Scholarships

The Architects Foundation invests in the next generation design community through a number of scholarship and grant opportunities.

Our Scholarships & Grants

You’ve got big goals for your future. A scholarship from the Architects Foundation can help you reach them. Every year, the foundation awards thousands of dollars in architecture scholarships and professional development grants to high school and undergraduate students, Architect Registration Exam (ARE) candidates, and licensed architects pursuing enrichment opportunities.

Learn more about scholarship opportunities

Meet Our Scholars

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Ana Orosco

Ana Orosco, AIA, NCARB is an architect and researcher engaged in re-imagining practices around housing resilience and sustainability, particularly in...

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Meet The Other Scholars Currently In Our Programs

Scholar & Alumni Resources

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Resources for Students & New Grads

Support a Scholarship

Learn more about growing our scholarship program through a one-time or recurring gift here. For more information contact this email:
scholarships@architectsfoundation.com

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Support a Scholarship

Support for Students

The Architects Foundation is the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA). Explore AIA’s resources for students and opportunities for recent graduates including one of the industry’s best job boards and free membership.

FAQ

How do I know if I’m eligible for a scholarship?

Please refer to the individual scholarship pages for full eligibility information.

Can I stay in touch if I’m not yet eligible for a scholarship?

The Architects Foundation provides several scholarship opportunities throughout the architectural career pipeline: undergraduate scholarships, upperclassmen scholarships, graduate scholarships, post-graduate scholarships, licensure scholarships, and even travel grants for registered architects. If you aren’t eligible yet for a particular scholarship, you can sign up for the interest form listed on the scholarship’s webpage.

Can I apply for more than one scholarship program at once?

Yes! As long as you meet the eligibility requirements for the programs you are interested in, you can apply for as many scholarships as you would like. Our current scholarships with overlapping eligibility are: The Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship, and the Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship; The Student Loan Relief Grant and the Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship.

Can a past recipient apply for a scholarship?

Yes! We encourage past recipients to apply for other scholarships opportunities through the Architects Foundation.

For your tuition scholarships, am I eligible to apply if I am in the final year of my undergraduate or graduate program?

Since our tuition scholarships apply to the next academic year, graduating students are not eligible for tuition awards.

Why is US citizenship/permanent residency a requirement for your need-based scholarships?

We use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to evaluate financial need, and only US Citizens and permanent residents qualify for FAFSA.

Do you offer scholarships that fund international students studying architecture outside of the US?

No.

Do you offer scholarships to international students?

Yes! Although most of our scholarships require US citizenship/permanent residency, we do offer a couple scholarship opportunities available to international students, including the Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship. Please note that you must be attending a NAAB-accredited school in the United States for tuition awards, and you must meet the other eligibility requirements in order to qualify for these scholarships.

What should a scholarship letter of reference/recommendation focus on?

When requesting a letter of reference, please make sure that the author addresses what makes you uniquely qualified to receive this particular award. Letters that are generic are generally not well received by reviewers.

Do I need to submit an official transcript with my application?

Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for our applications. Official transcripts will be required for verification purposes once you receive a scholarship award.

I have applied for a scholarship. Will I hear back, and when?

The Architects Foundation conducts a thorough review process for our awards that lasts 3-4 months. All applicants will receive notice whether they have received the award or not. Scholarship recipients receive a phone call, and all other applicants receive an email notification. If the jury process takes longer than usual, all applicants will be notified.

Do you debrief applicants who did not receive the award on their application?

Due to the amount of applications we receive, we do not have the capacity to respond to unsolicited requests to debrief on the application process. Top-ranked finalists MAY be sent feedback by our team.

I’ve received a tuition scholarship. Can the money be sent directly to me?

In order to ensure scholarship funds are used for their intended purpose to support a student’s academic studies, and to maintain the integrity of our relationship with academic institutions, it is the policy of the Architects Foundation to work with the institutional financial aid offices to distribute awards. We do not remit scholarship funds to individuals.

I have some additional questions!

Whether you’re a student, professor, or guidance counselor, we’re happy to help you get the information you need. Contact us anytime at scholarships@architectsfoundation.org. For questions specifically related to the Emerging Professionals conference grant, please email the AIA Emerging Professionals team. Please be advised that near the end of a scholarship application cycle there may be a delay in response due to the high volume of inquiries we receive.