Center for Architecture Design Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Center for Architecture

Introduction
Supported by the Center for Architecture in partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), this scholarship provides merit-based funding to students pursuing their first professional degree in architecture or a related design discipline at an accredited New York State institution. Selection emphasizes strong academic achievement combined with demonstrated financial need, which will be assessed according to the nominating school’s Financial Aid Officer guidelines.

Award
One or more scholarships of up to $5,000 will be granted.

Purpose
To assist deserving students working toward their first professional degree in architecture, design, engineering, planning, or related fields at accredited programs located in New York State.

Who May Apply
- Candidates must be enrolled in an accredited architecture or design program in New York State and seeking their first professional degree.
- Each school’s dean or department chair may nominate up to two students from their institution. Nominations should reflect high academic standing and documented financial need (per the school’s Financial Aid Officer).
- Students in their final year of study are not eligible.
- Applicants must be nominated by the dean or chair of the program in which they are currently enrolled.
- Students may not be nominated simultaneously for both the Center for Architecture Design scholarship and the Allwork scholarship.

Eligible Engineering Programs
- Architectural, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical, Structural

Eligible Design Programs
- Architecture, Environmental Design, Furniture Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Landscape, Sustainable Design, Urban Design

Graduate applicant note
- M.Arch students enrolled at an NAAB-accredited New York State program are eligible only if their undergraduate degree is in a field other than architecture.
- M.Arch candidates who hold a four-year degree in architectural studies or who completed non-accredited pre‑architecture programs may also apply.

Application components
A complete submission must be uploaded electronically via the online application form and include:
1. Online application (Cover Page Form must be the first page of your upload).
2. Portfolio.
3. Two letters of recommendation (signed and on letterhead).

Portfolio requirements
- Include three student projects that demonstrate your abilities.
- Collaborative work may be submitted only if your individual contribution is clearly identified; otherwise such projects are discouraged.
- Do not submit slides.

Letters of recommendation
- All recommendation letters must be on official letterhead and bear a signature.
- One letter must come from the nominating dean or department chair; this letter constitutes the official nomination.
- One letter must be from a faculty member who knows the applicant’s work.
- Optional: applicants may include up to two additional academic or professional references (from educators and/or design professionals) that speak to academic achievement and professional promise.

If a recommender prefers to send their letter directly by email, the applicant must upload a document that includes the recommender’s name and contact information and states that the letter will be emailed to scholarships@centerforarchitecture.org. Directly emailed letters must arrive by the same deadline as the online submission (March 18).

Other details
- There is no application fee.
- Students cannot be nominated for both the Center for Architecture Design and the Allwork awards.

Submission instructions and file naming
- All materials (application, portfolio, and recommendation letters) must be submitted electronically through the online form.
- Save your portfolio file as: CFA Design Portfolio [Applicant’s Last Name]
- Recommenders should save/upload letters as: CFA Design Recommendation [Applicant’s Last Name]
- Remember: recommendation letters must be signed and on letterhead.

Contact for emailed recommendations: scholarships@centerforarchitecture.org

Deadline reminder: March 18 (this is the same cut-off date for directly emailed recommendation letters).