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Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urbanism

University of British Columbia

Design and the Built Environment: blue ink subject illustration
Image source

AI-generated ink illustration

Conceptual study artwork, not a photograph of teaching facilities.

Unidex · generated with ImageGen

Checked 2026-11-05

Symbolic subject artwork; no university facility depicted

Deadlines

January 2027

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Next deadline

  • First-year application

    Fall 2027 entry · First-year UBC Vancouver applicants to this degree

    January 15, 2027 · 11:59 p.m. Pacific

    Official deadline
Other deadline details
No central deadline, each B.C. institution sets its own application open and close datesEducationPlannerBC, deadlines are set per institutionRecurring annual · Every year
  • No central deadline, each B.C. institution sets its own application open and close dates
  • No central B.C. deadline
  • Each institution and sometimes each program sets its own dates
Full source wording

Verbatim: "Each institution sets their own application open and close dates. These dates also may vary based on the program you are applying to. You can use the search database to explore programs you are interested in applying to or visit the institution's website directly. Please refer to the institution's website or contact the Admissions/Registrar's Office directly for application deadlines and details." EducationPlannerBC is the single application service for B.C.'s 25 public post-secondary institutions but publishes no deadline dates of its own.

SourceChecked
Early October 2026Online application opens for Winter Session 2027/282027 entry
  • Early October 2026
  • Applications open for Winter Session 2027/28 and Summer Session 2027
SourceChecked

Requirements

Admission requirements

High-school prerequisites
  • ENG4UEnglish
  • Graduate from high school and obtain at least 70% in Grade 11 or Grade 12 English or an accepted equivalent.
  • UBC recommends at least six Grade 12 courses and reviews relevant academic courses in Grades 11 and 12.
  • Grade 12 history or geography is recommended by the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
UBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degree
Application steps

Entry terms · Fall 2027

First-year Bachelor of Design applicants at UBC Vancouver

UBC dates and deadlines for September 2027
  1. Step 1Check the admission requirements
    • Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
    UBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degreeUBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degree
  2. Step 2Apply through EducationPlannerBC
    • Create your application and select this program.
    EducationPlannerBCEducationPlannerBC
  3. Step 3High school grades and final transcript
    • Current Ontario high school applicants provide their OUAC reference number so UBC can receive grades electronically. Applicants who already graduated from a Canadian high school follow UBC's instructions for a government-issued transcript. Other applicant groups have separate document instructions.
    UBC transcript submission by applicant groupUBC transcript submission by applicant group
  4. Step 4Apply through EducationPlannerBC and select the Vancouver Bachelor of Design as your first choice.
    • Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
    UBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degreeUBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degree
  5. Step 5Submit a one- or two-page résumé through the supplemental application.
    • Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
    UBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degreeUBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degree
  6. Step 6Complete the creative exercise and brief reflection, then complete the video interview.
    • Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
    UBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degreeUBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degree
  7. Step 7Check the Applicant Service Centre for any transcript or document requests.
    • Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
    UBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degreeUBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degree

Résumé, creative exercise and video interview.

UBC Bachelor of Design · programme and supplemental application
Applicant pathways
British Columbia high school

British Columbia high school applicants

  • English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12.
  • Grade 12 history or geography is encouraged.
  • Graduate from high school and obtain at least 70% in Grade 11 or Grade 12 English or an accepted equivalent.
  • UBC recommends at least six Grade 12 courses and reviews relevant academic courses in Grades 11 and 12.
UBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degree
International Baccalaureate

International Baccalaureate Diploma applicants

  • Complete the IB Diploma with at least three Higher Level courses.
  • Meet UBC’s general requirements and complete the design supplement.
UBC Bachelor of Design undergraduate and IB admission requirements

