The Design and Innovation for Sustainable Cities DISC Summer Programme at University of California, Berkeley focuses on how design can be used as a tool for change.

In our multidisciplinary DISC: Design and Innovation for Sustainable Cities summer programme, you'll be part of an international cohort of students exploring innovative design-based solutions to urgent issues facing our cities, including climate change, urban health and social justice.

Through rigorous design studios, digital workshops and seminars taught by experienced faculty and practitioners, you'll gain the knowledge and tools to imagine the sustainable and equitable cities of tomorrow.

The DISC programme is designed for students who are working on their bachelor's degree in any field. No previous design experience is necessary. We welcome and encourage international students to apply.

After graduating from DISC, you'll join more than 350 programme alums from over 30 countries. Many have been accepted to top graduate programmes – Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Rice, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, University of Washington, Yale and UC Berkeley – poised to become thought leaders in the responsible reshaping of our built environment.

School: College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley
Course: DISC (Design and Innovation for Sustainable Cities) Summer Programme
Type: Short course
Location: Berkeley, California, USA
Course duration: July to August 2026
Application deadline: 10 May 2026

Find out more about the course and apply ›

What will I learn during this course?

– The knowledge and tools to imagine the sustainable and equitable cities of tomorrow
– Seminars in Urban Innovation and Global Cities/Global Challenges provide you with a theoretical framework
– Studio sessions and digital workshops hone your fundamental making skills and empower you to craft your own design solutions
– Empower you to craft your own design solutions
– Field work and site visits give you an opportunity to engage directly with the dynamic built and natural environments of the San Francisco Bay Area, using it as a living laboratory for study
– Guest lectures expose you to some of the most renowned and forward-thinking researchers and practitioners in the Bay Area
– Become familiar with the tools of Adobe suite, as well as Rhino

What are the requirements?

– High School diploma (18 years and older)
– GPA of 3.0 or higher
– Online application requiring an essay, your statement of intent, your most recent (unofficial) transcript and a current resume

What facilities and resources are available?

– Classrooms and studio in Bauer Wurster Hall, the home of UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design
– Site and company visits in the San Francisco Bay Area

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