11 Architecture Study Abroad Scholarships (for Stability)

The Taj Mahal, with ivory white marble walls and enormous domed ceilings. The numberless arches and sheer size of the Colosseum. The Sagrada Familia’s intricate spires and Gothic vibes. The Sistine Chapel with its iconic ceiling and ornate detail. What do all of these have in common? Architecture, of course!

Architecture is awesome and varied and stunning! It is one of the coolest parts about studying abroad, whether it’s just a cool plus or the center of your study abroad experience. But, studying abroad can be expensive. No matter how much you love architecture, costs can definitely be limiting and intimidating.

There’s no reason to let costs stop you, though! With 11 awesome architecture study abroad scholarships to choose from (and then some), you will be on your way to study architecture abroad for free (or almost free) in no time. 

11 scholarships to help you study architecture abroad for (almost) free

1. Build Abroad Scholarship

Build Abroad is an awesome organization that focuses on volunteer construction. This scholarship allows young architects to get up close and personal with building projects in Costa Rica, Nepal, and Peru. Applicants for the scholarship are asked to write a short statement about the intersection of architecture, volunteering, and international travel. If selected, you’ll receive a week project from Build Abroad with all expenses covered! You’ll get the experience of a lifetime and all you have to do is write 300-600 words. Not too shabby, right?

• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: TBA 2020
• Eligibility: Must EITHER be a current student studying architecture, civil engineering, interior design, or related field (undergraduate or graduate); OR have graduated with a degree in architecture, civil engineering, interior design, or related field within the last 5 years.

2. Sherwin E. Small Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is funded by the Illinois Institute of Technology, the College of Architecture. It supports undergraduate students who are in their junior year of an architecture program and who have plans to study abroad. You’ll need to demonstrate financial need as well as “strong creative talents” to qualify. If you have a passion for studying architecture through traveling abroad, then give this scholarship a go! While it’s not a huge amount of money, every bit counts and can help you on your way to study architecture abroad. Email the provided email address to learn more. 

• Amount: $1500
• Deadline: TBA 2020
• Eligibility: Must be an undergraduate student completing your third year of the architecture program with plans to study abroad. Qualified applicants must be U.S. citizens and have financial need.

3. Architecture International Excellence Scholarship at the University of Salford, UK

This scholarship is school specific, meaning you’ll have to be enrolled at this school to receive any award. The University for this scholarship is University of Salford, which is located in Manchester, England, a perfect place for any architecture lover. Manchester has a huge variety of architecture styles from the 19th and 20th centuries. These styles include the neat rows of windows, from Palazzo style architecture to the ornate geometric design of Art Deco style architecture. You’ll be living around the very architecture that you’re studying — and for free too!

• Amount: $6500
• Deadline: TBA 2020
• Eligibility: Applications are open for all nationalities. Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree program in areas of architecture. To be eligible, students have to take admission to the bachelor’s or master’s degree program at Salford University.

4. USAC Scholarships to Study Abroad

USAC has tons of awesome resources for scholarships to study architecture abroad. They’ve got an entire list of possible scholarships with varying requirements for applicants. You’re bound to find at least one in their database to help you on your way to studying abroad. These are some of the best architecture scholarships for international students. Since there’s no study focus for these scholarships, you’re free to apply the scholarship to anything you want, and that includes architecture! 

• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: TBA 2020
• Eligibility: Depends on scholarship chosen

5. Structural Engineering Research Fellowship

If structural engineering is a focus for you as a future architect, this fellowship is perfect! The winner of this scholarship is awarded $20,000 to travel to different cities and conduct independent research. Basically, you get to travel the world and look at amazing architecture! You’ll be focusing on “how structures can positively respond to humanizing density in our cities”. Having an incredible opportunity like this will help grow your knowledge and understanding of structural engineering. Plus, you get to travel, so it’s a win-win. 

• Amount: $20,000
• Deadline: TBA 2020
• Eligibility: Graduating with a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or Ph.D. in Civil or Architectural Engineering with a specialization in Structural Engineering from a U.S. school. U.S. citizenship is not required.

