Bursaries & Scholarships
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 respectively. Occasionally new bursaries and scholarships become available throughout the year, so please check this webpage from time to time.
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 residents 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 the online application process.
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 2025 bursary.
With each application, the following documentation is required:
- Returning residents: online application form for residency in 2025 (completed by and signed by relevant parties) and deposit paid by Friday 11 October 2024
- Returning residents: copy of university report / Future residents: copy of all school reports
- 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
- 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.
Scholarship Program Overview
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 2025 scholarships (including all supporting documentation) must be received by the College by 5:00pm on Friday 13 December 2024. 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 2025 must be submitted either at the time of your residency application for future and current residents, or, by no later than the closing date.
To read the Financial Assistance at The Women’s College brochure, click on the ⛶ icon.
Application dates
| Financial assistance type | Application opening date | Application deadline | Links to application forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bursaries | 11:00am Monday 5 August 2024 | 9:00am Tuesday 8 October 2024 | Applications have now closed. |
| General Scholarships | 11:00am Monday 5 August 2024 | 5:00pm Friday 13 December 2024 | Click here to apply for scholarships |
| Financial-Need Scholarships | 11:00am Monday 5 August 2024 | 5:00pm Friday 13 December 2024 | Click here to apply for financial-need scholarships |
Bursaries
Please click on the images to find out the amount awarded, criteria and notes, and history for each bursary.
110th Anniversary Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
This bursary will support a deserving resident in their pursuit of a university college experience based on financial need.
About this bursary
The 110th Anniversary Bursary was awarded for the first time in 2024 to coincide with the College’s 110th Anniversary.
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Signs painted by 2024 First-Year Residents during O-Week to commemorate the College’s 110th Anniversary.
Adjunct Professor Iyla Davies Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
This bursary shall be awarded to a student who is a resident in The Women’s College during the tenure of the bursary and who is enrolled or seeking to be enrolled at a university in Brisbane.
Preference will be given to a student from rural or regional Queensland who is in financial need with respect to meeting accommodation expenses.
Payment of the bursary will be in equal instalments to coincide with the issue of each College account.
About this bursary
Adjunct Professor Iyla Davies was Head of College and CEO from 2009 – 2016.
As the Head of College and CEO, Adjunct Professor Iyla Davies led the Centenary celebrations in 2014, oversaw the significant expansion of the College with the construction of the Centenary Wing and the Chislehurst Room, and the introduction of the Ready to Lead and Associate programs.
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Left to right: Madeleine McEniery (Student Club President), Alexandra Barber (Senior Resident Assistant), Chloe Langbroek (Deputy Head of College), Iyla Davies (Head of College), Elora Ghea (Hartland RA) and Lauren Cross (Piddington/Third Wing RA) in 2016.
The Brazil Family Foundation Bursary
Amount
$6,000
Criteria and notes
This bursary shall be awarded to a student who is a resident in The Women’s College during the tenure of the bursary and who is enrolled or seeking to be enrolled at a university in Brisbane.
Preference will be given to a student from rural or regional Queensland who is in financial need with respect to meeting accommodation expenses.
Payment of the bursary will be in equal instalments to coincide with the issue of each College account.
About this bursary
Bobbie Brazil (née Sinclair) AO is a strong supporter of the College and her daughter, Dr Victoria Brazil, is also an alumna of the College (1986 – 1988).
Bobbie was the Guest Speaker for the Standing Committee Luncheon in 2011 and her talk was entitled “Beautiful Minds create Beautiful Spaces – empowering women to lead social change through action, advocacy and philanthropy”.
She was the University of Southern Queensland Chancellor (2005 – 2013) and served on the Council from 1995 to 2001. She is also a Business Owner, Investor and Philanthropist.
Bobbie was honoured in 2017 with an AO for her distinguished service to tertiary education governance, to agricultural, environmental and resource management organisations and to women in rural and regional areas.
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Bobbie Brazil (née Sinclair) AO.
College Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
Up to 10 bursaries are available, and the number on offer will vary from year to year.
