University of Manitoba Environmental Design (BEnvD) admission requirements: a qualifying year, a 2.50 AGPA and the architecture option

No. UM calls the Bachelor of Environmental Design an advanced entry program. You must complete one year of university, including set courses, with a minimum adjusted grade point average (AGPA) of 2.50 before you can be considered. If you haven't been to university, UM points you to a direct entry program such as University 1.

The program page says year 1 courses are typically completed before admission, and the expected length is 3 years plus the qualifying year. So you'd start University 1 in fall 2027, apply in spring 2028, and enter the program for fall 2028.

For Ontario students, University 1 asks for a 70% minimum average over ENG4U, a 4U math and two academic 4U or 4M courses, with no less than 60% in each. UM also asks for high school graduation with six Grade 12 U or M credits. Students who fall short are considered for Limited Admission at 65%.

Your Grade 12 math matters later, because the qualifying year needs a university math course. Work out your average with our Top 6 average calculator and plan Grade 12 with the high school course planner.

Your 30 credit hours must include EVDS 1600, EVDS 1602 and EVDS 1680 with at least a C+, plus a Written English (W) course and a Mathematics (M) course with at least a C, and 15 credit hours of open electives. The year can be spread over more than one year, but it must be done by the end of the April exam period of the year you apply.

UM also says EVDS 1660 and EVDS 1670 (History of Culture, Ideas and the Environment 1 and 2) are required for progression and graduation. It highly recommends taking all five first year EVDS courses before admission or in the summer just before. Pass grades don't count toward the requirements. The Faculty of Architecture does not accept 0900 level English courses.

General applicants are ranked by AGPA, highest first. The AGPA uses your most recent 60 credit hours. If you have 36 to 59 credit hours, your lowest 6 are dropped, and at 60 credit hours your lowest 12 are dropped. With 30 to 35 credit hours, nothing is dropped. UM says an AGPA above 2.50 may be needed to win a seat, but it does not publish a cutoff.

International students on study permits are ranked separately, for about 10 to 15% of places. Up to 5% of places may go to Canadian Indigenous applicants and up to 5% to Individual Consideration applicants. Preference goes to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who live in Manitoba. Each year is a separate competition.

General applicants are selected on AGPA alone and don't send a portfolio. Applicants in the Individual Consideration and Canadian Indigenous categories must send a creative portfolio, a typed autobiographical sketch of up to five double spaced pages, and three confidential evaluations.

UM's portfolio guidelines say crediting is required for all work presented. The committee is also interested in projects you do on your own as well as school work. UM's pages don't ban outside help, but every piece must be credited.

The posted bulletin is for 2026-2027. Last cycle, the application and fee were due April 1, 2026, course outlines and interim transcripts April 15, 2026, and final official transcripts June 1, 2026. Decisions came in late June to early July. If you're offered a seat you have five business days to accept and pay a $200 deposit.

Expect a similar early April deadline when you apply in 2028, and confirm. For University 1, UM's last posted fall deadline for Canadian applicants was August 1, 2026. Apply by March 1 to be considered for entrance scholarships. The application fee is $100 for Canadians. See our Canadian deadlines page.

The BEnvD has two years of common foundation studies, then two years in one of three options: Architecture, Interior Environments, or Landscape + Urbanism. Foundation courses include EVDS 2500 Design Studio 1 and EVDS 2300 Materials, Structures and Assemblies.

In the Architecture option, year 3 includes EVAR 3008 Architecture Design Studio 1 and EVAR 3014 Drawing: Freehand and Digital. Year 4 includes EVAR 4004 Architecture Design Studio 3 and EVAR 4002 Building Systems. The BEnvD lets you apply to UM's master's programs in Architecture, City Planning, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture, or to graduate programs elsewhere.

The Faculty of Architecture runs a Co-operative Education and Integrated Work Program (Co-op/I). It is open to students in ED 3 and ED 4, and it is not compulsory. Students usually do four month summer placements. Eight and twelve month terms are judged case by case.

Co-op credits are on top of your degree requirements. ED 4 students who take a summer placement must defer graduation to October. For 2026-27, the co-op work term fee for Architecture (Environmental Design) is $415.69.

UM charges by credit hour, based on the faculty that teaches each course. For 2026-2027, Architecture courses are $179.87 per credit hour for domestic students and $756.01 for international students. Arts courses are $163.97 and Science courses are $187.65 per credit hour. Environmental Design students also pay a $2.50 per credit hour endowment fee.

Our estimate, not a UM figure: a 30 credit hour year of Architecture courses would be about $5,396 in base tuition at 2026-27 domestic rates, before other fees. Your qualifying year will mix rates from several faculties. Rates change each year.

Your first year at UM is in a direct entry program, so you're considered for general entrance scholarships. A Grade 12 average of 95% or higher earns $3,000, 90% earns $2,000 and 85% earns $1,000. You need to apply and pay by March 1 and take at least 24 credit hours over fall and winter.

The awards page lists March 1, 2027 as the admission and entrance scholarship deadline, though it labels that line Fall 2026. Confirm with UM.

A UM student starts in University 1 and competes for an Environmental Design seat on first year grades, not on Grade 12 marks. Help your child take the three EVDS courses early and protect their grades, because the ranking uses the AGPA.

If your child wants to start architecture courses in first year, compare schools that admit from high school, such as Waterloo and Carleton. Our Manitoba guide covers life in Winnipeg.