Southern California Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles, provides admissions to a range of architecture undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate programs. The institute has been constantly honored in the top 10 academic organizations of the US Education System. 

With a student count of about 500, the institute takes admission applications from over 50 countries across the globe, narrowing it down to a bare minimum that meets their set norms. Out of the enrolled students, approximately 10% are from Asian subcontinents. It observes an acceptance rate of around 73% which makes it a moderately competitive yet highly comprehensive institute when it comes to admissions.

Some salient points to be considered when seeking enrollment at Southern California Institute of Architecture are as follows:

  • The institute follows an open admission policy, wherein students can get admitted either during the fall application intake or spring. 
  • The interested applicants must submit their complete application form by January 15 for the fall session.
  • Students who apply for the fall semester are notified during the months of April and March.
  • ACT and SAT scores are mandatory requirements for enrollment at the organization
  • Applications need to be submitted via a common application for undergraduate students and through online application for graduate students.
  • It also provides the applicants with a chance to avail of multiple scholarships. International students are eligible for a merit-based scholarship that is decided based on the previous academic record of the student, his financial need, and the potential to excel at the institute.

Although it’s not a compulsion to have a portfolio, the organization, however, highly recommends having a portfolio of creative work for first-year applicants. In the light of building a portfolio, SCI-Arc offers a four-week summer program by the name of Design Immersion Days (DID) that offers high-school students an insight into the field of architecture.

COVID-19 Admission Updates 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the GRE is optional. The application criteria have been modified because of the current COVID-19 pandemic. For additional details about program-specific criteria, please email the Office of Admissions at admissions@sciarc.edu.

Southern California Institute of Architecture Highlights

Application Portal Common Application/Online Application
Application Fee (non-refundable) 85 USD
Average SAT Score (out of 1600) 1190
Average ACT Score (out of 30) 26
Average TOEFL/IELTS Score 92/7.0
Acceptance rate 73.4%
Retention Rate 68.0%.
Academic Calendar Semester-wise
Intake Seasons Fall and Spring
Financial Aid Merit-based scholarship for international students
Portfolio Not required, but recommended
Enquiry mail admissions@sciarc.edu
Mode of Payment Online/ Credit card/ Wire transfer

Southern California Institute of Architecture Programs

As they seek their undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees, SCI-Arc gives students a special opportunity. Their approximately 500 students and 80 faculty members, most of whom are architecture professionals, work together to re-examine concepts, develop, discover and test architecture boundaries.

Undergraduate program - A five-year advanced degree, approved by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) program at SCI-Arc focuses on both design creativity and academic depth through liberal arts-based education.

Graduate Programs - Two independent Master of Architecture degrees, M.Arch 1 and M.Arch 2, are offered by SCI-Arc, allowing graduates to obtain architectural licencing in the United States for professional practice. The M.Arch 1 curriculum is structured to encourage learners to develop a personal aesthetic and point of view. The M.Arch 2 curriculum is primarily aimed at fostering the discovery of speculative architecture and new contact styles while advancing systematic experimentation that extends the limits of contemporary architectural practice.

Postgraduate Programs - The SCI-Arc EDGE, Centre for Advanced Studies in Architecture, is a speculative scholarship and specialised educational site offering five Master of Science postgraduate programs.

  •  A one-year, three-semester programme focusing on current and near-future architecture innovations is the Master of Technology of Architectural Technologies. 
  • The Master of Science in City Planning is a one-year, three-semester programme in which students research recent urban trends, encourage creativity in design, and facilitate discussions on how to develop communities in the 21st century. 
  • A one-year, three-semester degree, the Master of Science in Synthetic Landscapes, focuses on advancing awareness and gaining skills in new landscape architecture topics. 
  • The Master in Science of Fiction and Film is a one-year, three-semester programme in which students learn to gain skills in worldbuilding, storytelling, and production alongside world-renowned television industry practitioners. 
  • A one-year, three-semester programme that tackles the increasing uncertainty between practise and academia and trains students for a new form of hybrid career: the architect-theorist-educator.

Southern California Institute of Architecture Admission Deadlines

The institute provides a plethora of courses for international students and takes applications for admissions to them twice in an academic year. However, first-year applicants can only apply for the fall semester. It’s mandatory to submit the form before the priority deadline in order to be applicable for both admission and merit-based scholarship. Following any delay in submitting an application, one is not eligible for scholarship.

Semester Deadline
Undergraduate Students
Fall January 15 (Primary)
March 15 (Secondary)
Graduate Students
Fall January 15 (Primary)
March 15 (Secondary)

SCI Arc International Students Admissions

SIC-Arc admits students based on the submission of their complete application well, before the priority deadline. If you have completed the application form, along with the submission of the expected documents like evaluated transcript, letter of recommendation, personal statement, etc., then you have a decent chance to secure yourself a position in the semester. 

The institute follows a uniform pattern for admission for both domestic and international aspirants. However, there are a couple of additional steps that International candidates need to follow.

How to apply to SCI Arc?

Application Portal: Through the official website of Southern California Institute of Architecture, first-year students have to fill a Common Application form, whereas the students applying for graduate programs have to follow the Online Application method. Both the methods redirect the student to Slideroom, wherein the mandatory documents must be uploaded in order to complete the application form.

