USA Scholarships
SmithGroup JEDI Scholarship 2027 - $6,000
The SmithGroup JEDI Scholarship Program, branded today as the Design a Better Future Scholarship, puts $6,000 directly toward tuition for five students who prove they are building a more inclusive architecture, engineering, and planning industry. SmithGroup pairs each grant with a paid summer internship in a US studio that matches your discipline, and the internship is mandatory if you accept the money. You need junior-or-higher standing or graduate enrollment in an accredited architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, urban planning, or engineering program, a 3.0 GPA, legal authorization to work in the United States, and availability for the summer internship tied to the award year. SmithGroup plans to open the 2027 application window on Monday, 28 September 2026, according to university partners, with materials submitted through smithgroup.com/become-an-intern and questions routed to [email protected].
What is the SmithGroup JEDI Scholarship?
SmithGroup is a national design firm, and the JEDI Scholarship Program is how it backs students who want the industry to look more like the communities it serves. The firm now markets the same award as the Design a Better Future Scholarship, but the promise has not changed: five students each year receive $6,000 for tuition and a paid summer internship in a SmithGroup studio.
That internship requirement matters. You are not collecting a check and disappearing. You are joining project teams, sitting in crits, and learning how a large firm runs interdisciplinary work. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States, enrolled for the Fall semester in the award year, and studying architecture, planning, landscape architecture, interior design, or an eligible engineering discipline with at least a 3.0 GPA.
The 2026 application already closed on become-an-intern, but partner universities expect the 2027 cycle to open on 28 September 2026 with a December deadline similar to past years. Your cover letter should read like evidence, not slogans: name the student group you rebuilt, the studio policy you pushed for, or the mentorship program you launched.
Questions go to [email protected], and the live form will appear on smithgroup.com/become-an-intern when SmithGroup flips the switch. If you care about inclusive design and can commit to a summer in the firm, this is one of the few scholarships that pays tuition and wages in the same package.
Eligibility
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✓Accredited design or engineering programYou must be an undergraduate at junior level or above, or a graduate student, in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, urban planning, or engineering disciplines such as civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, or fire protection at a US accredited program.
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✓Enrollment during Fall 2027Scholarships are paid to your institution, so you must remain enrolled for the Fall 2027 semester in the award year SmithGroup publishes on become-an-intern.
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✓Paid summer internship availabilityRecipients must accept a paid summer internship at a SmithGroup office that hosts their discipline. The internship is a program requirement, not an optional perk.
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✓Minimum 3.0 GPASmithGroup expects a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the time of application unless the site states otherwise for the active cycle.
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✓Legal US work authorizationApplicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States because the internship component is paid employment.
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✓Demonstrated inclusion leadershipYour cover letter should document organizations, studio culture work, or community activities that show you advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the AEC industry.
Benefits
- Tuition grant $6,000 paid to your college
- Paid summer internship Required at a SmithGroup US studio
- Professional mentorship Exposure to national design teams
- Automatic renewal One-time award per recipient
- Relocation for internship Not guaranteed; confirm with HR
- International students without work auth Not eligible
Document checklist
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✓Cover letter on inclusion impactExplain how you have advanced inclusion within your university, community, or the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. This letter carries significant weight.
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✓Current resumeList academic projects, internships, student organizations, and volunteer roles that reinforce your design or engineering story.
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✓Online portfolio linkArchitecture, landscape architecture, and interior design applicants must supply a portfolio URL. Engineering applicants follow the instructions on become-an-intern for the cycle.
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✓Transcript or GPA verificationBe ready to confirm your 3.0 GPA if SmithGroup requests documentation after the initial application.
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✓Internship application formSubmit through smithgroup.com/become-an-intern when the scholarship section opens for the 2027 class.
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✓Contact information for referencesSmithGroup may follow up for additional context about your inclusion work, so list reliable email and phone details.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the SmithGroup JEDI Scholarship?
It is SmithGroup inclusion scholarship, now marketed as the Design a Better Future Scholarship, that gives $6,000 toward tuition for five students who demonstrate commitment to equity in the design industry. Each recipient also completes a paid summer internship at SmithGroup.
Is the JEDI Scholarship the same as Design a Better Future?
Yes. SmithGroup renamed the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program to Design a Better Future while keeping the same $6,000 award and internship requirement. Application materials live on smithgroup.com/become-an-intern.
Who can apply for the SmithGroup JEDI Scholarship?
Junior-or-higher undergraduates and graduate students in accredited US architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, urban planning, or engineering programs with at least a 3.0 GPA and legal US work authorization may apply when the cycle is open.
How much is the SmithGroup JEDI Scholarship worth?
Each of the five annual recipients receives $6,000 paid to their college plus wages from the required paid summer internship at a SmithGroup studio.
When does the SmithGroup JEDI Scholarship application open?
University partners announced a Monday, 28 September 2026 opening for the 2027 class. Monitor smithgroup.com/become-an-intern for the precise deadline, which historically falls in early December.
Do engineering students need a portfolio?
Portfolio links are required for architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design applicants. Engineering applicants should follow the become-an-intern checklist for the active cycle, which emphasizes resumes and cover letters.
Can I decline the internship but keep the scholarship?
No. SmithGroup states that the paid summer internship is a program requirement tied to the tuition grant.
Where do I apply for the SmithGroup JEDI Scholarship?
Use https://www.smithgroup.com/become-an-intern when the scholarship section is live, and email [email protected] with questions. Background on the JEDI name remains at smithgroup.com/jedi-scholarship.
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