Len Stevens Scholarship

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

• be enrolled in a graduate coursework or research higher degree within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
• be planning to participate in an experience beyond your course that does not form part of your assessment
• be post-confirmation if you're a PhD student, or have completed at least your first semester if you're undertaking a masters

The proposed program could be in community development, humanitarian programs or could involve visits to universities, research centres or labs. Applicants are encouraged to think BIG!

Program examples

The Len Stevens Scholarship has been created to support students to undertake learning opportunities beyond your course – things that will extend your learning experience beyond what you will do within your University of Melbourne course. What experience will provide great opportunities to learn, network and explore concepts that are highly beneficial and relevant to your university studies without forming part of your assessment?

Examples of past successful applications include:

• Creation of a biogas project at CERES Community Park in Brunswick to educate schoolchildren and the local community about waste-to-energy, and travel to Cambodia to learn from the engineering team who developed the biogas digester machine
• A three-month research stay in France to work with an expert researcher, followed by a visit to a USA lab and attendance at an international research conference – all of these experiences benefited the student through learning, collaboration and extending the student’s network in the field
• An educational trip to the UK and USA to learn about energy geo-structures – three weeks with an international researcher, five construction projects visited, followed by an international conference on sustainable cities.

While current international travel restrictions are in place, viable components of your project may include experiences such as virtual conferences, leadership courses or domestic fieldwork.

Go on... THINK BIG!

Selection criteria

• A proposal for a program that will enhance your program of study and broaden general experience
• A time-frame for the proposed program, which must be within the candidature or during the program of study. It should be post-confirmation for a PhD student and after the first semester for a student taking a Master
• A 100-word abstract summarising the proposed experience
• A detailed overview of activities planned and other organisations involved
• A detailed budget, limited to a maximum of $15,000, including any alternative sources of funding
• A 500–1000 word personal statement outlining your career aspirations, the impact of the opportunities the experience would enable you to pursue and the ambassadorial potential for the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.

Shortlisted students will be required to attend an interview in October 2022 (either in person or via Zoom).

Submit an online application via the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology graduate research scholarships webpage for current students.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application approximately four-six weeks after the application close date.

Shortlisted students will need to be available to attend a panel interview (either in person or via Zoom).

Leonard Stevens

A respected member of the school's community, Emeritus Professor Leonard Stevens AM, played a crucial role in the changing face of Australia's infrastructure over the past 60 years. Graduating with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1950, Professor Stevens went on to serve as a staff member, Head of Department and as Dean of Engineering for nearly a decade throughout the 1970-1980s. Due to the financial support he received throughout his academic career, Professor Stevens has strongly championed the creation of scholarship opportunities for others.

The Len Stevens Scholarship was established in perpetuity through an Appeal celebrating 150 years of engineering education at the University of Melbourne in 2011, thanks to the generosity of the MSE Foundation and the School's community of alumni and donors.