The College Bursary shall be awarded for one year to a student who is a resident in The Women’s College and is enrolled in a degree program at a Brisbane University. In making the award, preference will be given to a student from rural or regional Queensland who is in financial need with respect to meeting accommodation expenses. Payment of the bursary will be in equal instalments to coincide with the issue of each College account.
If the student fails to make satisfactory academic progress in any year of the award, or fails to abide by the rules and regulations of the Women’s College, or defers her studies for any reason, the Head of College may terminate the bursary.
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The Women’s College sits on the UQ St Lucia campus next to the Brisbane River.
Else Shepherd Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
The Else Shepherd Bursary shall be awarded to a resident of The Women’s College who is enrolled as a full-time student at a university in Brisbane and studying in a STEM-related field (e.g. engineering). The bursary is intended for a resident who may be demonstrating financial need, and who might not otherwise have access to The Women’s College experience. The bursary shall be awarded to a student whose permanent residence is in a regional or rural area.
About this bursary
The Else Shepherd Bursary was established in 2024 and will be awarded for the first time in 2025 with the intention of funding a bursary for a resident who may be demonstrating financial need. The bursary is an initiative led by Susan Hornbeck and Andrew Shepherd, the children of Dr Else Shepherd AM (alumna 1961).
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Else Shepherd was a resident of The Women’s College in 1961. Else was one of the first two women to graduate from electrical engineering in Queensland, and at the time was one of only two female engineers working in the state.
She is a Notable Alumnae of the College for receiving a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) award for service to the engineering profession, particularly electrical and electronic engineering, to education, to the electricity distribution industry, and to the community in 2003. Else was the UQ Alumnus of the Year in 2009, and she was named a Queensland Great in 2022 in acknowledgement of her career and commitment to education and the community.
Click here to read more about Else and her career and achievements on the UQ website.
Equity Future Fund Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
This bursary is awarded to provide residents the opportunity to have The Women’s College experience who otherwise might not be able to attend university, or live in such a supportive environment as The Women’s College.
Up to three (3) bursaries are available. The number of bursaries on offer will vary from year to year.
About this bursary
The Women’s College Future Fund was started in 2017 to provide a sustainable resource to assist students achieve a full university experience. The fund is supported directly from the generous donations of The Women’s College Alumnae and friends.
The fund is in its infancy and is seeking ongoing donations and contributions to enable the College to increase the fund capital to a level where net earnings facilitate a high level of financial support to more students.
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2024 First-Year Residents during O-Week.
Henderson Foundation Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
The Bursary criteria is as follows:
- Awarded to a current resident of The Women’s College who is enrolled at a university in Brisbane.
- Awarded to a resident who is from a low income and disadvantaged family who might not otherwise have access to The Women’s College experience.
- Preference will be given to a resident from rural or regional Queensland who is in financial need with respect to meeting accommodation expenses.
About this bursary
The Henderson Foundation Bursary was offered for the first time in 2022 with the intention of funding a bursary for a resident of The Women’s College.
The donation to The Women’s College is an initiative of the Henderson Foundation in honour of Sir Neville Vicars Henderson CBE (1899 – 1986). Neville’s connection to The Women’s College was in the 1940s and 1950s as a member of the Building Appeal Committee on which he served as Chairman and also a Vice-President.
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Sir Neville Henderson CBE (1899 – 1986).
Lighthouse Foundation Bursary
Amount
Full residential fees.
Criteria and notes
The Lighthouse Foundation Bursary will support a first-year resident from a regional and rural area who is demonstrating financial hardship.
About this bursary
This bursary is supported by The Lighthouse Foundation. It will be offered for the first time in Semester 2, 2024.
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The Lighthouse Foundation’s logo.
Margaret Madeline Bird Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
This Bursary shall be awarded to a female student completing Year 12, who is seeking to enrol in the first year of a program leading to an undergraduate degree of the University of Queensland.
Preference shall be given to a resident in Queensland and whose financial situation is such that it is expected she will be eligible to receive Youth Allowance.
Note: the availability of this bursary varies from year to year.
