Applications Due March 10, 2026
2026 Jacobs Summer Fellowship
Application Information
About the Jacobs
Fellowship
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Named after both Jane and Allan "Great Streets" Jacobs.
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Available to first-year MAUD students, second- or third-year M. Arch students, and first-year MUP students with a prior architecture degree.
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Approximately ten to twelve week term during the summer of 2026.
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Stipend of $1,000 per week.
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In-person at Speck Dempsey's office in Brookline, Massachusetts.
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Work closely with firm founders Jeff Speck and Chris Dempsey.
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Successful participation in the Fellowship may lead to offers of part-time work in the coming academic year and full-time work post graduation.
The Jacobs Fellowship provided hands-on experience making real contributions to real projects. From the first day, I was practicing as a planner and urban designer, navigating both the public and private sectors, and learning on the job with the support of a great team.
- Clara de Castro
Jacobs Fellow, 2024
Being intimately involved within an urban design and planning practice while having the opportunity to directly engage with partners and clients—ranging from municipalities to private sector stakeholders—was an invaluable experience!
- Sulaya Ranjit
Jacobs Fellow, 2024
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Working with our firm's public and private clients across the United States.
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Attending Jeff Speck's Walkable City class at Harvard (May 22-23).
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Participating in the Congress for the New Urbanism in Providence, RI (June 11-14).
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Learning the basics of a city-planning consulting business.
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Shadowing Jeff Speck as he travels to present Walkable City Talks and work on projects.
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Creating marketing materials for our growing firm.
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Advancing our firm's social media presence.
Fellowship Activities
Fellowship Activities
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Participating in Speck Dempsey's active urban planning and design projects with public and private clients across the United States.
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Attending Jeff Speck’s Walkable City class at Harvard, May 21-22.
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Potential travel to the Congress for the New Urbanism in Northwest Arkansas.
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Learning the basics of a city-planning and urban-design consulting business.
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Shadowing Jeff Speck as he travels to present Walkable City Talks and work on projects.
Qualifications
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Available to first-year MAUD students, second- or third-year M. Arch students, and first-year MUP students with a prior architecture degree. Past cohorts of Jacobs Fellows have been urban planning students.
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In 2026, the Fellowship will focus on urban design, so we are seeking students with a design background for this opportunity.
How to Apply
Submit the following application materials to join@speckdempsey.com by 5PM on March 10th:
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A one-page cover letter describing your familiarity with our work and what you hope to get out of the Fellowship.
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Your resume / CV.
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A standard small portfolio of your work in urban design.