Mechanical Engineering student Sophie can work less and study more with a faculty scholarship.
For Sophie Vo, a recipient of the Women in Engineering and IT (WiEIT) Faculty Scholarship, studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Mechanical at UTS has been more than attaining technical skills.
Through the scholarship, hands-on learning and a supportive community of women in STEM, she’s been able to explore opportunities that are shaping her future career.
How the Women in Engineering Scholarship is supporting Sophie
Sophie’s academic and professional journey took a meaningful turn when she discovered the Women in Engineering and IT faculty scholarship on the UTS website upon starting her degree. The potential scholarship benefits immediately caught her attention, especially the $10,000 grant.
After applying and completing a successful interview process, she was awarded the scholarship; giving her the freedom to reduce her work hours and invest more time into her studies and university experience.
"Receiving this scholarship has allowed me to cut some shifts from work and focus on university life and my studies," she says.
Finding her parth into engineering
This ability to focus more deeply on her degree has supported Sophie’s long-standing interest in engineering; a passion that began in Year 10 during the Engineering Link Project, where she built a bridge as part of a team. That early experience not only sparked her curiosity but also highlighted the lack of female representation in the field, motivating her to help break down gender barriers in Engineering and IT.
“Everyone here is friendly, and if you ever need help with anything, there is always someone there – particularly amongst our Women in Engineering and IT cohort.”
“Everyone here is friendly, and if you ever need help with anything, there is always someone there – particularly amongst our Women in Engineering and IT cohort.”
Sophie Vo
Driven by curiosity
Sophie's drive to challenge streotypes is matched by her natural curiosity, a trait she recognises as central to her learning journey at UTS. She reflects on her high school years as a time when she discovered just how much she enjoyed understanding how things work.
"In high school, I did Engineering Studies. I’ve always been very curious, and I’ve always tinkered with things."
This inquisitive mindset continues to shape her experiences at UTS, helping her thrive both academically and personally.
Get involved in everything; there are so many opportunities to take up.
Global opportunities for engineering students
That same curiosity has led Sophie to seek out hands-on learning opportunities. She has already completed an internship at a UTS startups, Parking Spots, where she worked on mechatronics and hardware, and completed some backend engineering and marketing tasks.
During her degree, she's been able to take her learning overseas through the UTS Global Programs in Singapore, where she’ll study 3D printing and manufacturing.
"I am looking forward to my studies in Singapore as well as learning more about Singaporean culture. Without this scholarship, I wouldn’t be able to go." Her global journey won’t stop there. Later this year, Sophie will represent UTS in a Stanford program in the Netherlands, working alongside other leaders and academics to find new ways of driving innovation at UTS.
Sophie's advice for future engineering students
Reflecting on her journey so far, Sophie encourages students to embrace every opportunity available to them and maintain a sense of balance along the way.
"Get involved in everything; there are so many opportunities to take up. Also learn to take a breath and calm down, everything will work out".
Her advice highlights the importance of organisation, pacing and making the most of every experience university has to offer.
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