About this bursary
Margaret Madeline Bird (1895 – 1982) was a friend of The Women’s College.
Margaret was the second daughter of English parents Katherine Lucy and Edward Day Bird, who established a successful book manufacturing business on Milton Road (Brisbane) the site being sold subsequently to the Castlemaine Perkins Brewery.
Margaret was educated at the Misses O’Connor’s school at “Duporth” at Oxley. Her parents died in the early 1930s and she, and her older sister, Christabel, continued to live in the family home on Swann Road in Taringa. Margaret, along with her sister, were prominent members of community organisations, Christabel in the Red Cross Society, and Margaret in the Queensland Braille Writing Association at its premises on Ipswich Road in Annerley, where a wing is named in her honour.
Margaret’s association to The Women’s College was most probably due to her community organisation involvement. She may have had meetings at The Women’s College and associated with members of the College.
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View of an unsealed Swann Road at Taringa, Brisbane, with lightly timbered area separated from the road with a post and rail fence. A woman dressed in a long skirt and jacket, with a hat and umbrella, is walking with two small children. Residence obscured in distance could be that of Edward D. Bird.
Source: Bird, E. D. (2004) Afternoon walk along Swann Road, Taringa, Brisbane, 1901. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Marie Anne McKellar Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
This bursary is awarded to a resident who has lost a parent.
About this bursary
Marie Anne McKellar was a Resident of The Women’s College from 1972 – 1974. She completed her Bachelor of Science, majoring in Botany, in 1974. During her College years, Marie spent many weekends returning home to help care for her younger siblings as their mother had died a couple of years earlier. After graduation, Marie worked in Botany research and later as a librarian. She was tragically killed in 1978.
In 2013, Ms Lucy Wittholz (née McKellar), also a College alumna (1977 – 1979) established an endowment to honour and celebrate the life of her sister, Marie. Lucy Wittholz expressed the wish that the Marie Anne McKellar Bursary be given to a student who had lost a parent, as she believed that the College environment would be very supportive for such a young woman.
Image:
Marie Anne McKellar, pictured in the back row, fifth from the left, in the 1973 Women’s College year group photo.
Source: The Women’s College archives.
Marion and Keith Jones Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
This bursary is awarded to a resident who is studying in a STEM-related field.
About this bursary
The bursary is an initiative of Marion Jones, a lifetime supporter of The Women’s College. The bursary is named after Marion and her husband, Keith.
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Keith and Marion Jones.
Source: image supplied by the Jones family.
Mary Johnston Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
This bursary will be awarded for the first time in 2025 to a student whose permanent residence is in a regional or rural area. Preference will be given to a student who is the first in their family to attend university. This bursary is intended for a resident who may be demonstrating financial need.
About this bursary
The bursary is an initiative led by Mary Johnston, an alumna (1958 – 1961) of The Women’s College.
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Alumnae Mary Johnston (1958 – 1961; centre) with her grand-daughter Sophie Smaha (2020 – 2021; left) and daughter Fiona Smaha (1982 – 1984; right) were panellists at the 2021 Mother & Daughter Dinner.
QUT Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
This bursary is awarded to financial-needs QUT residents living at The Women’s College.
Up to eight (8) bursaries will be awarded each year.
About this bursary
This bursary was awarded for the first time in 2024. It is supported by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), a Brisbane-based university with more than 50,000 students. QUT offers more than 400 courses and research programs.
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QUT’s Gardens Point campus (image supplied by QUT).
Standing Committee Bursary
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
The Bursary criteria is as follows:
- Awarded to a current resident of The Women’s College who is enrolled at a university in Brisbane.
- Awarded to a resident who is from a low income and disadvantaged family who might not otherwise have access to The Women’s College experience.
- Preference will be given to a resident from rural or regional Queensland who is in financial need with respect to meeting accommodation expenses.
About this bursary
The Standing Committee Bursary was offered for the first time in 2022.
The Women’s College Standing Committee preceded the College itself. It was a committee that was gathered with a mission to establish a college for young women, especially non-metropolitan women, attending The University of Queensland. At the time, only three Colleges existed, serving the interests only of young men. The forming of the committee that brought into existence a residential college for women took place on 1 November 1912.
