The 2013 RIBA Aedas Stephen Williams Scholarship has launched and is calling for entries.

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.

The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 10 June 2013.

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.

How to apply

Please download the application and guidance notes below:

If you have any questions regarding the RIBA Aedas Stephen Williams Scholarship, please contact Hayley Russell, Education Projects Coordinator at hayley.russell@riba.org| or on 020 7303 3678.

2012 Scholarship Winner

Kerry Watton was awarded the 2012 scholarship to support her in the final year of her Part II at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art. Brian Johnson, who is Chairman of Aedas Europe and was on this year's judging panel said:

'Since starting the RIBA Aedas Scholarship four years ago, we've seen a tremendous amount of design talent and we were particularly pleased with the quality of this year's entrants. We place creativity at the heart of everything we do and the scholarship reinforces this design philosophy'.

Kerry Watton completed her Part I studies at Glasgow School of Art in 2009, and took two years out before continuing with her Part II studies. During this time she untook a range of professional experience placements, including in an architectural thinktank and a small architectural practice in Paris. On being awarded the RIBA Aedas Stephen Williams Scholarship, Kerry has said:

'To be selected as the recipient of the RIBA Aedas Stephen Williams Scholarship has been a huge encouragement. This support will allow me to complete my education without the major financial concerns that have limited my studies in the past and allow me to devote the time and energy required to realising my full potential.' 

Related links:

RIBA Aedas Stephen Williams Scholarship transforms professional prospects for talented student|. Press release, June 2012

2011 Scholarship Winner

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

Joseph describes the impact the scholarship had on him and his work:

'I was privileged enough to be awarded the RIBA Stephen Williams Scholarship in 2011; a year that witnessed one of the most significant changes to British higher education funding since 1962. Such changes have already begun to have implications on Architectural education and, furthermore, the future of the Architectural profession itself within the United Kingdom.

Now more than ever support from grant giving organisations will be needed to help maintain the dynamic social breadth in education and, by extension, the future professional community. Generous grant contributions such as that awarded to me can alleviate students from a significant amount of financial concern, allowing them to make the most of their unique learning experience and work to their full potential.

My final year thesis expanded on contemporary notions of sustainability by examining cybernetics and the city, systems biology, and the ways in which nature and nonhumans intimately effect the formation of human culture. The RIBA Aedas Stephen Williams Scholarship was critical in facilitating methods of working that simply would not have been possible otherwise, and as such became essential to my being able to fully and effectively explore my research interests. Having graduated from the RCA in 2012 I have carried out my intentions and am now happily self-employed: running a variety of freelance projects, teaching, writing published articles on a range of matters including the borders between Architecture and neuroscience, and am also in the process of establishing a multi-disciplinary collective and workshop.

I am quite sure that taking such an unorthodox route following graduation would not have been possible had I not won the scholarship. As well as relieving me of a significant financial burden, the professional peer support also encouraged me to be confident in my ability and aspirations. The staff at the RIBA and Aedas are unfailingly generous with their time and assistance, and as a winner of the scholarship you receive professional support that extends far beyond the academic year of the award. Needless to say I would recommend all students experiencing financial hardship to apply for such a student-funding scheme. Not only are the personal and academic benefits inestimable, but on a broader scale such initiatives are vital in ensuring the diversity of our future practice.'

Joseph Deane, January 2013

2010 Scholarship Winner

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.

His research paper was on urban food production in industrially-developed countries such as the UK. Contemporary thought on creating a sustainable future for an everincreasing urban population focused a great deal on how best to provide food for cities. Literature on urban agriculture primarily presented the environmental and social benefits, at the expense of a clearer understanding of the financial implications. Henry's work investigated the economic potential in greater detail, proposing strategies that could be implemented to promote the adoption of a regulatory framework for urban agriculture in the West.

2009 Scholarship Winner

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

 

 About the 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.

The next scholarship will be awarded in June 2013. Application details for the 2013 scholarship will be available soon.