Degree requirements

Credits and degree requirements
  • Complete 132 credits over four full Winter Sessions.
  • Complete reading, writing and geography course requirements in Year 1.
  • Honours applicants need at least 80% in each of Years 2 and 3 and in DES 201, 202, 301 and 302. Honours graduation requires at least 80% in DES 401 and DES 403.
ReferencesUBC Bachelor of Design degree requirementsUBC Bachelor of Design · programme and supplemental applicationUBC Bachelor of Design Honours OptionUBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture BDes co-opUBC Bachelor of Design co-operative education regulations
Required courses and electives
  • Include at least 12 senior-level credits within the 33 elective credits.
ReferencesUBC Bachelor of Design degree requirementsUBC Bachelor of Design · programme and supplemental applicationUBC Bachelor of Design Honours OptionUBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture BDes co-opUBC Bachelor of Design co-operative education regulations

Program facts

Entering averageNot published

The university does not publish a comparable percentage minimum or entering-average range for this program.

UBC Canadian high-school requirements by province and degree
Co-opOptional paid co-op · three 4-month terms for the designation

UBC identifies co-op work in design development, visualization, project research and fabrication.

University work-study information
UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture BDes co-opCheck work experience options

Majors & specializations

Single direct-entry degree with a shared studio sequence. Students can apply for honours or pursue a minor.

Honours Option

BDes

Apply for the honours option to complete an independent senior design project in year four.

Published requirements

Courses

Published year-by-year studio sequence and course choices.

Year 16 listed

30 credits. Choose DES 110 or VISA 180, and two of the four listed design courses. Complete reading, writing, geography and 12 elective credits.

UBC Bachelor of Design degree requirements
Year 1 · Reading options5 listed

Complete three credits from one listed course or an approved equivalent.

UBC Bachelor of Design degree requirements
Year 1 · Writing options2 listed

Complete three credits from one listed course or an approved equivalent.

UBC Bachelor of Design degree requirements
Year 1 · Geography options4 listed

Complete three credits from one listed course or an approved equivalent.

UBC Bachelor of Design degree requirements
Year 27 listed

30 credits including three elective credits.

UBC Bachelor of Design degree requirements
Year 36 listed

36 credits. Choose one of DES 321 and DES 323, and take nine elective credits.

UBC Bachelor of Design degree requirements
Year 46 listed

36 credits including nine elective credits. Honours students take DES 403 in place of DES 402.

UBC Bachelor of Design degree requirements
Elective choices
  • The published plan includes 12 elective credits in Year 1, three in Year 2, and nine each in Years 3 and 4.
Study routes

Single direct-entry degree with a shared studio sequence. Students can apply for honours or pursue a minor.

  • Minor in Arts
  • Minor in Science

Careers

Career sectors

11
  • Architecture
  • Landscape architecture
  • Urban design
  • Urban planning
  • Historic building restoration
  • Industrial design
  • Set design
  • Graphic design
  • Furniture design and fabrication
  • Game design
  • UI/UX design
Career sectorsAdditional verified programme outcomesUBC Applied Science Co-op · Bachelor of Design sample workCACB accredited Master of Architecture at UBCUBC SALA Point Grey campusCACB current accredited professional architecture degrees
Scope and qualifications

Professional architecture and landscape architecture routes can continue through accredited graduate study.

SALA career fields for design graduates

Professional recognition

UBC’s Bachelor of Design prepares students for further study in architecture, landscape architecture or urban design. CACB accreditation applies to UBC’s professional Master of Architecture.

Scope and qualifications

SALA career fields for design graduates

AccreditationAdditional verified programme outcomesUBC Applied Science Co-op · Bachelor of Design sample workCACB accredited Master of Architecture at UBCUBC SALA Point Grey campusCACB current accredited professional architecture degrees

Costs

Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urbanism · 30 credits

Published cost estimate

2026–27 · Vancouver · Published first-year full course load · CAD

Canadian students example · Choose your category

Tuition$9,992.70
Books and supplies$4,200
Residence
Residence
Not estimated
Meal plan
Not estimated
Estimated subtotal$14,192.7

Student fees and dual-degree tuition extra

Housing and meals are outside this estimate.

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