Applications are now open for the 2012 scholarship!

The RIBA Aedas Stephen Williams Scholarship was established in 2008 thanks to the generous support of Aedas Architects and is offered in memory of Stephen Williams, a past Director of Aedas.

The Scholarship provides £5,000 to support one student for a period of postgraduate studies lasting up to 12 months in the UK or abroad. Aedas will also ensure that a representative from its staff is available to mentor the student throughout the period of their scholarship.

Applicants must:

• have graduated from a Part 1 programme validated by the RIBA in the UK

And at the time of application, students must either:

• be enrolled in an RIBA-validated Part 2 professional qualification, and will be starting the final year in September 2012 OR
• be enrolled, or have been granted a placement offer, on a Masters course related to architecture (non-RIBA Part 2) in a university department that also offers courses validated by the RIBA.

Please refer to the application form below for further details.

The deadline for applications is 9am on Tuesday 3 April 2012.

Please contact Jo Scott| in the Education Department if you have any further queries or to request a Word version of the application form.

Help us to promote the scholarship - download the promotional poster for display at your school of architecture.

About the scholarship

The scholarship, named in Stephen Williams's honour, serves as an appreciation of his tireless devotion to the profession. Stephen was a strong advocate for good design and thoughtful consideration of the built environment. Always committed to promoting education and further knowledge, the award serves to continue his legacy.

Joseph Deane from the Royal College of Art was awarded the 2011 scholarship to complete his MA in Architecture (RIBA Part II).

On awarding the scholarship, David Simister, Creative Director at Aedas and chair of the judging panel said that Joseph's work 'uniquely demonstrates an interest in the broad aspects of design and presentation with a fascination for detail and construction'.

Joseph gained a first class Honours for his RIBA Part I from the University for the Creative Arts Canterbury. He was nominated for the President's Medal for his final-year design project and won the department's dissertation and portfolio awards.

Following his undergraduate study Joseph went on to work for Ash Sakula Architects in London and later for Grimshaw Architects in Melbourne, before returning home to complete some freelance design, construction and fine art projects - focusing on cross-disciplinary collaboration, craftsmanship and social community initiatives.

At the RCA Joseph continues the extra-curricular work that he began during his studies at Canterbury; organising a new student-led lecture series at the college, while also acting as a student representative.

In 2010 the RIBA Stephen Williams Scholarship was awarded to Henry Fisher, who received funding to complete his Part 2 studies at the University of Bath during the academic year 2010/11.

In 2009 the inaugural RIBA Stephen Williams Scholarship was awarded to Laura Collins, who received funding to complete her Part 2 Studies at the University of Sheffield during the academic year 2009/10. Laura describes the impact the scholarship has had on her career:

'I feel extremely honoured to have won the award which supported me financially and allowed me to capitalise on a number of opportunities which served to enhance the final year of my architectural study. The support of Aedas, particularly David Simister [Creative Director at Aedas], who provided enormously helpful comments and advice in his role as mentor, formed the backdrop to my design work and I cannot underestimate its significance to me during my final year of study at the University of Sheffield. 

Since completing my Part 2 studies I have moved to London amidst a difficult economic climate but have been successful in securing job opportunities with several firms, which I am certain, is thanks to my extensive work experience and self-motivated attitude both within and outside the university studio life. Aedas have continued to offer me both career advice and work opportunities during my time working in London and this pays testament to the significant role that the scholarship has played in my life these last few years. 

The network of opportunities that the scholarship has opened up to me has been fantastic and I would encourage any architecture student to apply for similar funding schemes organised by the RIBA Education Department.'

Laura Collins, January 2012