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On 17 April 1913, Jane Bourne, daughter of Brisbane Lord Mayor Hockings, chaired a meeting at Government House with the support and encouragement of the Governor, Sir William MacGregor, and his wife, Lady MacGregor (pictured), to establish The Women’s College within The University of Queensland.
Source: Anon (2005) Lady Mary MacGregor, wife of the Queensland Governor. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Suzanne Mourot Award
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
The criteria for the Award are:
- you are a student with a good command of the English language from New Caledonia’s main land, the Loyalty islands and the Isle of Pines; or
- you study in the field of pure or applied science or social science including disciplines of anthropology, archaeology, criminology and sociology;
- you are a student enrolled at The University of Queensland
- you must be a student who is in financial need with respect to meeting accommodation expenses
Note: The number of bursaries on offer will vary from year to year.
About this bursary
Suzanne Mourot (1918 – 2010) was a resident of The Women’s College from 1939 to 1941. She was a College Tutor in French Conversation from 1939 to 1943.
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Suzanne Mourot, pictured in the third row, fourth from the left, in the 1939 Women’s College year group photo.
Scholarships
Please click on the images to find out the amount awarded, criteria and notes, and history for each scholarship.
General Scholarships
Academic Scholarship
Amount
$4,000
Criteria and notes
Up to two scholarships are available. The number awarded will vary year by year.
- Future Students: This scholarship is awarded on academic merit based on school results.
- Current Students: This scholarship is awarded to residents who have a high GPA.
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Students during a tutorial in one of the Study Hub rooms.
Alumnae Awards Scholarship
Amount
$4,000
Criteria and notes
The Terms of the Scholarship are as follows:
- The name of the Scholarship shall be the Alumnae Awards Scholarship and is awarded by The Women’s College on the recommendation of the Head of College.
- The Scholarship shall be awarded to a resident of The Women’s College during the tenure of the Scholarship and who is enrolled at a Brisbane university.
- The Scholarship will be awarded to a resident who is an inspirational student who has raised her profile and standing within the College community demonstrating outstanding community service and/or continuous and significant contributions in a leadership role. These qualities balanced with Academic Excellence will be considered.
- The recipient of the Scholarship will not be eligible for any other Women’s College scholarship, bursary or academic prize in that year.
- The Scholarship shall be awarded for one academic year. The Scholarship shall lapse upon the student ceasing to be in residence at the College.
- The value and frequency of the Scholarship shall be determined by agreement with the Head of College. In its first year, the Scholarship will equate to $4,000 per annum.
- The Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient:
- is no longer enrolled full-time at a university in Brisbane;
- not maintaining satisfactory academic progress; or
- is no longer a resident of The Women’s College.
About this scholarship
The donation to The Women’s College is an initiative of Amanda Johnston-Pell, the inaugural 2021 Alumna of the Year Award winner, and her nominator, Paula Wilton, 1990 Student Club President.
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Paula Wilton, 1990 Student Club President, and Amanda Johnston-Pell, the inaugural 2021 Alumna of the Year Award winner, at the In Conversation With Formal Dinner in 2021.
Ann Warrell Robilliard Scholarship
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
In awarding the Scholarship, preference will be given to a resident from rural or regional Queensland to assist with offsetting residential fees.
The Scholarship will be awarded to a resident who will make a valuable contribution to the life of the College. The recipient must be an all-rounder demonstrating a combination of achievements and proven excellence in academia, sport and/or cultural pursuits, community service, and leadership.
The Scholarship will be awarded on achievements in the field of Science and proven excellence in academia.
About this scholarship
The Ann Warrell Robilliard Scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2024. The donation to The Women’s College is an initiative of Ann Warrell Robilliard an alumna who resided from 1972 – 1974 at The Women’s College.
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Ann Warrell Robilliard (alumna 1972 – 1974).
