Women in STEM

At the University of Newcastle, we acknowledge, value and engage with the rich diversity of our communities, and seek to remove systemic barriers which contribute to inequity.

We are proud to foster a vibrant and extensive community of staff, students and researchers within STEM based disciplines and are continually working to provide a safe, inclusive and engaging environment for all individuals that identify as women.

We are always seeking opportunities to nurture, support and inspire the next generation of women in STEM.

Indigenous Women in STEM 3:30

This Indigenous Women in STEM event was facilitated by Aunty Bronwyn on our Ourimbah campus.

27th in the world ? for gender equality
3rd in Australia ? for tackling gender equity

Societies, clubs and programs

Scholarships

Don't rule yourself out by not applying for scholarships. We offer a number of scholarship opportunities, including scholarships on offer specifically for women.

The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, through the National Careers Institute Partnership - Career Opportunities and Pathways for Women, are supporting up to 20 scholarships for women in the Bachelor of Construction Management (Building) (Honours) program (BCM).

  • $2,500

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Boeing Defence Australia is a leading Australian aerospace enterprise. With a world-class team of more than 1,800 employees at 14 locations throughout Australia and two international sites, Boeing Defence Australia supports some of the largest and most complex defence projects in Australia. The successful recipient of The Boeing Engineering Scholarship for Women will be offered the opportunity to apply for a Boeing Defence Australia internship where you can put your university studies into practice before graduating.

  • $6,000

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The College of Engineering, Science and Environment has developed the Industry Placement Stream within some undergraduate programs, providing students with an opportunity to gain real world experience as part of their studies with the University, and to apply the theory and skills learned while studying in a professional workplace.

  • $40,000

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This scholarship was established to recognise high achieving students and to encourage and support them to enter eligible undergraduate programs within the College of Engineering, Science and Environment (CESE).

  • $4,000

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This scholarship was established to support the top 20 ranked female students commencing their first degree in an eligible undergraduate program with the College of Engineering, Science and Environment at the University of Newcastle.

  • $4,000

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The Shaping Futures Scholarship Program was established in 2011 with the aim of helping those students who are most in need.

To be eligible for a Shaping Futures Scholarship students need to be managing their academic progress alongside personal circumstances such as:

  • Carer responsibilities
  • English language difficulty
  • Financial hardship
  • Long term medical condition/ disability or ongoing effects of abuse
  • Regional or remote disadvantage
  • Sole parent responsibilities
  • Additional attributes such as Indigenous Australian or having Refugee status.
  • $4,000

Learn more

The Ma & Morley Scholarship Program is a transformative experience offered to students at the University of Newcastle who want to change the world.

This revolutionary scholarship program was born to honour the life-changing and enduring friendship between the successful Chinese entrepreneur Jack Ma and respected Novocastrian Ken Morley.

The program aims to inspire, educate and cultivate the next generation of globally aware and socially conscious Australian leaders and is only made possible by a generous US$20 million philanthropic commitment by the Jack Ma Foundation.

    Learn more

    With our High Performers Scholarships, the University of Newcastle recognises the exceptional academic achievements of students commencing an undergraduate program. Understanding that academic excellence can be demonstrated in a number of ways, the scholarships are available to students who commence undergraduate studies through a range of pathways.

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    All scholarships


    Student highlights

    Upskilling builds confidence in current role
    09 Jan 2024 • Claudia Colquhoun

    Upskilling builds confidence in current role

    When Claudia was presented with the opportunity to undertake a Diploma in Information Technology at her workplace, she seized it with enthusiasm.

    Hands-on learning in Fiji
    16 May 2023 • Maeve Smith

    Hands-on learning in Fiji

    Maeve recently took part in a two-week Psychology Tour of Fiji as part of the New Colombo Plan.

    The perfect mix: experience, passion, and further study
    13 Mar 2023 • Heidi Chappelow

    The perfect mix: experience, passion, and further study

    Graduating from the Master of Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development with Honours in 2022, Heidi now works to support rural communities and agencies in planning for emergencies.

    Preparing for leadership at the Department of Customer Service
    08 Mar 2023 • Eloisa Daschner-Kloss

    Preparing for leadership at the Department of Customer Service

    Originally completing a Bachelor of Psychological Science at the University of Newcastle, Eloisa began the Master of Business Psychology to improve her management and leadership skills and further her understanding of business psychology.

    View more student highlights


    Researcher highlights

    Event • 7 Jul 2025 from 9:00am - 11 Jul 2025 until 5:00pm

    Semester 2 - Welcome Week (Online)

    Welcome Week is a great opportunity to find out what you need to know about university life and being a University of Newcastle student!

    Event • 15 Jul 2025 from 10:30am - 1:30pm

    New Student Campus Tours Callaghan

    Are you a new student starting in Semester 2? Join us for a guided tour on campus before classes start! Our friendly student ambassadors will show you around key locations, share tips to help you settle in, and answer your questions along the way. There are multiple tour times available, but spots are limited. Make sure to book your tour today!

    Event • 16 Jul 2025 from 9:30am - 4:00pm

    New Student Campus Tours Callaghan

    Are you a new student starting in Semester 2? Join us for a guided tour on campus before classes start! Our friendly student ambassadors will show you around key locations, share tips to help you settle in, and answer your questions along the way. There are multiple tour times available, but spots are limited. Make sure to book your tour today!

    View more events