Application Deadline

January 15

The priority deadline for funding consideration is January 15. The final admissions deadline is June 1.

It is important to note that you will be notified about funding decisions on average four weeks after you have been accepted into the program.

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A lamp post on campus with a University of Minnesota gold and maroon flag.
Minimum Requirements

Related undergraduate study
To pursue an MLA a bachelor’s degree in arts, humanities, sciences, environmental studies, or engineering is required, and a GPA greater than 3.0 is preferred. International applicants must be proficient in English (see language requirements below).

Professional & dual-degree seekers welcome
We also encourage individuals with professional degrees in architecture, as well as current M.Arch students seeking a dual degree, to apply.

Application Materials

All materials must be received by the program's deadline. The program’s review process takes between four and six weeks once the application is complete. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

Materials required for all applicants

  • Complete University of Minnesota Graduate School Application.
  • Unofficial transcripts of all college or university coursework. 
  • Personal statement of your academic and professional goals for the degree desired (1–2 pages).
  • Diversity statement (1–2 pages; make the statement relevant for the Diversity of View and Experience Fellowship if applying).
  • Three letters of recommendation, preferably two written by faculty members who are familiar with your academic work.
  • Portfolio (see portfolio requirements for more details).
  • Application fee of $75.

Portfolio requirements

Your portfolio should be a representation of your creative abilities. Typical portfolios include drawings, paintings, ceramics, photography, crafts, and so on. Any built creative work, such as gardens, flower arranging, deck construction, paving, walls, etc. may also be included. In some cases, portfolios have also included creative writing, poetry, jewelry, etc.

Each student is different, so we have no set expectations. The most successful portfolios are those that give a good visual depiction of the applicants’ creative interests and abilities.

Your portfolio must be:

  • In 8.5 x 11 PDF format (no slides, printed, or loose materials will be accepted)
  • Submitted before the admissions deadline
  • Completed with your name and contact information
  • Uploaded to your online application

For applicants who are non-native English speakers

  • TOEFL or IELTS scores submitted in PDF file format to the University of Minnesota (school code: 6874)
  • Minimum accepted TOEFL scores are:
    • Total Score: 79
    • Writing Subscore: 21
    • Reading Subscore: 19
  • Minimum accepted IELTS scores are:
    • Total Score: 6.5
    • Writing Subscore: 6.5
    • Reading Subscore: 6.5

NOTE: If you will earn or have earned an undergraduate degree in the United States you do not need to submit English language test scores.

GRE scores

  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE scores) are not required for the MLA program, but many scholarships require GRE scores (school code is 6874).
Funding

You will be notified about funding decisions on average four weeks after you have been accepted into the program.

The majority of our graduate students receive some form of financial support. Graduate assistantships in teaching and research are available based on your expertise and the needs of the department. Assistantship offers are made after you have been accepted into the program. A limited number of departmental and university-wide fellowships are available, and awards are made on a competitive basis. Grant-based funding is also available to support research and creative scholarship and to attend conferences to present scholarship.

Questions?

Learn more about the MLA by contacting Vanessa Cambier, the Landscape Architecture Graduate Program Coordinator.