Withers/Needham Scholarship for Women in Engineering

For Engineering students who identify as a woman in their second to fourth year who can demonstrate circumstances which impact their study; worth $5,000.

Icon - scholarships

Applications now closed

The scholarship provides $5,000 for one year.

Three scholarships available; one for a second-year student, one for a third-year student, and one for a final year student.

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

  • be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or permanent humanitarian visa holder
  • identify as a woman
  • be enrolling full-time in semester 1 2024 in a Bachelor of Engineering single degree 
  • have completed a minimum of 96 credit points and have at least one year of full-time study left to complete in your program
  • be able to demonstrate circumstance/s which impact your ability to study such as:
    • receiving a government tested low income benefit or having a Centrelink Health Care Card
    • having a long-term medical condition or disability
    • experiencing personal/family/social difficulties
    • be from an interstate or rural/regional area and moving/moved to Melbourne to study at RMIT
    • have previously/are currently living in foster/kinship care or are a ward of the state
    • be from an under-represented background such as:
      • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
      • were born overseas, are from a non-English background and recently migrated to Australia
      • current or former refugee
      • completed secondary school at a School Network Access Program school.

The online application form will be made available here when applications open. 

Supporting documentation

Depending on your circumstances, you will need to provide different types of evidence and material to support your scholarship application. Applications without supporting documents will not be considered.

Please visit Supporting Your Application for more information.

Find out more about applying for scholarships.

Applications are now closed. 

Applications are now closed. 

View the Coursework Scholarships Office’s terms and conditions (PDF, 698KB).

Mr Withers and one of his daughters have connections to engineering and recognise the importance of engineering in societies’ advancement.

When Mr Withers studied at RMIT during the 1940s and practised skills in both his career and retirement, his daughter remained in the drawing office. Although the drawing office work provided an income, it left lost opportunity due to the lack of quality education.

In recognition of the contribution that women now (2023) make to the workforce, the funding provided will encourage and inspire women to obtain qualifications in STEM careers.

By funding living expenses and/or RMIT fees, the scholarship will enable recipients to concentrate on excelling in their chosen field, engineering.

Find out how to contact the Coursework Scholarships Office.

Notice to applicants

The scholarship application process is highly competitive with a limited number of scholarships available. Unfortunately, not all eligible applicants will receive one.

Only successful candidates will be notified via email to their RMIT student account.

For information about other financial assistance available to RMIT students, please speak to one of our Student Welfare Advisors.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.