Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

• be enrolled at the University of Melbourne at the time of application and for the period of the proposed project
• have a signed letter of support from a relevant student organisation, such as the Student Union or a faculty or department student society.

Selection criteria

The Lorna Stirling Fund Committee invites applications for funds for any of the following purposes:

• to assist the exchange of students between the University of Melbourne and universities or like institutions in other countries; or
• for exchange scholarships; or
• travelling scholarships; or
• to support international meetings of students in which students or student organisations and the University have an interest.

Additional Information

The 2024 scholarships will be awarded for projects undertaken within the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

Grants will not be given to students who wish to travel overseas to carry out research work or training/study that will form part of their degree.

Students who give presentations relating to their own study at academic conferences are unlikely to be funded.

Where there is strong competition for grants from students wishing to attend international student meetings, preference will be given to official student representatives at this University.

Since the annual income of the Fund is small, only limited support can be given to student organisations to help defray the costs of running student conferences.

Scholarship recipients are required to submit a detailed report on their completed project to the Lorna Stirling Fund Committee.

Applications must meet the requirements above as well as provide the following:

• The applicant must demonstrate previous and real interest in participating in matters which affect/benefit students’ interests. Hence the application must include a signed letter of support from a relevant student organisation (such as UMSU or faculty/department‐based group) indicating the project’s value to the wider student community;
• Explain whether the project would be able to go ahead if no grant were available;
• Explain how the project is relevant to the interests of the wider student community at the University of Melbourne; and/or
• Explain how the project will enable mutual understanding to be established between students at the University of Melbourne and international universities.

Applications are accepted via the online form.

The Lorna Stirling Fund Scholarships are awarded by the Lorna Stirling Fund Committee, which meets annually. Eligible students should read the guidelines and FAQ and submit a completed online application by the due date.

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Lorna Stirling

Lorna Stirling was a Music Director in the Melbourne University Drama Club in the 1940s. On her death in 1956 she bequeathed funds to the University for the purpose of promoting international student relationships through the creation of scholarships for the exchange of students between the University of Melbourne and other universities (University Trust record UTR7.92).

Lorna Stirling Fund Scholarships are available annually to currently enrolled students at the University of Melbourne.