Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance

Please view our Financial Assistance at The Women’s College brochure for an overview about our Bursaries and Scholarships.

The Women’s College offers a range of bursaries and scholarships up to $20,000 for its residents, with the average bursary being $4,700 and scholarship being $4,000 per annum. Occasionally, new bursaries and scholarships become available throughout the year.

Bursaries aim to support the tertiary study aspirations of residents from financially disadvantaged families who might not otherwise have access to The Women’s College experience.

Our scholarships are open to future and current students who have applied for residency at The Women’s College. They are awarded to full-time university students who have demonstrated excellence in academia, sport and cultural pursuits, as well as outstanding leadership.

Before you apply, please read the following information about the eligibility criteria and online application process.

Applications & Eligibility

2026 Bursaries
Application opening date:
August 2025
Application deadline: October 2025
The link to application form will be published here when applications open.

2026 General Scholarships
Application opening date:
August 2025
Application deadline: December 2025
The link to application form will be published here when applications open.

2026 Financial-Need Scholarships
Application opening date:
August 2025
Application deadline: December 2025
The link to application form will be published here when applications open.

The Women’s College selection process is competitive and unfortunately not all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria are able to be awarded a bursary.

Eligibility of Applicants

To be considered for the bursaries, residents must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

  • Australian citizen
  • Low-income financial status or a change in financial/family circumstances; i.e. hardship as a result of drought, COVID
  • Motivated, with demonstrated academic potential to succeed at university
  • Supportive family environment

 

Application Process

The Women’s College invites all future and current residents to apply for a bursary.

With each application, the following documentation is required:

  1. Returning residents: online application form for residency in 2026 (completed by and signed by relevant parties) and deposit paid by the application deadline.
  2. Returning residents: copy of university report / Future residents: copy of all school reports
  3. Returning residents and future residents: evidence of financial position, including: most recent Australian Taxation Office. Notice of Assessment/s for parents/guardians (if applicable) and/or current Centrelink (Services Australia) or Veteran’s Entitlements statements (e.g. JobSeeker, Disability Support Pension, Family Tax Benefit Part A and/or Part B etc.) and
  4. Returning residents and future residents: personal statement.

 

Note: We are aware that all circumstances differ so if you don’t meet the criteria for a bursary (due to combined family income, etc) please still apply but you will need to thoroughly outline why College fees will place significant financial strain on your family.

Application Closing Date

Applications for 2025 bursaries (including all supporting documentation) must be received by the College by 5:00pm on Friday 27 September 2024. Incomplete applications and/or those without the necessary supporting documentation will not be considered.

For more information, please contact our Admissions Officer – Phone: (07) 3377 4500.

Explanatory Notes

The Women’s College aims to support the tertiary study aspirations of residents from low- income and disadvantaged families. It is therefore essential that applications include sufficient information and documentation to enable the selection panel to undertake a full assessment of the family’s financial circumstances.

Families who have experienced a change in financial circumstances since their last ATO Assessment should provide any relevant supporting documentation.

Selection of Bursary Recipients

Selection of recipients is carried out by a panel which may comprise of Senior Management, College Council and Donors. In addition to the Program’s eligibility criteria, the resident’s leadership potential and/or demonstrated community involvement may also be taken into consideration in the selection process.

Bursary Activities and Commitment

Students require the full support of their parents/guardians with their move to Brisbane and application to the College (if applicable). It is important that all parties are aware of the commitment and expectations associated with receiving a bursary.

Requirements and Expectations of Bursary Recipients

It is a requirement for all recipients of The Women’s College bursaries to:

  • Be enrolled and attending University as a full-time student or have applied to QTAC and expecting a positive outcome.
  • Consistently demonstrate a high level of commitment to their studies, as evidenced through attendance, academic progress and behaviour.
  • Provide The Women’s College with their results at the end of each semester.
  • Contribute to The Women’s College community through sport, cultural and community activities as well as a high level of attendance at College events such as Formal Dinners.
  • Serve as a role model to other residents through exemplary behaviour.
  • Actively participate in any scheduled bursary activities which may include attending the annual Dividere Dinner for donors, presenting to the College Council, writing to College donors on how the bursary has been used to support your college experience and/or participating in any College fundraising promotional activity ie. annual Giving Appeal. Residents who do not meet the requirements and expectations outlined above may forfeit their bursary.

The Women’s College scholarships aim to support the tertiary study aspirations of residents, predominantly regardless of background or financial circumstances, to realise their full potential. This excludes the Mary Wooza Scholarship and The Stan and Maureen Duke Foundation Scholarship, which are financial need-based.

We offer a wide range of scholarships that are made possible through the generous support of our donors.

