Dallas Center for Architecture Foundation McDermott Traveling Fellowship Application Guide 2026–2027: Requirements & Deadline (USA)

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Overview & Value

The McDermott Traveling Fellowship supports traveling studies in architecture — research trips meant to help recipients research, develop, and disseminate knowledge of the built environment, then apply those lessons back toward Dallas and surrounding communities. Past fellows have traveled to Spain to study Moorish architecture and to Switzerland to study the works of architect Peter Zumthor. The fellowship is funded through the Architecture and Design Foundation, with funding also provided by the AIA Component Scholarship Award.

Differentiating fact: the organization behind this fellowship has changed. Several currently-ranking scholarship listings (CollegeData, AccessScholarships, Scholarships.com) still describe it under the original “Dallas Center for Architecture Foundation” name and eligibility framing. The fellowship is now administered through the Architecture and Design Foundation (AD EX), and — more importantly — the eligibility window has genuinely broadened. Older listings state the fellowship is open only to students in their 4th, 5th, or 6th year, and to graduates within 3 years of finishing an accredited architecture program. AD EX’s current official eligibility criteria show the window is now open to students as early as their 3rd year, and to professionals up to 10 years after graduating — a meaningfully larger pool of eligible applicants than the older figures suggest.

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Nationality & Residency Requirements

To meet the McDermott Traveling Fellowship’s citizenship requirement, applicants must be a US citizen or permanent resident. This is broader than some older listings, which describe the fellowship as citizens-only. Beyond citizenship, applicants must be a resident of Texas for five years — a specific duration requirement, not just general Texas residency as commonly summarized elsewhere.

Academic & GPA Eligibility Requirements

There is no published McDermott Traveling Fellowship GPA requirement. This is a travel/research fellowship rather than a GPA-gated merit scholarship, so selection centers on your proposed project, portfolio, and essay rather than a transcript-based cutoff.

Key eligibility criteria:

• Applicant must be in their 3rd through 6th year of university studies in an accredited architecture program, or a professional up to 10 years after graduating from an accredited architecture program.
• Applicant must be a US citizen or permanent resident, and a Texas resident for five years.
• Applicant must include a concise portfolio or examples of visual work with the completed application.
• Recipients must use the Fellowship in the year it is awarded — funds can’t be banked or deferred to a later travel year.
• Recipients must agree to present two public programs at the Foundation in February or March of the year following the award, and must submit a final expense report at the conclusion of their Fellowship travels.

Application Materials Needed

Before the application deadline, gather the following:

1. Completed online application through the Architecture and Design Foundation’s (AD EX) application portal.
2. Essay (350-word limit), addressing how and why your proposed study can benefit the architectural community, including your objectives, methodology, and proposed itinerary.
3. Concise portfolio or visual work samples.
4. 2–4 letters of recommendation, from professional or academic sources.
5. Current official transcript.
6. Resume.
7. Detailed budget estimate, covering transportation, lodging, other travel expenses, production/presentation expenses, and your approximate travel dates.

Step-by-Step How to Apply

1. Confirm your eligibility — 3rd–6th year architecture student status (or a graduate within 10 years of finishing an accredited program), US citizenship or permanent residency, and five years of Texas residency.
2. Watch for the application cycle to open, typically in October, on AD EX’s official scholarships and fellowships page.
3. Design your proposed travel study, defining clear objectives, a methodology, and a proposed itinerary — past successful proposals have centered on studying a specific architectural tradition or architect’s body of work abroad.
4. Draft your 350-word essay, addressing how your proposed study will benefit the broader architectural community, not just your own portfolio.
5. Assemble your portfolio, transcript, and resume, and request your 2–4 letters of recommendation with plenty of lead time.
6. Prepare a detailed budget estimate covering all anticipated travel-related costs.
7. Submit your complete application before the deadline, typically falling in mid-to-late February — recent cycles have seen this date extended, so confirm the exact current-year deadline directly with AD EX.
8. If awarded, complete your travel within the award year, and plan ahead for the two required public presentations at the Foundation the following February or March, plus your final expense report.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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