​RIBA AHR Scholarship

RIBA AHR Scholarship has been made possible thanks to the generous support of AHR Architects.

The scholarship aims to address a perceived lack of inclusivity at the Part 2 stage of the professional qualification in architecture by supporting talented students who have demonstrated commitment to their studies and to the profession, who might struggle to cover the costs associated with their course.

The scholarship wishes to support students from low-income households by awarding one scholarship of £7,000 to one student throughout their RIBA Part 2 course in the UK.

The recipient of the scholarship is assigned a mentor, an architect based at one of AHR’s UK offices, and is encouraged to attend regular meetings with their mentor throughout the course of their Part 2.

The recipient is also offered the opportunity of a four-week work placement at an AHR office, supervised by their assigned mentor. This will be a paid position and is designed to fit into the recipient’s academic timetable.

Successful applicants studying full-time will receive £1,166.50 per term throughout the course of their Part 2 to a maximum of £7,000. Successful part-time applicants will receive the same maximum amount in payments proportionate to the length of their studies.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship in the 2025 application cycle, applicants must be in the process of applying for a RIBA Part 2 course in the UK beginning in September 2025.

1. Applicants do not need to have a place confirmed at the time of applying but will need to list their first and second university choices in the application. Proof of enrolment will be required before the scholarship is paid to successful applicants.
2. Applications are welcomed from those classified as ‘Home Students’ only. Under the UK university fee status definition, ‘Home Students’ are those living in the UK or Republic of Ireland, and EU nationals with settled status in the UK.
3. Applications will be accepted from full-time and part-time students.
4. In the case of two equally good applications, preference will be given to applicants who are RIBA Members. RIBA Student Membership is free to students studying on RIBA-validated courses.
5. Employees of RIBA, AHR, and trustees or members of the RIBA Education Development Group will not be eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Selection criteria

Applications will be assessed on the following:

• evidence of the applicant’s academic performance, commitment to studies, and potential contribution to the profession
• the applicant’s personal circumstances and journey to architecture
• the applicant’s household income and financial situation

Applications will be assessed by a panel comprised of members of the RIBA Education Development Group and representatives designated by AHR.

The next application cycle will open in the Spring of 2025.

To apply, candidates will need to complete an online application form (full details and guidance notes will be published here early in 2025).

If you have any questions about the application process or would like to discuss a project proposal, please get in touch at student.support@riba.org.

2024 recipient

Matthew James is the recipient of the 2024 RIBA AHR Scholarship that will support his Part 2 studies at the University of Nottingham.

On receiving the scholarship, Matthew said:

"I am immensely grateful to have been selected as the recipient of the RIBA AHR Scholarship this year, and I am thrilled to have this opportunity to work with AHR to advance my development over the next two years, both personally and professionally. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting some of the team during the interview process and can't wait to get stuck into my studies here in Nottingham, where I aspire to further my understanding of the social impact of architecture and expand my skillset before I step back into practice."

Contact

If you have any questions about this scholarship, please get in touch with the RIBA Education Projects team at student.support@riba.org

This email address is monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.