Summer Vacation Scholarship Scheme

Applications are now open for the Australian War Memorial’s Summer Vacation Scholar Scheme.

Applications open on 18 September 2020 and close at 5 pm Eastern Standard Time on Friday 23 October 2020. No applications will be accepted before the opening date, or after the closing date.

The scholarship period will begin on 18 January and end on 26 February 2021.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some changes to the 2021 Scholarship Scheme have been implemented. The Australian War Memorial is committed to running the Summer Vacation Scholarship Scheme in 2021, providing a COVID-safe environment for visitors and staff.

The health and safety of our visitors, veteran community, staff and volunteers remains top priority for the Australian War Memorial. National health advice and associated travel restrictions may place constraints on some applicants, and there may be unanticipated changes to arrangements at late notice.

COVID-19 outbreaks and hotspots are unpredictable, as are the resultant border closures and travel restrictions. To counteract this, in 2021, the successful candidates must be able to demonstrate that they have resided in accommodation in the Canberra region for two weeks prior to the beginning of the scholarship, that is, from 4 January 2021. Scholars will bear the cost of this accommodation, as well as any required quarantine in their home state at the end of the scholarship. If border closures are in place in January, scholars will be required to apply for any relevant border crossing applications.

Scholars from outside the ACT will be provided with accommodation for the scholarship period of 18 January to 26 February 2021. For Canberra-based scholars, however, the safest accommodation will be their own homes.

A travel bursary will be available for scholars to contribute to the cost of travel to and from Canberra. However, as a result of the current unpredictable cost and schedules of air travel, it should be noted that this bursary may not fully cover the whole cost.

About the scholarships

The Australian War Memorial provides Summer Vacation Scholarships for history students in their third or fourth year of an undergraduate course, undertaking early-stage postgraduate studies, and/or enrolled in museum or public history courses.

This is an exciting opportunity for students hoping to make history their career. Scholars acquire skills in public history by working with staff in the Memorial's Military History Section. They learn about the range and significance of the Memorial's collections, and gain an understanding of a historian’s work in a major cultural institution.

You will need an excellent academic record, as well as an ability to think imaginatively and work collaboratively. While you do not need a background in military history, you will need a willingness to engage with the subject. If military history is your particular interest, you will gain valuable experience by working intensively with some of Australia's leading experts in the field.

Each scholar is allocated a project relating to the Memorial’s research interests. At the end of their scholarship period, scholars give a short presentation to staff and interested members of the public. In 2021, this presentation is likely to be web-based. After the scholarship period, scholars submit a written report on their project.