Scholarships are open to both future and current residents of the College, who have demonstrated excellence in academia, sport, community service and cultural pursuits as well as outstanding leadership.

Scholarships vary from $4,000 per annum and are offset in equal amounts against each term’s fees.

Eligibility of Applicants

To be considered for a scholarship, residents must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

  • Motivated, with demonstrated academic potential to succeed at university
  • Supportive family environment

 

Selection Criteria

Your application will be assessed by the following criteria.

  • Accepted at The Women’s College as a future or current resident who studies full time at University
  • Proven excellence in academia, leadership, sport or cultural pursuits
  • Demonstrated contribution to your school/college community (i.e. how did you use your talents to benefit the wider community)
  • How you would contribute to the community at The Women’s College if not answered above
  • Able and willingness to be involved in the Inter-College Competition (ICC) representing The Women’s College

 

Funds will be credited to cover College residential fees and are offset in equal amounts against each term’s fees.

It is expected scholarship recipients will continue to give back to their community and at College events and to inspire their peers to do so.

The online application MUST include an academic record, a 500 word written submission addressing the selection criteria and the names of at least two referees. Shortlisted candidates may be required for an interview with the Head of College.

Application Closing Date

Applications for 2026 scholarships (including all supporting documentation) must be received by the College by the application deadline. Incomplete nominations and/or those without the necessary supporting documentation will not be considered.

For more information, please contact our Admissions Officer on (07) 3377 4500 or admissions@womens.uq.edu.au.

Requirements and Expectations of Scholarship Recipients

It is a requirement for all recipients of The Women’s College scholarships to:

  • Be enrolled and attending University as a full-time student or have applied to QTAC and expecting a positive outcome.
  • Consistently demonstrate a high level of commitment to their studies, as evidenced through attendance, academic progress and behaviour.
  • Provide The Women’s College with their results at the end of each semester.
  • Contribute to The Women’s College community and participate in
    The Inter-College Competition (ICC) through sport, cultural and community activities as well as a high level of attendance at College events such as Formal Dinners.
  • Serve as a role model to other residents through exemplary behaviour.
  • Actively participate in any scheduled scholarship activities which may include presenting to the College Council, writing to College donors on how the scholarship has been used to support your College experience and/or participate in any College fundraising promotional activity.

 

Residents who do not meet the requirements and expectations outlined above may forfeit their scholarship.

All scholarship applications for 2026 must be submitted either at the time of your residency application for future and current residents, or, by no later than the closing date.

Bursaries

Scholarships

General Scholarships
Financial-Need Scholarships

Partnered Programs

The Women’s College has partnered with the National Council of Women of Queensland (NCWQ) to offer The Women’s College UQ Bursary.

This bursary is valued at approximately $3,000. It provides the recipient with associate membership at The Women’s College for one year. The bursary is specifically designed to support a first-year university student, providing the opportunity for you to engage in a supportive learning environment, make connections and embrace the many opportunities of a non-residential experience within the Women’s community.

Applications for 2025 are now open and will close on Monday 2 June 2025.

Visit the NCWQ website for more information about the eligibility criteria for this bursary and to apply.

The UQ Residential Scholarship Scheme offers financial support to help cover accommodation costs at a UQ approved provider.

The following scholarships are available exclusively to residents of The Women’s College.

  • Dorothy Marsden Undergraduate Scholarship
  • Dr Maureen Aitken Undergraduate Scholarship
  • Jill Fittock Harrison Scholarship
  • Joan Metcalfe Scholarship
  • Marie Myers Scholarship
  • The Women’s College Young Achievers Scholarship

 

The following scholarships are available to residents from all UQ residential colleges:

  • 33rd UQ Senate Create Change Residential Scholarship
  • Cairngorm-Kurrajong Scholarship Endowment
  • Flannery Foundation Residential Scholarship
  • Frazer Family Foundation Young Achievers Scholarship
  • JD Adams Memorial Residential Scholarship
  • John Martin OAM Residential Scholarship
  • R.D Arida Residential Scholarship

 

These scholarships offer financial support to subsidise accommodation fees. For further details about each scholarship and how to apply, please visit UQ’s Residential Scholarships Scheme website. Applications generally open in the middle of the year, and scholarships are generally awarded in rounds.

Need more info?

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Along with info about the College, we publish dates for events like Open Days and Bursary & Scholarship applications on Instagram

Contact us

If you need to speak with the College about the Bursaries & Scholarships Program, please email our Admissions Officer.

Schedule of fees

We understand that a Women's experience represents a significant investment for any family. We pride ourselves on our ability to offer an exceptional college experience including a full-board accommodation service at a fair value. Please refer to our Schedule of Fees for more details.

Come to an Open Day

We hold Open Days in April and August each year. Visit our Events page to find out more.