Application
Who can apply?
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- have completed a master's degree in architecture or urban planning by the time of applying in 2025
- be a non-employee, freelance architect or urban planner
- no longer be enrolled at any university during the period of the fellowship, with the exception of doctoral students,
- not have previously completed a postgraduated fellowship,
- as non-EU citizens, undertake to ensure that their residence permit does not preclude self-employment for the duration of their stay,
- are not in receipt of any other funding from the City of Cologne in the funding year,
- have language skills in German or English, either as a native speaker or with C1 language skills.
- Architects and urban planners from all over the world, both from within and outside the EU, are explicitly invited to apply.
What must the application contain?
- personal data: name, address, telephone number and e-mail address
- proof of identity (identity card, passport document or passport substitute)
- letter of motivation (obligatory, 1 page)
- curriculum vitae (obligatory, max. 2 pages)
- project proposal for a creative, experimental and visionary planning task on urban planning-architectural topics in the city of Cologne and its periphery (obligatory, max. 6 pages)
- evidence of urban planning and architectural experience (optional, max. 6 pages)
- 1-3 letters of recommendation (optional)
- 1-3 scientific publications on your own work (optional)
- your application file to upload, the file name should read: name_first_name_residence_2025.pdf
- in German or English language
Explanation
In your letter of application introduce yourself and your interest in architecture and urban planning. In doing so describe your personality and your motivation as to why you are applying for the Gottfried Böhm Scholarship. Convey the importance that architecture and urban planning have for you. Assure us that you will actually be present on site in Cologne for the majority of the time (at least 280 days). Tell us what significance architecture and urban planning have for you, in particular Gottfried Böhm's understanding of these two topics. (maximum 1 page)
Explain your school, academic and scientific curriculum vitae and your professional stations. (maximum 2 pages)
With your own project proposal which you submit with your application you present the jury with a creative, experimental and visionary planning task for an urban planning-architectural implementation in the city of Cologne and its periphery. Your project proposal must have sufficient relevance for the city of Cologne and be anchored in the philosophy of Gottfried Böhm. You may submit a completely free project as part of the Gottfried Böhm Scholarship 2025/26. However, you can also submit a project that is orientated towards the main topics of the scholarship year 2025/26:
- High-rise concept for Cologne
- Development on Heumarkt
- Cologne bridges
- Circular building
- Strengthening the cityscape
- Strengthening neighbourhoods
(Whether you choose either a free topic or one of the focus topics of the scholarship year 2025/26 is irrelevant for the evaluation and selection of the scholarship holder).
For a successful application for the Gottfried Böhm Scholarship, we recommend an initial examination of the current urban development plans, projects and visions of the city of Cologne and the surrounding region. This understanding will help you to develop projects that are in line with local development goals and make innovative contributions to urban design.
Recommended plans and concepts:
- Urban master plan city center
- Cologne Perspectives 2030+
- Height development concept
- Agglomeration concept Cologne/Bonn region
If you have experience in urban planning and architecture please present it to us, for example by means of presentations or project descriptions. (maximum 6 pages)
If you have any questions regarding the application please contact us at: info@gb-stipendium.de
»My buildings should
radiate warmth inside
and outside. «
How does the online application work?
Please familiarise yourself with the application conditions and the award guidelines. First of all make sure that you meet requirements for participation in the award procedure. After that you can prepare the material for your application described on this page. Please compile all elements of the application in a single PDF document taking care not to exceed the maximum file size of 20 MB. When you have collected everything fill in the application form completely and upload your PDF and click on "Submit application" - Done. Receipt of your application will be confirmed to the e-mail address you have provided.