University of Calgary offers MA/MS in Design Research, a master's degree in Applied Design programme in Calgary, Canada. The programme is delivered on campus.
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Applied Design
Delivery: On Campus
We have no tuition fees on record for this programme yet — see the official programme page.
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This is a Master of Design Research (MDR), a thesis-based program at the University of Calgary with a maximum completion time of four years. Coursework consists of three core courses in design research methods, design research writing, and design innovation, plus one elective, followed by a supervisor-approved thesis proposal, annual progress reports, and an original research thesis defended in an open oral examination. The program draws on methods from multiple disciplines, including design explorations, participatory planning exercises, ethnography, surveys, statistics, laboratory science, fieldwork, and archival, visual, and textual study. It is aimed at recent graduates of professional architecture, planning, or landscape architecture programs who want to extend their education beyond a first professional degree into a specific area of expertise or practice specialization. A thesis supervisor is not required at the point of application, though contacting faculty beforehand is recommended. Graduates pursue careers in consultancy, civil service, planning and architecture firms, real estate development, engineering, academia and research, and industrial or product design, delivered through on-campus study.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.0
Admission Requirements: Admission requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale over the last two years of study (at least 20 courses or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree, and a four-year baccalaureate degree or equivalent from a recognized institution; the program is aimed at recent graduates of professional architecture, planning or landscape architecture programs. As a thesis-based degree, admission depends on being matched with a supervisor. Applications must include a digital portfolio of design or research work, writing samples, a statement of research interest, a two-year funding plan and a CV/resume. Programme page's English language proficiency (ELP) section defers to the Faculty's ELP requirements in the Academic Calendar without publishing programme-specific scores, so the university-wide English Language Proficiency requirement from ucalgary.ca (IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 86 legacy scale, or Duolingo 120) is cited as the general reference per institution excerpt; exemptions apply after prior study in English per that page.
Application Details
Start Date:May and September
Application Deadline:For Fall 2027 entry, the University of Calgary opens undergraduate applications for domestic applicants on 1 October 2026 and for international applicants on 15 August 2026, both closing on the same firm application deadline of 1 March 2027, with supporting documents due by 15 March 2027 and offers accepted by 1 May 2027. International applicants follow the identical March 1 deadline; the university publishes no separate, later international closing date. Applications are not accepted on a rolling basis after the deadline for most direct-entry programmes, though a small number of programmes (e.g. Nursing) run further selection rounds into the summer while space remains. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
