AES Educational Foundation Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide
The Audio Engineering Society (AES) Educational Foundation offers scholarships and grants to students pursuing graduate and undergraduate studies in audio engineering. These awards recognize and support talented individuals dedicated to advancing the art and science of audio. The AES Educational Foundation scholarships and grants recognize exceptional students who have made outstanding achievements and demonstrated potential in audio-related studies.
Overview of the AES Educational Foundation
Established in 1984, the AES Educational Foundation reflects the Audio Engineering Society’s commitment to fostering the development of future industry leaders. The foundation encourages talented students to enter the profession of audio engineering and related disciplines. The AES Educational Foundation welcomes support for these goals from individual benefactors and companies, including in-memoriam contributions.
Financial Support and Recognition
AES Scholarships and Grants for Graduate and Undergraduate Studies in Audio Engineering for the 2025/2026 academic year are made possible by contributions from various sources. Historically, grants have been made possible by contributions from AES, Audio Precision, Dolby, Genelec, Harman International, JBL, L-Acoustics, the estate of John K. Hilliard, and the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio; the families of John Eargle, Mary Lea Simpson, David Smith, Emil Torick; and the family and friends of Larry Estrin, Don and Fran Pearson, and Bruce Swedien. The AES also receives support from other benefactors such as in-memoriam donors and individuals and companies that support education in audio.
AES: A Pillar of Audio Innovation
Celebrating "75 Years of Audio Innovation" in 2023, the Audio Engineering Society serves as a pivotal force in fostering the development and dissemination of technical information for the audio community. Its members are affiliated with 90 AES professional sections and more than 120 AES student sections around the world where activities include guest speakers, technical tours, demonstrations, online events and social functions. Through Conventions, Conferences, Training and Development, Member Events and peer-reviewed Publications, as well as the Society’s vast online technical document, Standards and video resources, members experience valuable opportunities for professional networking and personal growth.
General Requirements for AES Scholarships
To be eligible for an AES Educational Foundation scholarship or grant, applicants must meet specific criteria. All applicants are required to have met these criteria:
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- Educational Background: Successful completion of an undergraduate degree program (typically four years) at a recognized college or university.
- Commitment to Audio Engineering: A demonstrated commitment to audio engineering (or a related field) as a career choice.
- Enrollment in Graduate Studies: Acceptance or a pending application for graduate studies leading to a master's or higher degree, or an internationally recognized equivalent.
- AES Membership: Be a member in good standing of the Audio Engineering Society (any membership grade qualifies). Yes, you must be a member in good standing of the AES. (All grades of membership qualify, including student membership.) Please include your member number on the application form so that we can verify your membership status.
Application and Award Details
Awards are made annually, in August, and a recipient may apply for a one-time renewal after the successful completion of at least one year of graduate studies. Payment will be sent directly to the graduate school on behalf of the student’s tuition account. Applications are accepted from students worldwide.
The Application deadline is May 15. Application forms may be accessed at aesef.slideroom.com starting March 15.
Renewal Grant Application
Renewal grant applicants must complete the application form. Any student participating in a graduate program in audio or related subjects who is a current AES member. For the Graduate Studies Grant, yes, if you are continuing graduate studies. You must also submit an application for the renewal.
Grant Specifications
No, not for the Graduate Studies Grants. Grants for Graduate Studies are exclusively for graduate studies. Your application is reviewed by our directors who have professional backgrounds in audio and academia. No. The Graduate Studies Grant is for one academic year, beginning with the first semester. You must complete the year for which the scholarship is given. Scholarships are on a competitive basis.
Graduate studies grants are generally in the two to five thousand dollar range.
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Named Scholarships and Their Unique Focuses
The AES Educational Foundation offers several named scholarships, each with specific criteria and honoring influential figures in the audio engineering field. Applicants apply for a general graduate grant. The AES Educational Foundation Scholarship Committee selects the student who best meets the specification for each named scholarship.
- L-Acoustics Dr. Christian Heil Future of Sound Scholarship: This scholarship awards recipients who demonstrate curiosity and dedication to shaping the future of sound, including approaches that may question conventions or call upon bodies of scientific knowledge outside of the realm of audio. Students having pursued an undergraduate course of studies in an area other than audio are encouraged to apply in the interest of enriching cross- disciplinary thinking and exchanges to further the state of the art.
- Genelec Mike Chafee Audio Pioneering Scholarship: This scholarship encourages passionate and outstanding women to continue their audio education while paying tribute to noted long-time Genelec manufacturer’s representative, audiophile, sound designer, acoustician, audio evangelist and supporter of women in audio, Michael Chafee. Chafee had been involved with Genelec since 1996 and is credited with being an early pioneer and key influencer in promoting the concept of Active Monitoring technology to the market.
