January 17, 2022

Alcoa engineering scholarships APPLY NOW

Female engineering students interested in a career in the resources sector are invited to apply for an Alcoa initiative providing financial and practical support for university students.

Kate Leekong - Bev Corless
Kate Leekong, dual Bev Corless Women in Engineering Scholarship recipient, is enjoying her vacation placement at Alcoa’s Kwinana Alumina Refinery.

Applications close on 9 March for Alcoa’s Bev Corless Women in Engineering Scholarships, which support full-time female students enrolled in their second, third, fourth or fifth year of studies in an engineering degree at Perth’s Curtin University.

Two successful applicants will each receive $7,500 toward their 2022 studies and the opportunity for practical work experience with the company.

Eligible disciplines of study include civil and construction, chemical, electrical and electronic, mechanical, mechatronic, mining, and metallurgical.

Alcoa, which operates bauxite mines and alumina refineries in the south west of WA, was the first company to introduce scholarships for women studying engineering at Curtin more than a decade ago. Other companies have since offered similar opportunities.

Kate Leekong, who has received a Bev Corless Women in Engineering Scholarship for the past two years, urged interested students to apply saying she had not only received invaluable financial support but also the opportunity to get hands-on experience and paid work with Alcoa.

“There are so many things out in the refinery that I have only ever been able to hear about in lectures and read about in textbooks, so it’s really valuable to be able to experience it all first-hand,” Kate said.

“One of the biggest standouts about working at Alcoa for me has been the people and strong sense of community. Everyone has been exceptionally welcoming and encouraging. Whether it’s a g’day as you walk down the office hallway or a wave out in the refinery, Alcoa employees live the company’s core value of caring for people and it really shows.”

Curtin University Director of Student Management Damon Wasserman said Alcoa had consistently demonstrated its commitment to building a diverse engineering workforce.


“Over many years Alcoa’s has supported building a more diverse engineering workforce through the Bev Corless Women in Engineering Scholarship. The combination of financial support and opportunity for industry experience are formational for recipients, providing opportunity to focus on studies and gain hands on experience in the engineering profession.”

The Bev Corless Women in Engineering Scholarships, named in honour of one of Alcoa’s former outstanding engineers, aim to increase the ratio of females to males in the profession.

More information including an application form visit Curtin’s website - https://scholarships.curtin.edu.au/