International Architecture & Design Awards (IADA) 2027
The International Architecture & Design Awards (IADA) are open to students as well as professionals. Architecture and design students enter the same competition, in the same nominations and before the same independent international jury, with a 50% discount on entry fees. This page explains how students can enter IADA 2027, what it costs, which projects qualify and what recent student winners have presented.
Why enter the student architecture category of IADA?
For a student, an international award is one of the few ways to get independent recognition before the first job. A winning project gets its own published winner page with the project description, images and credits, which you can link to from your CV, portfolio and job applications. Certificates, winner logos and graphic materials are available in your participant account; a physical trophy can be ordered separately and is optional.
Student work at IADA is judged by the same jury against the same published criteria as professional work. In 2026, student projects won Platinum awards across architecture nominations, including completed buildings and concepts.
Who can enter as a student?
Any student can enter, individually or as a student team; no student ID is required. Select Student when you register: your project then competes in the Student category, the 50% discount is applied, and the winner page shows Category: Student. Credit your tutors and team members in the project details.
What student projects can be entered?
- Studio and thesis projects. Concepts are accepted; mark the project status as Concept.
- Built student work. Design-build pavilions, installations and workshops, marked as Completed / Built.
- Any IADA discipline. Students can enter Architecture, Interior, Landscape, Lighting and every other discipline; IADA 2027 lists 19 disciplines and 640 nominations.
Choose the nomination that matches the programme or the main idea of your project. Browse all options on the IADA categories and nominations page, or read our pages on IADA architecture category and IADA interior design category.
IADA 2027 student fees and deadlines
Students pay half of every entry fee, including additional nominations. The fee for the first project includes one nomination; each additional nomination for the same project costs less. The discount applies to everything except the optional physical trophy.
| Registration period | Register by | First project (student) | Each additional nomination (student) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Bird | 13 November 2026 | $70 | $45 |
| Advance | 18 December 2026 | $85 | $55 |
| Standard | 29 January 2027 | $100 | $65 |
| Extended | 5 February 2027 | $115 | $75 |
| Late | 9 April 2027 | $130 | $85 |
- Project submission deadline: 12 April 2027
- Winners announced: 14 May 2027
Trophies are not discounted. Regular fees and full details are on the entry fees and deadlines pages.
How student projects are judged
Each member of the jury evaluates every project in its nomination against three criteria:
- Innovation & Originality: the strength and freshness of the design idea.
- Design & Aesthetic Quality: composition, materials and the overall quality of the design and its presentation.
- Functionality & Spatial Integration: how the design works for its users and relates to its site and context.
The jury scores each entry against these published criteria and the scores are averaged. The highest-ranked projects receive Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze awards, and Honourable Mentions may also be given. Meet the jury on the IADA jury page.
Recent IADA student winners
Platinum winners from IADA 2026 entered in the Student category, from a built university stage to research-driven housing concepts.
| Project | Studio | Country | Award | Nomination | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIDE outdoor stage | Wood Program, Aalto University | Finland | Platinum, IADA 2026 | Alternative Architectural Design | Completed / Built |
| Double Face: Facades as Architectural Responses to Mixed-Use Functions | Huang Shih Chi | Taiwan | Platinum, IADA 2026 | Mixed-Use Development Design | Concept |
| Theseus: A New Housing Typology | Joe Russell & Emma Sheffer | United States | Platinum, IADA 2026 | Renovation, Restoration & Adaptive Reuse | Concept |
| Investigation and Postgraduate Center | Axel Gafni | Argentina | Platinum, IADA 2026 | Institutional & Government Buildings | Concept |
| Modular Straw Bale Housing for Ukrainian Refugees | S SQUARE | United States | Platinum, IADA 2026 | Pop-ups, Temporary & Modular Structures | Concept |
| Brick Fiesta | Xinyu Wu, Xuanyu Li | United States | Platinum, IADA 2026 | Museum, Exhibition & Gallery Design | Concept |
Browse more projects in the IADA winners archive.
Turning a studio project into a strong entry
A studio presentation is made for tutors who already know the brief. An award jury does not, so rework the project for readers who see it for the first time.
- State the brief and the site in two or three sentences before showing any drawings.
- Lead with the single idea that makes the project distinctive, then support it with plans, sections and key views.
- Cut process material that does not explain the final design.
- Mark the status honestly (concept or built) and credit tutors, teammates and the programme.
Our guide How to enter IADA covers the materials you need and the order in which to prepare them.
How to enter IADA 2027 in four steps
- Create your participant account. Registration and submission are managed in your account.
- Register your project and pay the entry fee. Choose your nomination, select Student, and any additional nominations.
- Prepare your presentation. Project description, images and drawings; our guide How to enter IADA explains what to prepare.
- Submit before 12 April 2027. Winners are announced on 14 May 2027.
IADA student architecture category FAQ
How much does it cost for a student to enter IADA 2027?
Students pay 50% of every entry fee. In the current Early Bird period, until 13 November 2026, that is $70 for the first project and $45 for each additional nomination. The optional trophy is not discounted.
Can I enter a studio or thesis project that was never built?
Yes. IADA accepts concepts as well as built projects. Many student winners in 2026 entered concept projects.
Who judges student projects?
The same independent international jury, against the same three published criteria as professional work. Student projects compete in the Student category, and winner pages show Category: Student.
Can we enter as a student team? Do I need a student ID?
Student teams are welcome, and no student ID is required. Register the project once, select Student, and credit all team members and tutors in the project details.
Which disciplines can students enter?
All of them. Students can enter any of the 19 IADA disciplines, including Architecture, Interior, Landscape and Lighting.
When are the IADA 2027 winners announced?
On 14 May 2027. The project submission deadline is 12 April 2027.
Ready to enter your student project?
Early Bird registration for IADA 2027 is open until 13 November 2026: $140 for the first project. Register early: fees increase with each period.