Cultural Scholarship
Amount
$4,000
Criteria and notes
Awarded to a resident who has a high GPA and who contributes to The Women’s College community in the Inter-College Competition (ICC) by supporting or participating in cultural activities.
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Women’s band Dirt Bucket performs at the 2024 Bandfest ICC Competition.
Deborah Davis Scholarship
Amount
$4,000
Criteria and notes
The Scholarship is awarded to a resident who will make a valuable contribution to the life of the College and is enrolled or seeking to be enrolled at The University of Queensland. This Scholarship is awarded on achievements and proven excellence in academia prior to becoming a resident of Women’s College.
It is awarded with the intention of funding an academic scholarship for a first year resident of The Women’s College from regional or rural Queensland for one academic year to assist with residential fees.
About this scholarship
The Deborah Davis Scholarship was offered for the first time in 2023. The donation to The Women’s College is an initiative of Deborah Davis an alumna who resided from 1977 – 1978 at The Women’s College.
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Deborah Davis (alumna 1977 – 1978).
The Doris Una Skyring Memorial Scholarship
Amount
$4,o00
Criteria and notes
This scholarship shall be awarded to a student who is a resident at The Women’s College during the tenure of the scholarship and who is pursuing a program in Medicine at The University of Queensland.
The scholarship shall be paid in equal instalments to coincide with the issue of each College account.
About this scholarship
Doris Una Skyring (1898 – 1959) was a resident from 1924 – 1928.
Doris was educated at Rockhampton Girls Grammar School then at the University of Queensland graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1928. Since there was, as yet, no medical school in the University of Queensland, Doris enrolled in Medicine in the University of Sydney, also residing in their Women’s College. She graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 1935 becoming, in that same year, Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
In 1936 she was acting Resident Medical Officer at Rockhampton General Hospital and in 1937 Renwick Hospital for Infants, Summer Hill. She was locum at Mount Morgan Hospital in 1938 and from 1940 did locums in Rockhampton throughout the Second World War.
She died in 1959 leaving a bequest to The Women’s College to enable and encourage young medical students.
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Doris Una Skyring is pictured in the back row, third from left, in the 1924 year group photo.
Harriet Marks Scholarship
Amount
The amount awarded for this scholarship will be announced soon.
Criteria and notes
This scholarship is awarded to a First Year resident studying science at UQ who has obtained outstanding results and is continuing studying a Bachelor of Science in her second year.
About this scholarship
Harriet Marks began her association with The Women’s College in 1920 as a resident scholar at Kangaroo Point.
After graduating with a Science degree, she taught physics and chemistry at Queensland country high schools. During World War II she returned to Brisbane to engage in war work. In 1943 she assumed the position of Senior Tutor at The Women’s College where she remained as Assistant to the Founding Principal, Dr Freda Bage, until 1953.
Miss Marks then resigned from the College to become the first Inspector and Supervisor of domestic science courses in the Queensland secondary school system, “putting science into domestic science”.
Miss Marks continued her close association with The Women’s College as a Council Member and was President of Council in the decade of the 1970s. After a long and distinguished contribution, Harriet Marks resigned from the Council in 1986 for health reasons.
Her devotion to the College is recognised in the naming of the dining hall in her honour — the “Harriet Marks Dining Hall”.
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Portrait of Harriet Marks (1987) by artist Lola McCausland.
Judith McCulloch Academic Scholarship
Amount
$4,000
Criteria and notes
This scholarship is awarded to a resident on achievements and proven excellence in the field of science with the intention of funding an academic scholarship for a future or current resident of The Women’s College for one academic year.
About this scholarship
The Judith McCulloch Scholarship was offered for the first time in 2021. The donation to The Women’s College was an initiative of Robert McCulloch, in memory of his wife, Judith McCulloch (née Smyth) who attended The Women’s College from 1961 to 1963.
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Judith McCulloch (née Smyth), alumna 1961 to 1963.
Robinson Family Scholarship
Amount
Full residential fees for one year
Criteria and notes
Awarded to a resident who is studying at The University of Queensland (UQ) or Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The scholarship will be awarded based on proven academic achievements in the field of mathematics and/or science. The recipient must demonstrate the potential to make a valuable contribution to the life of The Women’s College.
