Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) Admissions

Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) Admissions

Applications are accepted September 1 through to January 15

Master of Landscape Architecture

Applications for the Master of Landscape Architecture program are accepted between September 1 and January 15. All applicants admitted to the MLA program start in the fall term. Decisions from the selection committee will be provided by the end of March. The application process is competitive, and unfortunately not all qualified applicants meeting the requirements will be admitted.

Open to applicants from any undergraduate discipline. The program begins with a Foundation Year to provide students with knowledge and skill they will need to continue with the MLA professional degree. Applicants with previous related design degrees (for example, a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture) may have some or all of the Foundation Year courses waived.

To apply for the MLA program, please complete the two-step process. We recommend completing the online application form as early as possible to provide referees ample time to complete their online reference. The application materials (described below) are due by the deadline.

Two-step application process:

  1. Complete an online application form: Submit your biographical, education, and referee information. Referees will receive an automated email (with a link and instructions to complete the online reference) once your application form is submitted. You'll also be prompted to pay your application fee during this process.
  2. Upload application materials to your online UCalgary Student Centre via MyUCalgary by the deadline: You'll receive an email with instructions on accessing your Student Centre. This is where you can check your application status.

Refer to the University of Calgary Calendar and the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar for further information on admissions.

Admission requirements

Four-year undergraduate degree, ideally with experience in design, the humanities, social sciences, arts, engineering, biological and/or physical sciences – including, wherever possible, studio, laboratory and collaborative learning experiences.

A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

Application materials

Once you've submitted your Online Application Form, you can pay your application fee and submit your Application Package (containing your digital portfolio, statement of interest, and resume) to your MyUCalgary Student Centre.

Create an eID to log in. If you already have an eID, you can begin your online application

Once in the online application form, scroll down in the program list to Environmental Design, then select the Master of Landscape Architecture degree. 

Remember to click 'Save & Continue' often to ensure your application is saved.

Once your application has been submitted, you will be required to upload unofficial transcripts from each of the post-secondary institutions you have attended. International students will also be required to include provisional and degree certificates along with your transcripts (where applicable/available). If your application is successful, final official transcripts will be requested with your offer of admission. 

Please note: If you are still in an undergraduate program (graduating in 2024), please upload unofficial transcripts once your Fall grades have been posted. 

If admitted, you must provide one official transcript (and degree certificates from those institutions that do not indicate the awarding of degrees on the transcript) from all post-secondary institutions attended, regardless of the number of courses taken or the amount of time spent there. Transcripts and degree certificates issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by certified, word-for-word English translations. 

To be considered official, all academic records must be sent directly to the University of Calgary from the institution and received in envelopes that have been sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution. If you have transcripts from multiple institutions, you may bundle the sealed and signed envelopes (unopened) in one package. Students and graduates from the University of Calgary do not have to submit official transcripts. If you attended university in another country, review international admissions requirements

Physical or electronic copies of your official transcripts can be submitted: 

A) Send physical official transcripts to the following address: 

Faculty of Graduate Studies, ES 1010 
University of Calgary 
2500 University Drive NW 
Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4 

B) If your post-secondary institution has the capacity to email official transcripts, they should be sent directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at gradtranscripts@ucalgary.ca. These must be emailed by the school, transcripts emailed by the applicant will not be accepted. 

The non-refundable application fee is CDN $125 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and CDN $145 for international students attending on a Study Permit.

Provide three referees, with names and contact information: both phone and email, in your online application. The deadline for references is one week after the application deadline - January 22.

In a single PDF file, please assemble the package in the following order:

  1. Title page with full name
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Resume (Two page maximum): A summary of your experiences in education, work, travel, volunteering, and other relevant areas.
  4. Statement of Interest (Two page maximum): Let us know what motivates you through stories, experiences and examples of places and spaces that have challenged and inspired you. Include responses to these questions: Why is design important to society? What about our program drew you to apply with us? How do you think a design education here will influence your future? What do you hope your contributions to our program will be?
  5. Digital Portfolio (25 page maximum): This is your chance to make a great impression! The admissions committee is looking for evidence of creative ability and/or potential. Graphic organization of the portfolio, including typography and layout, are also considered. Include creative work in any field or medium, along with short descriptions. Attend “how to” tips session and portfolio review →

Please name the file: "Lastname_Firstname_ MLA_2024.pdf". The package should not exceed 30 MB (resolution is for screen viewing, not print) and the page size should be around 8.5" x 11".


Sample MLA Admission Portfolios

MLA - Awani Khatu

MLA - Madhurjya Medhi

MLA - Tom Brown

MLA - Christie Kwan

MLA - Micheal Spenrath

MLA - Vu Nguyen

MLA - Feiyuan Lin

MLA - Natasha Jensen

MLA - Xiren Zhang

MLA - Graham Louwers

MLA - Pranshul Dangwal


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