General Instructions
Applications to all graduate programs are made through the university’s graduate admissions portal: https://admissions.iit.edu/graduate/apply/
The priority application deadline is 31 December.
The final deadlines for applications are 15 April for international students, and 1 August for domestic students.
The Admissions Committee will not review applications until all admissions requirements have been fulfilled.
Applicants submitting their materials by the priority deadlines will be notified of their admission decision by March. IIT Architecture cannot be held responsible if, for any reason, the student fails to receive a decision letter in time to enroll for a particular term.
Applicants who have changed their name and who may have documents with their previous name must indicate this clearly in their application.
We invite you to visit the College of Architecture to view our facilities, meet with admissions staff, and see the student work in progress. We recommend visiting on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday afternoons when architecture design studios are in session. Individual visits to IIT Architecture begin by scheduling an appointment through the Graduate Admissions Office (https://admissions.iit.edu/graduate/visit/).
If you have questions about the application process feel free to contact us at: arch@iit.edu or 312-567-3260.
Prerequisites
An applicant to the Ph.D. program must hold a graduate degree in architecture, landscape architecture, urbanism, or an allied field from an accredited U.S. university; or an equivalent degree from an international university. The applicant should meet all entrance requirements of lIT's Graduate College, plus a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Requirements for Application
1. ONLINE APPLICATION
Available at: https://admissions.iit.edu/graduate/apply/
2. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS
Transcripts must indicate degree(s) awarded, course titles, credit hours, and grades or scores earned from all graduate and undergraduate schools attended. All transcripts must bear an original signature and seal, either from the issuing institution or a notary public, and must have been issued within a year of the application date. Student copies of documents are not accepted. If an applicant’s current degree program is in progress, he/she may be conditionally admitted subject to receipt of a final transcript verifying the degree awarded. A final official transcript with degree posted must be submitted within 30 days of the first day of classes.
3. GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION (GRE) SCORES
GRE scores are valid for five years, and must have been taken no more than five years prior to IIT’s application deadline. Meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee admission. Please direct your test scores to the appropriate location: IIT’s institution code number for the GRE is 1318; no department code is required. Please allow two to four weeks from the date of your test or score request for delivery and processing of your scores.
Required minimum GRE scores for the Ph.D. program are: 144 (quantitative reasoning); 153 (verbal reasoning); and 4.0 (analytical writing).
4. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Three letters of recommendation are required and should be from individuals who are able to assess your academic and/or career achievements and potential. Recommenders may include individuals such as professors or employers but may not include family members. Letters of recommendation must be submitted through the Applicant Portal. During the application process you will be prompted to submit your recommender’s contact information; your recommender will receive an electronic invitation to submit a letter in PDF format. You will not have access to submitted letters of recommendation.
5. PORTFOLIO
Your portfolio should demonstrate your skills pertaining to design, analysis, research, and writing. For applicants in Technologies of Built Environments, the portfolio may also contain examples of modeling and simulation skills. In addition to a portfolio, PhD applicants are required to submit 3 samples of writing work including graduate school essays and/or publications.
Submit your portfolio as a PDF file that is maximum 15 pages long and no larger than 10MB.
6. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Your Statement of Purpose should describe your previous academic experiences and your motivations for doctoral study at IIT, including future professional goals. In your statement, you should elaborate on research or professional projects you have previously worked on and discuss your research interests and potential topics that you may be pursuing toward your doctorate at IIT. Include the names of the faculty at IIT with relevant expertise who could potentially serve on your doctoral committee, if you’re admitted. The statement should be approximately 500 words.
7. NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION FEE
A fee of $100 must be submitted by all first-time applicants. IIT must receive this fee before considering your application. This fee will not be applied toward tuition charges.
Tuition, Fees, Scholarships and Financial Aid
Tuition is charged by credit hour. The expenses below are the 2023-2024 tuition rate, with an estimated increase of 5-7% each year.
Students in the Ph.D. program generally take 9 credits per semester.
Estimated Expenses for the 2023-2024 Academic Year:
Tuition (18 credits @ $1,712 per credit): $30,816
Fees (health insurance, service, CTA, activities, model shop, orientation): $4,449
Room and Board: $15,328
Estimated Total: $50,593 per year
Limited funding opportunities are available in the forms of merit scholarships and teaching assistantships. These awards are reserved for candidates who are considered to have outstanding credentials and have applied by the priority deadline. We do not require a separate application for scholarship consideration. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will be notified along with your admission letter. Doctoral students can also apply for internship positions allocated to the IIT College of Architecture by prominent international firms.
Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you would like more information, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at https://admissions.iit.edu/graduate/finances/
Information for Admitted Students
DEPOSIT
A non-refundable tuition deposit of $300 will be required to reserve your place as an incoming student. Your deposit for Fall 2021 will be due 15 May 2021. All deposits must be submitted through the myIIT Portal and may be paid by electronic check or credit card.
HOUSING
While many graduate students enjoy the convenience of living on campus. The on-campus facilities include graduate apartment style housing. If you are interested in living on campus, please contact the Residence and Greek Life Office at https://web.iit.edu/housing
MEDICAL EXAMS AND INSURANCE
Prior to matriculation, students must meet IIT’s requirements for documented medical examinations and immunizations. If you would like more information, please contact the Student Health and Wellness Center student.health@iit.eduor visit: https://web.iit.edu/shwc/
International Applicants
International applicants must meet all of the general requirements listed above as well as the following additional requirements.
1. ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
Translations of transcripts are required for applicants whose institutions do not issue transcripts in English. The translation must be certified by a consular official or person authorized to translate documents. The translator’s original signature and seal are required and original foreign transcripts must be attached to the translation. Individual mark sheets must be included if individual course titles and grades are not listed.
2. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY EXAM (TOEFL/IELTS) SCORES
Proficiency exams are required for applicants from non-English speaking countries or applicants holding degrees from institutions at which the primary language of instruction was not English. International applicants with degrees from institutions where the primary language of instruction was English are not required to submit TOEFL scores; however, documentation verifying that the primary language of instruction was English may be requested.
The exam must have been taken within the two years prior to the application deadline for the particular program. Based on the results of the exam, you may be required to complete additional English courses at IIT at the current tuition rate. English courses taken at IIT do not count towards a student’s program of study credit requirements.
Minimum score for admission to the Ph.D. program is 577/90 (TOEFL) or 6 (IELTS).
For more information on the TOEFL visit: www.toefl.org.
For more information on the IELTS visit: www.ielts.org.
3. FINANCIAL AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT FORM (FAS)
The FAS is required for international applicants needing a student visa to study in the U.S. Applicants will need to submit a FAS covering the full costs of the program for one academic year. The FAS form must be properly completed, certified, signed by all relevant individuals, and uploaded into your Applicant Portal before an I-20 can be issued. A certified bank statement may be submitted in place of Section 3 of the FAS form and must include an official signature and seal. If you plan to bring dependents to the U.S., you must provide evidence of additional financial support for each dependent.
We encourage applicants to submit their FAS & copy of passport at the time of application but an admission decision can be made without a FAS and copy of passport on file.
4. COPY OF PASSPORT IDENTITY PAGE
Passport information must be submitted through the Applicant Portal. This documentation aids in efficient processing of your I-20, if you are admitted. Copies of passports for any dependent must also be attached.
5. SCHOOL TRANSFER FORM (International Transfer Applicants Only)
The transfer form must be submitted by any international student currently studying on an F-1 visa who intends to transfer their visa to IIT from another institution in the U.S. It indicates the release of your I-20 by your current institution, permitting IIT to create a new I-20 for you. Please submit only after you have been officially admitted.