This in-person intensive two-week course hosted by ETH Zurich and held in Brussels, Belgium seeks to foster a curiosity and solutions-driven mindset through a series of actions — open dialogue, consultation, exploration, and reflection — and to create a dynamic feedback loop that leads to transferable and scalable outcomes.

The Fellowship is open to current final year or recently graduated Masters students from the disciplines of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Urban Planning, Historic Preservation, Structural/Civil/Construction Engineering and Real Estate Development.

Students will come to Brussels to collaborate closely with lecturers, tutors and industry experts, observing, analyzing, and challenging ideas while developing interdisciplinary strategies to scale local innovations focusing on tomorrow’s resilience.

Fellows will also engage with case study projects in Brussels, connecting with professionals to gain first-hand insights into the pioneering work and leadership shaping transformative, regionally inspired solutions. They will produce final projects that will be documented in a digital publication that will become a reference for future students and professionals worldwide. Upon completion of the program, selected Fellows will be chosen to take part in the next step of the journey – the Holcim Foundation Emerging ChangeMakers.

Eligibility: Applications are open to those in the fields of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Urban Planning, Historic Preservation, Structural/Civil/Construction Engineering and Real Estate Development at any university in Europe. The candidate must be a current final year Masters student (who will finish their studies no later than October 31, 2025) or a recent Masters graduate (who graduated no sooner than January 1, 2023).

Why Apply: Participants will have the opportunity to boost their careers by engaging with leading design firms in Europe, becoming part of a global network of Holcim Foundation Fellows committed to shaping the future of sustainable construction. The tuition, accommodation and travel to and from this two week Fellowship are covered by the Holcim Foundation, allowing all selected Fellows to focus on having a valuable experience.

Structure: In this intensive two-week course, participants will engage in focused lectures, discussions and talks on relevant themes, led by ETH Zurich faculty and other guest interdisciplinary experts, lecturers and building industry practitioners.

Holcim Foundation Emerging ChangeMakers: Selected fellows may continue their journey by participating in the next step of the program - the Holcim Foundation Emerging ChangeMakers - and attend the 2025 Emerging ChangeMakers Retreat.

Networking Opportunities: Fellows will gain access to the Holcim Foundation's international network of professionals and academic institutions, providing continued opportunities for career growth.

Partnering Firms: Site visits of real projects will provide an immersive experience, exploring user needs, planning requirements and innovative construction methodologies, in collaboration with &bogdan, noAarchitecten, Democo Group and inputs by ACE (Architects’ Council of Europe) and SHL (Schmidt Hammer Lassen).

Interested candidates can apply by submitting the following materials:

• 2-minute video introduction
• 800-word reflection paper
• Student portfolio (PDF, max 4 slides/pages)
• Resume (PDF, max 2 pages)
• Two letters of recommendation

An additional Holcim Foundation Fellowship in Europe (Innovating Tomorrow’s Resilience) hosted by UCL London will be held July 21-August 1, 2025. Applications for the Fellowship in London have already closed.

Fellowships have been completed in North America (Decarbonization at Scale) and Latin America (Unearthing Futures).