Margaret Abernethy Scholarship for Leadership in Community Engagement

This award was established by the Melbourne Foundation for Business & Economics in honour of Professor Emerita Margaret Abernethy, former Dean of the Faculty of Business & Economics. It aims to acknowledge, encourage and support high achieving students who demonstrate outstanding leadership skills in community engagement.

Application dates

Applications are currently closed

Application type

Application required
How to apply

Benefit type

Bi-annual payment
Full benefit details

Citizenship requirements

Australian / domestic student
International student

Total value

up to $13,500

Applicable study areas

Commerce, economics and management

Number of scholarships awarded

2

  • Sabre Konidaris
    "Receiving this scholarship was a strong motivator to pursue new opportunities and it provided me with an excellent base to learn from during my studies. The award recognised my contributions to our public and university communities, such as extensive involvement in student clubs including Cainz, Enactus, GCG and ESSA. This acknowledgement helped to me reflect on the importance of adopting a considerate and open mindset, and encouraged me to continue engaging in volunteering initiatives, such as supporting the Ukrainian Centre in London. For me, an important part of the scholarship was the opportunity to meet with Margaret Abernethy regularly in a less formal setting (such as for coffee in the Spot café) and learn from her wisdom. She acted as a sounding board, for example, and gave me advice on topics such as student exchange in the context of career development. These learnings, along with the scholarship's financial support, helped form my decision to study in London. This was an incredible experience which sparked my interest in the city and motivated me to move to the UK post-graduation. Ultimately, the scholarship has offered a range of highly formative experiences and has significantly inspired and supported my life decisions."
    - Sabre Konidaris
  • Eligibility & selection criteria

    Eligibility

    To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

    • Be a currently enrolled full-time student who has completed the first year of the Bachelor of Commerce Degree.
    • Be able to demonstrate community engagement in Australia.

    Please note: Students must not be in their final year of study.

    Selection criteria

    The Scholarship will be awarded by the Faculty of Business & Economics on the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty (or nominee).

    • Selection is based on:
      • Participation in activities or organisations which demonstrate involvement in community or volunteer work undertaken within Australia.
      • Academic merit, interpersonal skills and leadership potential, and interview performance.
  • Application process

    Submit an online application to the Faculty which includes:

    • A cover letter addressing the scholarship's eligibility criteria
    • Your resume
    • A copy of your current Statement of Results (available from the Student Portal)

    Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview.

What are the benefits?

Two scholarships are available per year, valued at $13,500 each. Payment is in two equal instalments, in May and October.

Recipients of the scholarship will also automatically be admitted into the Abernethy Scholars Program. This program provides unique opportunities such as guaranteed access to the Faculty’s Career Mentoring Program, invitations to a variety of leadership events hosted by the Faculty, and an academic mentoring opportunity with Professor Emerita Margaret Abernethy, the Sir Douglas Copland Chair of Commerce and former Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics.

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.