse perspectives and approaches are represented in the studio and classroom. Applicants without a previous degree in art or design are welcome to apply, and should use the portfolio requirement as an opportunity to express their creativity and interest in studying art and architecture through a visual format. In all cases, we aim to consider the full context of an applicant’s academic, professional, and creative potential.

How much will it cost?

ResidentNon-Resident
Tuition*$15,000$35,000
Program Fees**$2,000$2,000
International Student Fee***$714/year
Total Tuition Cost$17,000$37,000
*Based on 2021–22 rates
**Students who are enrolled exclusively in M.Arch courses located in Columbus, IN will not be charged the mandatory fees for the Bloomington campus, but will be charged a program fee of $1,000 per semester.
***https://ois.iu.edu/about-ois/student-fee.html


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Funding + scholarship opportunities

Incoming merit-based fellowships

Incoming U.S. and international students are eligible for merit-based fellowship awards. Your completed application to the program is the application for these awards. Merit-based fellowship decisions are made by the program chair based on recommendations from the admissions committee; admitted applicants are notified of their merit award in their admission letter. Fellowships are awarded at two levels.

Fellowship award levels
LevelIn-state studentsOut-of-state students
1$3,750$8,750
2$7,500$17,500
3$15,000$35,000

Evaluation Criteria for Fellowships

The J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program offers merit-based fellowships that are awarded at the discretion of our admissions committee in three tiers according to the criteria listed below. No additional application is required to be considered for our internal fellowships. Any financial support pledged through our fellowship program remains with the student throughout the three-year curriculum, so long as the recipient maintains a minimum 3.0-grade point average. Fellowship awardees must also remain in good academic standing in accordance with Indiana University policies.

Tier 1 (25% of tuition covered):
The candidate has a demonstrated record of excellent academic performance and creative potential through their previous experiences, achievements, and/or portfolio.

Tier 2 (50% of tuition covered):
The candidate has a demonstrated record of outstanding academic performance and a strong portfolio of creative works that are conceptually advanced, thoughtfully represented, and show a rigorous process of development.

Tier 3 (100% of tuition covered):
The candidate has a demonstrated record of exceptional academic performance. The portfolio shows a significant breadth of creative exploration that is conceptually and technically advanced, thoughtfully represented, and developed through a rigorous process. Furthermore, the applicant’s previous achievements and experiences demonstrate leadership and innovation in their discipline.

 

Incoming financial support/student loans

You may also be eligible for need-based grants. Eligibility for this grant is determined by Student Central and requires completion of a FAFSA. You can expect to receive an award package from them, separate from your admission letter detailing any merit-based awards. Only U.S. students are eligible for this program.

Nomadic Studio funding

Both phases of the Nomadic Studio provide funding to help with your travel and housing costs. Phase 1 (Rome) offers $2,000, and phase 2 offers $3,500.

Additional resources

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Top photo: Students learn different techniques for printmaking within the core Visual Studies curriculum. Photo by Ethan Gill.

Left photo: A student presents their proposal for an immersive public installation for Architectural Studio 3 taught by Chris Reinhart during the Fall 2024 semester. Photo by Ruviendel Isenia.

Right photo: Students with their sketchbooks during a Nomadic Studio trip to Rome. Photo by Ruviendel Isenia.

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The exterior of the Republic Building at night