Merna Mattsson Scholarship for Women in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities 2025

The Merna Mattsson Scholarship for Women in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities is made possible by a generous legacy donation from the Mattsson family. Merna was a long serving staff member in the Swinburne Library.

The scholarship was established to support female students from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake and/or continue tertiary education in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities to achieve their full academic potential, by reducing the need to work outside of study in order to finance their study costs.

Any undergraduate or postgraduate course in the School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education offered by Swinburne University of Technology. Online students are also encouraged to apply.

To be eligible for the The Merna Mattsson Scholarship for Women in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, applicants must:

1. Meet the following criteria:
   • identify as female
   • 25 years of age or older
   • Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, Australian Permanent Resident with Humanitarian visa or New Zealand citizen.
2. Meet the following enrolment criteria:
   • be a commencing first year or continuing second year and above student in Semester 1, 2025
   • enrolled full time in an eligible course (see courses eligible in section above)
   • studying on-campus or online
3. Submit a personal statement (500 words) demonstrating a commitment to study. For example, returning to study after an extended period of time following a break:
   • to raise or take care of a family
   • medical necessity
   • other pressing circumstances 
4. Provide evidence of financial and/or personal hardship
    
5. Written Reference: Once applications have closed and shortlisting has been completed, all shortlisted applicants will be contacted to provide a personal written reference. This reference should be submitted within 5 days of request and can be written by a teacher, community leader, or employer.

The scholarship is valued at $2,000 for one year only.

Applicants should complete an online application form and submit with all supporting documentation by 16 March 2025.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. For assistance when completing your application, please view the Scholarship Application Help Guide.

Fees and Scholarships Team, Student Administration
scholarship@swin.edu.au