SOM Foundation China Fellowship Programme 2021

SOM Foundation China Fellowship Programme 2021 is now accepting applications. The China Fellowship is awarded annually to three students in the last two years of either an undergraduate or graduate programme in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design at a university in the People’s Republic of China.

Topic: Examining Social Justice in Urban Contexts

The built environment is defined by human-made decisions that have long-lasting impacts on our society. Today, we are in the midst of a critical conversation about how structural racial injustices, discriminatory policies, and uneven access to resources have shaped our society and our built environment for decades. Challenges like the current global health crisis reveal and amplify conditions that have always been present. These injustices and policies are manifested in both subtle and explicit ways across many areas—from housing, education, economy, and safety to public transportation, public space, health, and the environment. Governments, civic institutions, private organizations, professionals, and citizens continuously define, respond, and contest these conditions. Exploring and identifying long-term policies, immediate actions, and comprehensive plans have the potential to shape a more equitable and sustainable future.

Who can apply for SOM Foundation China Fellowship Programme

• The applicant must be enrolled at a university in the People’s Republic of China.
• The applicant must be an undergraduate or graduate student in the last two years of an accredited degree programme in architecture, landscape architecture, or urban design.
• The applicant must intend to obtain an accredited degree and to enter the professional practice of architecture, landscape architecture, or urban design.
• Chinese citizenship is not required.
• Students from China who are enrolled at universities outside the People’s Republic of China are not eligible for the award.
• Students enrolled at universities in the People’s Republic of China who are attending universities outside the country as a part of a “study abroad” programme are eligible for the award.

SOM Foundation China Fellowship Programme Funding

• The Fellowship provides financial support, up to $5,000, to conduct independent travel and research that contributes to the SOM Foundation’s current topic.

How to Apply for SOM Foundation China Fellowship Programme

The following are required for application:

• A Cover Sheet
• A Portfolio:
  • The portfolio is expected to be in Chinese. English translations are welcome but are not required. The jurors who evaluate the submissions speak and read Chinese.
  • The portfolio should include a maximum of twelve (12) one-sided A4 pages. A cover page is not required; if the applicant includes a cover page, it will be counted toward the maximum 12 pages that are allocated toward the portfolio.
  • The work submitted must be the student’s own work, completed at the university where the candidate is enrolled, and/or work prepared for other design competitions. Given the collaborative nature of most university programs, group work is allowed. However, it should be used sparingly. The candidate’s role in the group project must be clearly explained in the portfolio.
  • Candidate’s work that was prepared in a professional office should not be included in the portfolio.
  • Self-identifying information should be redacted or removed from all pages of the portfolio. Examples of identifying information include applicant’s name, city, photo, university, classmates’ names, and professors’ names. The purpose of this requirement is to maintain anonymity of the applicants when the jurors review the submissions.
• A Proposal:
  • Applicants should develop a research proposal that explains how the trip relates to this year’s topic, their interests and learning objectives, and how they and the profession may benefit from their travel studies.
  • An English translation is required.
  • The Research Proposal is limited to two (2) one-sided A4 pages in total, which includes both the Chinese and English translation.
• A Travel Itinerary using the following guidelines:
  • Corresponding with the Research Proposal, applicants should develop a travel itinerary that includes specific locations, sites, buildings, and professionals that you intend to visit, and include prospective interviews.
  • An English translation is required.
  • The Travel Itinerary is limited to two (2) one-sided A4 pages in total, which includes both the Chinese and English translation. A breakdown of travel expenses is not necessary.
  • The travel must take place outside of China and be a minimum of three weeks’ duration.

The application should be:

• PDF format. Cover sheet should be sent as a separate PDF file.
• A4 pages, either portrait or landscape orientation.
• 16 pages maximum (not including cover sheet).
• 50 MB maximum.

A link to the application should be emailed to chinafellowship@somfoundation.com no later than 5:00 p.m. Beijing Standard Time on Friday, April 23, 2021. Applications received after that time will not be considered.

Learn More