Architecture Students Hub
Everything we publish for architecture students, in one place
illustrarch started as a place where architecture students shared their work and learned from each other. This hub brings that together again: every free tool, guide and opportunity we publish for students, in the order a studio project unfolds, from the first bubble diagram to the final jury, the portfolio and the first internship.
Open the free tools →Browse opportunities →Closing Soon
Open calls with the nearest deadlines, pulled from our live listings. Closed calls drop off on their own, so this list is always current.
Competitions
| Competition | Organizer | Submission deadline | Fee | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingspan MICROHOME 2026 | Buildner, in partnership with Kingspan | 2 November 2026 2 days left | — | €100,000 total prize fund |
| The Social Hub 2.0 Student Competition | DiscoverArch | 12 November 2026 12 days left | INR 300 or USD 4 per member until 2 Nov; INR 500 or USD 6 until 10 Nov | INR 20,000 in total, plus 10 honourable mentions |
| Krystal Design Award 2026: Graduation Competition | Krystal Design Award | 15 November 2026 | USD 35 until 31 October, USD 45 from 1 November; free for students in listed countries and for refugees | USD 10,000 pool: USD 3,000, 1,500 and 1,000 for the top three, six USD 500 category awards, ten USD 150 mentions; 10 paid internships; D5 Render Pro for the top five |
| Ege Mimarlık Magazine Cover Competition – Chamber of Architects İzmir Branch | TMMOB Chamber of Architects, İzmir Branch | 16 November 2026 | Free to enter | 1st prize 75,000 TRY, 2nd prize 50,000 TRY, 3rd prize 25,000 TRY |
| Bute Park Art Gallery Design Competition | Design Circle | 16 November 2026 | Free to enter; register by email | £1,000 first prize; three honourable mentions receive a sponsor's prize pack |
Table generated from live listings on 31 October 2026; closed calls drop off automatically.
All competitions →Internships
| Internship | Company | Apply by | Location | Stipend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design Student Intern – CannonDesign | CannonDesign | — | Mumbai, IN | — |
| Computational Design Intern – KCAP | KCAP | — | Zurich, CH | Paid (amount not disclosed) |
| 2027 Summer Architecture Intern, Rail and Transit – TKDA, Downers Grove | TKDA | — | Downers Grove, US | USD 20–24 / hour |
| 2027 Summer Architecture Intern – TKDA, Bloomington | TKDA | — | Bloomington, US | USD 20–24 / hour |
| Urban Design and Architecture Intern – KCAP | KCAP | — | Zurich, CH | Paid (amount not disclosed) |
Table generated from live listings on 31 October 2026; closed calls drop off automatically.
All internships →Free Tools for Architecture Students
Eleven tools on illustrarch plus a sun path generator on our sister site learnarchitecture.net, all free, with no account and nothing to install. Diagram makers for the concept stage, converters for drawings and calculators for quick checks on stairs, roofs and materials.
All tools →Design and diagram tools
Bubble Diagram MakerMap spaces and their relationships in your browserFREE · OPEN TOOL
Zoning Diagram MakerBlock out public, private and service zones on your siteFREE · OPEN TOOL
Adjacency Matrix MakerScore which rooms must sit next to each otherFREE · OPEN TOOL
Golden Ratio CalculatorFind golden ratio proportions for facades and layoutsFREE · OPEN TOOL
Architectural Scale ConverterConvert real dimensions to drawing size at any scaleFREE · OPEN TOOL
Color Palette CreatorBuild a consistent colour palette for your boardsFREE · OPEN TOOL
Sun Path Diagram GeneratorPlot the sun's path for any site and date, on our sister site learnarchitecture.netFREE · OPEN TOOLBuilding calculators
Staircase CalculatorRiser height, tread depth, stair angle and stringer lengthFREE · OPEN TOOL
Roof Pitch CalculatorPitch, angle, rafter length and slope of a roofFREE · OPEN TOOL
Concrete and Material CalculatorMaterials needed for concrete workFREE · OPEN TOOL
Paint CalculatorHow much paint a room or facade needsFREE · OPEN TOOL
Home Remodel Cost CalculatorA first estimate of remodelling costsFREE · OPEN TOOLFree Downloads for Students
Planners, jury prep, precedent sheets and drawing kits from the illustrarch library, free to download. Pick what you need for this semester.
Browse the library →
Architecture Student OSSemester workbook and a 39 page digital plannerFREE DOWNLOAD
Jury Prep Pack100 real jury questions, scripts and question cardsFREE DOWNLOAD
Precedent Analysis Sheets20 landmark buildings, 120 diagrams, A3 sheetsFREE DOWNLOAD
Illustrated Architecture Glossary298 core terms with 197 drawingsFREE DOWNLOAD
Drawing Annotation Kit74 north arrows, scale bars, markers and title blocksFREE DOWNLOAD
Software Shortcuts Cheat Sheets767 checked shortcuts for 10 programsFREE DOWNLOAD
Free Mega SamplerOne real piece of all 10 illustrarch mega packsFREE DOWNLOAD
Student Starter KitA first toolkit for architecture schoolFREE DOWNLOADConcept and Diagrams
Start the project here. Read the site, sort the programme and test layouts with diagrams before you draw a single plan.
All diagram guides →Free tools for this stage
Bubble Diagram MakerMap spaces and their relationships in your browserFREE · OPEN TOOLZoning Diagram MakerBlock out public, private and service zones on your siteFREE · OPEN TOOLAdjacency Matrix MakerScore which rooms must sit next to each otherFREE · OPEN TOOLGolden Ratio CalculatorFind golden ratio proportions for facades and layoutsFREE · OPEN TOOLStart with these guides
Bubble Diagram In Architecture
Matrix Diagram in Architecture: How to Map Space Adjacencies
Architectural Zoning Diagrams: A Practical Guide for Architects
Spatial Organization Diagrams in Architecture: Types, Examples, and How to Choose
Circulation Flow Diagrams: How to Read & Use Them in Architecture
Massing Diagram Architecture: A Practical Guide to Building Form Studies
Sun Path Diagram: How to Read One and Use It in Design
Exploded Diagram Architecture: What It Is and How to Draw OneDrawing and Presentation
Turn the design into drawings and boards that a jury can read in thirty seconds.
