The Summer School Planning and Design for the Just City takeS place every JULY at the Faculty of Architecture & the Built Environment of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. The application period is closed at the moment.
There are 100 places. TU Delft will contact applicants once selection is complete.
Who can apply
The school is designed mainly for Master’s students in the built environment, but PhD students and young professionals also take part. You don’t need to be enrolled in higher education to apply.
A background in planning, architecture, or design is helpful but not required. We welcome architects, planners, engineers, designers, geographers, historians, sociologists, environmental engineers, and anyone else working on the built environment — as long as you’re willing to engage with urbanism.
We’re looking for engaged, open-minded participants who want to bring ideas back to their own communities.
How we select participants
We can only host 100 people. Selection is based on your background, a motivation letter, and a short introduction video — not a portfolio or CV.
In your motivation letter, explain why you want to join and how it fits your personal, academic, and professional goals. Tell us what makes you stand out: your interests, activities, or ways you express your views (writing, activism, a blog, anything). Keep the letter to 800 words and the video to 3 minutes.
English requirement
The school is taught in English. State your English level in your motivation letter — the discussions use fairly advanced vocabulary, so a solid level of English will help you get the most out of it.
Fee and costs
The fee is €600. Payment instructions are sent after selection. A limited number of scholarships are available — see details here.
The fee covers all Summer School activities: social events, some meals, materials, site visits, and the certificate. It does not cover accommodation, travel, or your regular meals — you’re responsible for arranging and paying for these yourself, though TU Delft can advise on finding accommodation in Delft. You must arrive at least one day before the school starts and may leave after the certificate ceremony.
Why is it so affordable?
Compared with similar schools at other universities, our fee is low by design. We don’t want cost to determine who can attend — we want a diverse group of future leaders from different backgrounds. Because we don’t provide accommodation, costs stay down, and most students find their own through friends, Airbnb, or hostels.
Visa requirements
Citizens of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and many other countries don’t need a visa for the Schengen Area. Check your status at SchengenVisaInfo.com.
If you need a visa, TU Delft can provide an invitation letter, but only Dutch authorities decide whether to grant it. Start the process early — visa applications can take time. Basic information is available here.
A Dutch visa lets you travel within the Schengen Area, which covers most EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland — but not the UK or Ireland. Make sure you know exactly what visa, if any, you need.
Health policy
You’ll need to follow whatever national health regulations are in place at the time of the school, in line with Dutch government policy and TU Delft’s implementation of it.
How to apply — 7 steps
Wait for our decision, sent a few weeks after the application period closes.
Read this page and the application form carefully, so you know what to prepare.
Write your 800-word motivation letter (see tips here). Draft it in Word, check spelling and grammar, then save it.
Record your introduction video (max 3 minutes) — see instructions here. Cover: who you are, where you studied, a challenge you see in your city, and why you want to join.
Label every file you submit with your first and last name (example: MARIA_DELGADO).
Fill in the application form completely. If you don’t yet have a passport, write “I will provide it later.”
Upload your motivation letter and video, then submit the form. You’ll get a confirmation email — if you don’t, check the email address you entered or write to summerschool-bk@tudelft.nl.