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.

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.

Application deadlines

Applications open on September 1, 2023 for Fall 2024.

Domestic applicants

For best consideration, applicants should submit their application by January 15. We will continue to consider applications on a rolling basis until April 1, 2024.

International applicants

All application materials must be received by 11:59 pm on December 15, 2023.

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 $78 for domestic applicants and $83 for international applicants.

The application fee comprises a $60 (domestic applicant) or $65 (international applicant) fee paid upon submission of the online IU application.

The application fees are nonrefundable.

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.

International applicants

You may apply to the Miller M.Arch program during your final year of undergraduate study, or after receiving a U.S. bachelor’s degree (or its recognized equivalent).

A special application process for international students is involved. In addition to the standard application requirements, you must submit evidence of proficiency in English, evidence of financial ability, and other documents.

The CIP code for the Master of Architecture degree is 04.0902 Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology. CIP code 04.0902 Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology is found in the STEM eligible CIP code list.

See the steps for international applicants

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

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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