Frank Keenan Scholarships 2025

By his Will dated 8 April 2000 (‘Will’) the late Francis Keenan, MBE, HonBAppSci(Hort) (Melb.), horticulturalist and parks administrator (‘donor’) bequeathed one‐fifth of his net residuary estate.

The donor studied at the Burnley Horticultural College in 1929 and 1930 and was employed by the Melbourne City Council from 1931, retiring in 1978 as director of the parks, gardens, and recreation department of that council. In 1978 the donor was made a member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the community. The donor died on 17 April 2007.

The Frank Keenan Scholarships is awarded to graduate or under‐graduate students studying at Burnley Campus, based on academic merit undertaking study relating to the advancement of services and practices of amenity and/or ornamental horticulture. The scholarship will apply for one year and students may re-apply in following years.

The recipient of the Frank Keenan Scholarships will be selected on the basis of academic merit. Preference will be given to research in the following themes:

• Garden history,
• Garden design and function,
• Garden ecology,
• Plant development and propagation,
• Plant form and function,
• Plants and green infrastructure
• Plants and human interactions,
• Arboriculture,
• Landscape horticulture,
• Ecosystem services in horticultural landscapes

For research applicants, The Frank Keenan Scholarships provide support for students’ research projects and reward excellence in the horticultural programs delivered at Burnley. This may include conference presentation, travel support, field work support, purchase of specialist equipment, and any other programs that would enrich the student’s experience.

The application should outline how research is addressing an important problem in these fields.

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

• Enrolled in any undergraduate, graduate coursework, or graduate research course at the Burnley Campus.  
• Undertaking study relating to the advancement of services and practices of

• Eligible candidates will be ranked based on:

  • Academic Merit
  • Where relevant, the strength of the research project and its alignment to the fields of amenity or ornamental horticultural*
    • Preference will be given to research in the following themes: garden history, garden design and function, garden ecology, plant development and propagation, plant form and function, plants and green infrastructure, plants and human interactions, arboriculture, landscape horticulture, and ecosystem services in horticultural landscapes.

All scholarship outcomes will be sent via SmartyGrants.

Please see outcome timing below:

• Round 1 (Jan-March applications): May-July
• Round 2 (June-August applications): September-October
• Future Rounds - TBC

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