- Ilpo Martikainen Audio Visionary Scholarship: The Ilpo Martikainen Audio Visionary Scholarship is offered to US graduate students who have a passion of advancing audio through innovation and technology development. Dr. Martikainen received his Dr.Tech h.c. from the Helsinki University of Technology in 2008 for his outstanding achievements and contributions to loudspeaker technology development and the industry. From 1971-78 he acted as Managing Director (MD) of KLT Elektroniikka Oy. In 1978, Ilpo founded Genelec and he was the MD of the company from 1978 to 2005, during which Genelec became a leader in monitoring loudspeaker technology worldwide, both in terms of technology and business.
- John Eargle Award: This award honors AES Past-President and Fellow, John Eargle, who authored several seminal textbooks on audio, as well as engineering more than 250 albums, and was posthumously awarded a Technical GRAMMY® Award in 2008. The John Eargle Award is given annually to a student who excels in both technology and music. John Eargle was the author of seminal textbooks on audio, including the Handbook of Recording Engineering, the Microphone Book, and Sound Recording. He served as a consultant and Vice President of Engineering at JBL for 31 years, Chief Engineer for Delos International, and past president and fellow of the Audio Engineering Society.
- Bruce Swedien Scholarship: This scholarship awards recipients who demonstrate curiosity and dedication to shaping the future of sound, including approaches that may question conventions or call upon bodies of scientific knowledge outside of the realm of audio. This scholarship honors Kite’s legacy of dedication to engineering excellence in audio and audio measurement, as well as his achievements within the AES and as Vice President of Engineering of Audio Precision, the scholarship’s sponsor.
- Genelec Dr. Ilpo Martikainen Scholarship: Coinciding with its 40th anniversary in 2018, Genelec announced the creation of a scholarship honoring its innovative and entrepreneurial founder.
- Garry Margolis Scholarship: This scholarship has been established in honor of AES member, Garry Margolis who passed in December 2022. Active in the AES, Garry was a technical and marketing consultant in the areas of audio, video, and digital cinema. He was North American Marketing Director for Acoustic Control Systems in Garderen, Netherlands, served as North American Technical Liaison Director for Philips Intellectual Property and Standards in Eindhoven, Netherlands, representing their interests in the areas of Super Audio CD, DVD-Video, MPEG Multi-channel audio, and digital cinema encryption/conditional access. He was Vice President, Marketing for JBL professional products outside of North America and was Director of Sales for UREI, previously holding positions as International Sales Manager and Applications Engineer for JBL. Garry also taught courses in music recording, production sound, and re-recording at UCLA. Garry published papers in the Journal of the Audio Engineering Society and the Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, as well as articles in High Fidelity, db Magazine, and Recording Engineer/Producer. He was a Life Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society, served as AES President, Treasurer, and was a member of the AES Board of Governors for many years. He was awarded the AES Distinguished Service Medal Award in 2019. This scholarship has been established in honor of Garry Margolis, who passed in December 2022. Garry was a Life Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society, served as AES President and Treasurer, and was a member of the AES Board of Governors for many years. He was awarded the AES Distinguished Service Medal Award in 2019.
- Emil Torick Award: This scholarship, awarded annually to an outstanding student with exceptional career goals, honors the former long-term AES Foundation President and founding member, Emil Torick. Torick held 16 patents and authored more than 60 technical publications. The AES Educational Foundation Emil Torick Award, honoring former AES Foundation President and founding member Emil Torick, is presented to an outstanding student with exceptional career goals. The Emil Torick Award honors former long term AES Foundation President and founding member Emil Torick. This scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding student with exceptional career goals. delegation to the International Radio Consultative Committee in Geneva, and was an Air Force officer in Korea.
- Mary Lea Simpson Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship covering full tuition for final year of studies is being offered to an undergraduate student entering senior year at a North American college or university Audio Engineering/Recording Arts Program. The Mary Lea Simpson Memorial Scholarship is for tuition assistance for final year of undergraduate studies at a North American college or university Audio Engineering/Recording Arts Program. It is being offered to a student member of AES who shows a proficiency in recording, mixing or mastering skills, as well as academic achievement. Mary Lea Simpson was a graduate of the Audio Production Program at New England Institute of Art who died in 2013. In addition, the Mary Lea Simpson Memorial Scholarship was given to William Heilbraun, Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. In addition, the Mary Lea Simpson Undergraduate Award was given to Justin Kang, University of Lethbridge, Canada.
- Dolby Institute Scholarship: The Dolby Institute has partnered with AES to award the Dolby Institute Scholarship, awarded to an international graduate student with an interest in content creation and the study of the science of sight and sound.
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