Summer Fellow Urban Innovation + Sustainable Cities

Position Title: Summer Fellow: Urban Innovation & Sustainable Cities (DISC Program)

Organization: UC Berkeley – College of Environmental Design (CED)

Location: In-person at Bauer Wurster Hall, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Duration: 5 Weeks (July 6 – August 7, 2026)

Category: Internship / Fellowship / Academic Program

Role Overview

Join an international cohort at the world-renowned UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design for DISC (Design + Innovation for Sustainable Cities). This immersive, five-week program is designed for undergraduate students who want to tackle the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change, urban health, and social equity.

As a DISC Fellow, you will step into the role of an urban innovator. You will use the San Francisco Bay Area as a "living laboratory," moving beyond the classroom to engage in site analysis and research, and professional-grade design studio work. This full-time program is ideal for students across all majors—from social sciences and engineering to the humanities—who are eager to build a portfolio and an experience that stands out to future employers and graduate schools.

What You Will Do (Key Responsibilities)

• Design & prototyping: Participate in intensive studio sessions to develop innovative design solutions, progressing from initial concept to physical and digital prototypes.
• Advanced technical training: Gain hands-on experience with standard design tools, including Rhino (3D modeling) and Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Urban analysis: Conduct field research and site visits throughout the Bay Area to analyze the built environment in context of climate change, urban health, and social justice.
• Global Challenges seminars: Engage in sophisticated discourse on urban innovation and global challenges based on lectures by forward-thinking faculty and visionary practitioners.
• Final exhibition: Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to produce a professional-grade project, culminating in a presentation to a jury of expert critics and the public.

What You Will Gain

• Official UC Berkeley credit: Earn college-level units on an official transcript.
• Professional portfolio: Develop compelling materials for your design portfolio that proves your ability to solve complex urban problems.
• Design thinking & intellectual growth: Walk away intellectually stimulated and with an expanded creative problem solving ability that can be applied to many different fields.
• Global network: Connect with Bay Area designers, innovators, and faculty, and join an alumni community of 350+ leaders across 30+ countries.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled undergraduate student (all majors welcome).
• No prior design or architecture experience is required—we value intellectual curiosity and academic rigor.
• A passion for sustainability, social justice, and the future of cities.

Program Enrollment & Funding

Investment in your future: The DISC program is a credit-bearing academic experience. As such, participation involves tuition and fees similar to a summer study-away or intensive fellowship program.

Financial support: UC Berkeley is committed to making this program accessible to a diverse range of future leaders. Some need-based financial support is available to qualified applicants. We ask students to apply by the priority deadline (March 29) to be considered for these funds.

Tip for Applicants: Many colleges or universities offer "Summer Experience Grants" or "Professional Development Fellowships" to help students cover the cost of high-impact programs like DISC. We recommend checking with your college’s Career Center or Financial Aid office to explore these external funding opportunities.

How to Apply

Students must apply through the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design portal.

Learn more and apply here: ced.berkeley.edu/disc

• Priority & financial aid deadline: March 29, 2026
• Final application deadline: May 18, 2026