Rosso Fellowships
The Rosso Fellowships offer prizes of $27,500 to architecture graduate students in the College of Environmental Design. The fellowships are awarded with a preference given to students in need of financial assistance.
The Rosso Fellowship in Technical Design is awarded annually to one student interested in the technical aspects of architecture, encompassing high-density urban housing, building design, and new technologies.
The Rosso Fellowship in Social and Urban Housing is awarded annually to one student interested in the study of social and high-density urban housing. This may include privately constructed sustainable, affordable, and economically integrated communities and/or housing that facilitates upward mobility.
If you would like to apply to both fellowships, please submit a separate application for each.
March 4, 2025 | 11:59pm
$27,550 for each recipient (Half awarded fall 2025 and half spring 2026)
- Full time MArch and MS students in architecture
- Applicants must have at least one year remaining in their degree program
- This award gives a preference to students who are not receiving funding as TAs
- Need for financial assistance
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
Please submit the following materials as a single PDF file using the application form by the deadline:
For the Rosso Fellowship in Technical Design:
- Personal Statement: (500 words maximum) responding to the following questions:
- How does your academic, personal, and professional background align with your interest in the technical aspects of architecture, particularly in the areas of high-density urban housing, building design, and new technologies?
- Can you provide examples from your past projects or current research that demonstrates your proficiency and/or interest in addressing technical challenges within architecture?
For the Rosso Fellowship in Social and Urban Housing:
- Personal Statement: (500 words maximum) responding to the following questions:
- How does your academic, personal, and professional background reflect your commitment to the study of social and high-density urban housing, particularly in the context of sustainable, affordable, and economically integrated communities?
- Can you articulate your proposed area of study within social and urban housing, and how do you envision applying the knowledge gained to your future work in the built environment?
In addition to the personal statement, please provide the following for both fellowship applications:
- Statement of Financial Need: (250 words maximum) This award is given with preference for students with financial need. Students must describe how this award would positively impact and alleviate their current financial circumstances. Include an explanation of all financial aid already being received.
- Portfolio: Portfolio should demonstrate an interest in technical design (for the Rosso Fellowship in Technical Design) or social and urban housing (for the Rosso Fellowship in Social and Urban Housing).
- Transcript: CalCentral unofficial printouts are acceptable.
Please note: Federal financial aid regulations require that all awards received by a student cannot exceed their financial aid need as determined by a congressional formula. It is possible, therefore, that the cash award for a prize could reduce some component of a needy student’s package of financial aid awards. In these cases, the Financial Aid Office attempts first to reduce loan or work aid; fellowships, grants or scholarships are only reduced as a last resort. Regardless of your financial aid situation, the IRS views fellowships, grants, or scholarships that are not directly applied to tuition or other educational expenses as taxable income.
The Rosso Fellowships are awarded annually thanks to William Rosso (BArch 1959), AIA/HUD awarded architect, housing official, general contractor, commercial and housing developer, artist, and pilot.