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Stage 1: Enter

1. Meet the Eligibility Requirements (see below)
2. Write a 500-word proposal for an essay on this year's Question, as posted.

Purse

There is a total prize of USD $7,500.00, minimum USD $3,500.00 first prize. Remaining purse to be allocated at the discretion of the Jury.

Eligibility

1. The competition is open to all currently registered undergraduates majoring in architectural design in accredited schools of architecture worldwide at the time of the launch of the current PRIZE cycle. This includes DiA students who have not completed their Diploma year.
2. Essays must be submitted in English.
3. Finalists will be required to provide proof of current registration in the form of current transcripts.

Team Up

Two students who meet the eligibility requirements above may collaborate as authors. An architecture student may also team up with another undergraduate in architecture, landscape architecture, urban studies, arts and humanities, the social sciences, or engineering. If two students collaborate, then both names must appear on their essay and if awarded a prize, the prize is to be equally shared.

Judging Criteria

Judging for the essay competition is on a numeric system. The members of the BERKELEY PRIZE Committee are asked to evaluate each essay in terms of the following criteria:

1. Does the Proposal address the Question?
2. How creative, or creatively developed, is the Proposal?
3. Would the Proposal be clear to a broad audience?
4. How does the Proposal rank in terms of writing style?
5. How socially significant is the Proposal?
6. What is the potential for developing this Proposal into a strong essay?

Each Proposal is given a score of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest). At least the top 25 scoring Proposals become Semifinalists.

Registration and Submission

The 2008 competition year is closed.