Application Fee: 85 USD (non-refundable)

Bauisc Admission Requirements: International Students must compulsorily satisfy all the below stated criteria for admission in the Southern California Institute of Architecture-

  • A complete application.
  • SCI-Arc Supplement Question must be answered to get redirected to the slideroom for uploading documents.
  • Official transcript issued by the high-school or college depending upon the undergraduate or graduate nature of the program. The transcript must be evaluated by one of the members of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS test scores.
  • Official GRE score for graduate applicants.
  • Official SAT or ACT scores. SCI-Arc does not require the essay section of SAT or the writing section from ACT.
  • Personal statement.
  • Letter of Recommendation. Students need to include the information of the recommender in the application form. The recommender will thereafter receive a mail requesting him to complete the necessary process.
  • Portfolio is not a compulsory document, but is highly recommended by the institute for first-year students specially.
  • Resume for graduate applicants
  • Financial backing proof.

Students need to mail the admission material to the office of admission ATTN: SCI-Arc Office of Admissions, 960 E. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013.

English Proficiency Test Scores

The organization has specified the examination and the minimum scores that they accept as a proof for English Proficiency like TOEFL, IELTS or equivalent for students who do not have English as their primary language. The minimum acceptable score is as follows:

Test Minimum Required Score
TOEFL 92
IELTS 7.0

Visa Process for International Students

Once a student is accepted at SCI-Arc, he is issued all the documents necessary for obtaining I-20/DS-2019 form. Moreover, the exact procedure for getting the visa to study in the USA using the issued documents is specified along with the acceptance letter.

I-20 forms are not issued to students attending summer programs at SCI-Arc.

Appointment with the nearest US embassy can be scheduled only after filling the I-20 form and paying the fees. The documents that will be required for the visa processing are:

  • Electronic application form
  • Receipt of the application fees paid
  • A passport.
  • One photograph
  • 1-20 form 
  • Academic Transcripts 
  • Evidence of English proficiency test scores like TOEFL or IELTS.
  • Bank statements showing enough funds for covering cost of living in USA

Southern California Institute of Architecture: Undergraduate Admissions

The institute takes undergraduate students for various courses like Bachelor’s in Architecture, a five-year professional course, among others. Approximately sixty students from all across the globe are admitted to this prestigious program. Applicants who generally get through the process have a GPA of 3.0 or more. Undergraduate applicants can only apply during the fall intake via the Common Application process.

Where to apply: Common Application

Application Fee: 85 USD (non-refundable)

Application Requirements: Applicants must submit the following documents at the time of admission-

  • Personal Statement
  • SCI-Arc Supplement Question
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Portfolio (optional, but recommended.) SIC-Arc motivates students to participate in multiple art, design or architecture courses in order to build a considerably strong portfolio.
  • Official High School Transcript
  • Scores of the English Proficiency test (TOEFL code: 7802)
  • ACT/SAT score (SAT code: 1575 and ACT code: 0423)

Southern California Institute of Architecture: Graduate Admissions

The organization provides various graduate courses for its aspirants from across the globe seeking to study in the USA . Through the process of Online Application, Graduate applicants need to submit the following documents while applying-

  • Official College Transcript
  • Official GRE Test Scores
  • Personal statement
  • Resume
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Portfolio

Here are some popular programs offered by the institute with their corresponding specifications:

Requirements M.Arch 1 M.Arch 2 MS Architectural Technologies MS Design of Cities MS Design Theory and Pedagogy
Application Fee (non-refundable) 85 USD 85 USD 85 USD 85 USD 85 USD
Official transcripts Required Required Required Required Required
GRE Required Required Required Required Required
Personal Statement Required Required Required Required Required
Work Experience Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required
Resume Required Required Required Required Required
Recommendations Required Required Required Required Required
Admission Interview Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required

*Note: Those who are finalized for receiving the scholarship after submission of form before the priority deadline will be contacted for a telephonic interview.

Southern California Institute of Architecture prioritizes those for admission who successfully apply before the priority deadline. A good academic rapport and potential to materialize University education is a fundamental requirement for admission. A good portfolio is an added bonus and surely earns merit during the admission process considering how it lays down in front of the authorities the potential of an applicant. However, it is not a compulsory document, but very highly recommended for those who surely want to secure a seat.

Students who successfully get through the admission process receive the confirmation for the fall term by March or April. Following the acceptance of a candidate, documents necessary for I-20/DS-2019 form are released, followed by the form itself. Students can fill this form and take an appointment at the nearest US embassy for the visa procedure to commence. Any enquiry regarding the admission process can be mailed at admissions@sciarc.edu.

SCI Arc Cost of Attendance

The average attendance cost depends on many variables, such as the undergraduate or graduate degree, tuition, books, fees, lodging, eating, and personal things were demanded.

Type of Fee Per semester fee in USD
Tuition and Fees $23,439
Administrative Fee $500
Student Union Fee $50
Lab Fee $50
Total $24,039
Student Health Insurance Plan* $1,587 (annual)
Books and supplies $1,600
Room and Board $6,720
Loan Fees $250
Transportation $740
Miscellaneous expenditure $4,575 
Total per semester $39,511

SCI Arc FAQs

Ques: When can I apply for graduate courses starting in the academic year?

Ans: The deadline for applying for graduate courses starting in the academic year is January 15th.

Ques. What is the minimum GPA required to get into Southern California Institute of Architecture ?

Ans: Southern California Institute of Architecture requires a minimum GPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 point scale. For certain courses, a 3.5 or above is required.

Ques. What is CCSU’s acceptance rate?

Ans: With an acceptance rate of 73.4 per cent, Central Connecticut State University admissions are selective.

Ques: Does the college provide me with accommodation?

Ans: No, the college doesn’t provide accommodation, housing is independent of SCI-Arc.

Ques: What percentage of the student body is occupied by International Students?

Ans: 58.5% of the student body consisted of International and U.S. multicultural students.