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6. H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship

This fellowship is for the pure purpose of traveling the world and observing architecture. The benefactors actually discourage research for a degree or publication. They simply want the recipient of the fellowship to “travel by contemplation, observing, reading, writing, and sketching.” The end result will be a ton of new knowledge and inspiration for designs of your own! This fellowship also lets the recipient choose where to go and what to see; you plan your own trip. The autonomy and freedom of this scholarship makes it a winner in our books.

• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: September 30, 2020
• Eligibility: Must be an active member of the Society of Architectural Historians; must have a masters degree; any country eligible.

7. Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Architecture • DAAD

As far as architecture scholarships for international students go, this one is a great option! This scholarship is for a master’s degree in architecture at any state German college of your choice. The scholarship includes a monthly stipend of about $1,000 in addition to a travel allowance, one-off study allowance, and even payments towards health insurance. Depending on your circumstances, you might also get an additional monthly rent subsidy or allowance for accompanying family members. Oh, and did we mention they offer tons of language classes and support to help you learn German? Basically, it’s a pretty sweet deal.

• Amount: Over $20,000
• Deadline: September 30, 2020
• Eligibility: Must have a bachelor’s degree in architecture-related field; must be seeking a master’s degree in architecture-related field.

8. Gabriel Prize

This scholarship is entirely focused on French architecture! We’re talking classical columns and complex rooflines that are ubiquitous in France. The winner will receive a $20,000 grant to study classical architecture in France. You’ll get to plan your own three-month itinerary around France where you’ll sketch famous buildings, study incredible architecture, and ultimately produce three large renderings of your own. The application process includes a tentative outline of all the architecture you want to visit, so get planning!

• Amount: $20,000
• Deadline: January 2021
• Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen

9. RIBA Norman Foster Scholarship

Norman Foster was given the opportunity to travel around Europe for an entire summer, studying buildings and cities he had only seen in textbooks! Now, he wants to pass on the opportunity by awarding a summer of travel to outstanding architecture students. The focus of this scholarship is the sustainable survival of cities and towns in the modern world. If you have ideas or at least interest in this topic, or even just related topics, definitely give this scholarship a shot!

• Amount: $8,000
• Deadline: TBA 2021
• Eligibility: Must be enrolled in, and have successfully completed the first year of, a professional qualification in architecture in one of the schools of architecture invited to participate

10. Rotch Travelling Scholarship

This scholarship is technically a design competition, with the winner receiving a six-month all expenses paid trip to anywhere in the world to study architecture! If you win, you’ll have to submit your itinerary and study focus to be approved. Once it is, you’re off on a six-month adventure of a lifetime! The recipient is asked to keep a journal or blog to document the awe-inspiring sights and fun adventures had while abroad. This means you’ll have something to look back on when you’re back home too!

• Amount: $40,000 or more
• Deadline: January 2021
• Eligibility: Must win the competition; Must demonstrate “evidence of imaginative capacity.”

11. Steedman Fellowship in Architecture 

This prestigious scholarship, which has been around since 1926, awards $50,000 to an emerging architect. The awarded amount is used to study architecture abroad for 6-12 months with a focus of the winner’s choosing. At the end of their travels, recipients are also asked to present their findings at a conference in St. Louis attended by professionals and students alike. You’ll have the opportunity to study, explore, learn, and then tell people all about it! 

• Amount: $50,000
• Deadline: Biannually; TBA 2020
• Eligibility: Must have received architectural degree in the past 8 years.

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Build your future with architecture study abroad scholarships

Studying abroad is already amazing, and studying architecture abroad is a dream! This dream can be a reality, though, with any one of these incredible scholarships. Whether you need an extra boost to fund a program you’ve already selected, or whether you’re going for a $50,000 fellowship where you create your own itinerary, these scholarships will help you on your way to study architecture abroad for free.

And you’ll have an amazing time! You’ll see iconic architecture landmarks like the Sydney Opera House. You’ll marvel at the Louvre in Paris and admire the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Basically, you’ll learn a ton about architecture by seeing it in person, and you might even get inspired for designs of your own! You got this!

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