All presentation guides →Sketching →- 10 Best Architecture Sheets by Students
- Successful Architectural Presentation Boards
- Architecture Presentation Boards
- Color Palette in Architectural Presentations
- Architectural Drawings
- Elevation Drawing in Architecture
- How to Draw Architectural Plans by Hand
- How to Build an Architecture Physical Model From Scratch
Free tools for this stage
Architectural Scale ConverterConvert real dimensions to drawing size at any scaleFREE · OPEN TOOLColor Palette CreatorBuild a consistent colour palette for your boardsFREE · OPEN TOOLStart with these guides
10 Best Architecture Sheets by Students | Layout Examples 2026
Successful Architectural Presentation Boards: Design & Layout
Architecture Presentation Boards: Best Examples & Layout Tips
Color Palette in Architectural Presentations
Architectural Drawings: A Student’s Guide to 8 Essential Types
Elevation Drawing in Architecture: Types, Tools & Best Practices
How to Draw Architectural Plans by Hand: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Build an Architecture Physical Model From ScratchSoftware, Rendering and Gear
Choose the tools that fit your workflow and budget, from CAD and BIM to rendering and tablets.
All software guides →Tools and gadgets →Start with these guides
Revit for Architecture Students: Free Download, Best Tutorials & Practical Tips
Archicad vs SketchUp: Which Is Better for Architects?
Easier 3D Visualization with D5 Render’s Free Downloadable Assets & PBR Materials
Lumion Asset Library: A Practical Guide to Free Assets and PBR Materials for Architects
Architectural Visualization with Blender: Free Assets and PBR Materials Guide
SketchUp AI Render: 7 Best Tools and Plugins for Architects in 2026
Top 7 Best Android Tablets for Architects: Precision, Power and Portability
Graphic Tablets for Architecture StudentsPortfolio, CV and Internships
Collect the semester's work into a portfolio and use it to land your first internship.
All portfolio guides →Career guides →- Architecture Portfolio Guide
- Architecture Portfolio Layout
- How to Write Architecture Portfolio Text
- Architecture Portfolio for Internship
- When is the Best Time to Apply for an Architecture Internship
- How to Write an Architecture CV
- How to Write an Architect CV With No Experience
- A Guide To Creating an Instagram Profile as an Architecture Portfolio
Start with these guides
Architecture Portfolio Guide: Tips, Examples & Templates
Architecture Portfolio Layout: Designing Pages with Grid and Typography
How to Write Architecture Portfolio Text: Tips & Examples
Architecture Portfolio for Internship: 8 Steps to Stand Out and Get Hired
When is the Best Time to Apply for an Architecture Internship?
How to Write an Architecture CV: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Write an Architect CV With No Experience
A Guide To Creating an Instagram Profile as an Architecture PortfolioSchool Life and Learning
Courses, books, schools and the habits that make studio life manageable.
Student life →Online courses →- Top 10 free online architecture courses
- How To Be A Successful Architecture Student
- Core Modules in an Architecture Degree
- Why Do Architecture Students Struggle With Time Management
- Architecture Students Mental Health
- Must-Read Architecture Books for Students in 2026
- Best Architecture Schools in the US
- Useful Websites for Architecture Students
Start with these guides
Top 10 Free Online Architecture Courses for 2026
How To Be A Successful Architecture Student
Core Modules in an Architecture Degree: What You Actually Study
Why Do Architecture Students Struggle With Time Management?
Architecture Students Mental Health: What the Numbers Really Reveal
Must-Read Architecture Books for Students in 2026
Best Architecture Schools in the US: Complete 2026 Rankings & Guide
Useful Websites for Architecture StudentsOpportunities
Competitions, internships, jobs and events are added every week and checked against their official pages before they go live.
All listings →
Student Work
Thesis projects, competition entries and studio work by students and recent graduates, alongside the schools and student buildings worth studying.
The hub does not stop on this page. Every week we share student projects, open calls and studio resources with our Instagram community, always with credit to the people who made them.
- Student Work of the Week, chosen from your submissions
- Weekly roundups of competitions and internships
- Drawing features and presentation boards that teach
- Short reels on how to use our free tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What free tools does illustrarch offer architecture students?
Eleven browser tools: a bubble diagram maker, zoning diagram maker, adjacency matrix maker, golden ratio calculator, architectural scale converter and colour palette creator, plus staircase, roof pitch, concrete and material, paint and home remodel cost calculators.
Do I need an account to use the tools?
No. The tools are free, need no account and run in your browser with nothing to install. You can export your work as an image, PDF or CSV depending on the tool.
How often are competitions and internships updated?
New competitions, internships, jobs and events are added every week. The closing soon tables on this page are generated from live listings, so closed calls drop off automatically.
Can I submit my student project to illustrarch?
Yes. Send your studio project, thesis or competition entry through the submission form. Selected projects are published on illustrarch with full credit and featured as Student Work of the Week on Instagram.
Are the student downloads really free?
Yes. The downloads listed on this page, such as the Architecture Student OS, the Jury Prep Pack and the Precedent Analysis Sheets, are free. You go through a free checkout on the illustrarch store and download the files straight away.
More for students
Cutouts, CAD blocks and presentation templates for studio work are collected in the illustrarch library.
Visit the library →All free tools →