About this scholarship
This scholarship is made possible by a major gift from the Robinson family in honour of their mother, Joan Robinson, recognising her dedicated service as President of The Women’s College Standing Committee. Through this gift, the family aims to continue her legacy of fostering academic excellence.
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Joan Robinson, former President of The Women’s College Standing Committee.
Sports Scholarship
Amount
$4,000
Criteria and notes
Awarded to a resident who has a high GPA and who contributes to The Women’s College community in the Inter-College Competition (ICC) by supporting or participating in sporting activities.
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Residents at Women’s can participate in a variety of sports through the ICC Sports Competition.
The Women’s College Scholarship
Amount
$4,000
Criteria and notes
Up to three (3) scholarships are available, and the number of scholarships awarded varies from year to year.
These prestigious scholarships are awarded to future and current residents of The Women’s College who are all-rounders:
- demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities;
- achieving a high ATAR result (or equivalent) or GPA in their full-time university studies;
- committed to various sports and cultural activities;
- commitment to community service.
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An aerial photo of The Women’s College.
The Women’s College & Student Club Scholarship
Amount
$4,000
Criteria and notes
This scholarship is awarded with the intention of supporting a current resident of The Women’s College in their third year of residence. This scholarship is awarded to an inspirational resident who has raised her profile and standing within the College community, demonstrating outstanding community service and/or continuous and significant contributions in a leadership role. The recipient is a well-rounded student who has excellent participation or supported activities across all aspects of College life. These qualities balanced with academic excellence (minimum GPA of 5) will be considered. A resident who is responsible for paying her own residential fees may also be considered.
About this scholarship
The Women’s College & Student Club Scholarship was offered for the first time in 2023. Funds for this scholarship are primarily raised each year during the UQ Giving Day. Each year, Women’s UQ Giving Day Ambassadors organise the internal Mary Wooza’s Giving Games event, where residents, associates and staff come together to raise funds for this scholarship.
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Some of the 2023 UQ Giving Day Ambassadors with a cheque that showcases the amount raised by students and staff during the first Mary Wooza’s Giving Games event.
Financial-Need Scholarships
Mary Wooza Scholarship
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
This scholarship is awarded to a future resident of The Women’s College who lives in rural or regional Queensland and is experiencing financial or other hardship (ie. drought, COVID) with respect to meeting accommodation expenses. It is awarded with the intention of funding a scholarship for a first year resident of The Women’s College.
The recipient must demonstrate how she will make a valuable contribution to the life of the College.
The scholarship is awarded on a combination of achievements in the areas of sound academic merit, sport and/or cultural pursuits, community service, and leadership interest prior to becoming a resident of The Women’s College.
About this scholarship
The Mary Wooza Scholarship was offered for the first time in 2022. The donation to The Women’s College is an initiative of alumnae from the 1988 to 1994 Year Groups.
Following their alumnae reunion in 2021, Dr Emily Garde (1991 – 1993) and Joanna Harris (1990 – 1992) helped to establish the Mary Wooza Scholarship. Both alumnae are strong believers in providing the opportunity for students from regional and rural areas facing hardship to enjoy a unique on-campus living experience while at university.
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Dr Emily Garde (alumna 1991 – 1993) and Joanna Harris (alumna 1990 – 1992).
The Stan and Maureen Duke Foundation Scholarship
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
This scholarship is awarded to a future student who will make a valuable contribution to the life of the College. Preference will be given to a student from rural or regional Queensland who is in financial need with respect to meeting accommodation expenses.
The scholarship is awarded on a combination of achievements in the areas of academic merit, sport and/or cultural pursuits, community service, and leadership prior to becoming a resident of The Women’s College.
About this scholarship
The Stan and Maureen Duke Scholarship was offered for the first time in 2021. The donation to The Women’s College is an initiative of the four daughters of Stan and Maureen Duke – Karen, Marian, Susan and Lyndall – all past students of The Women’s College.
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Stan and Maureen Duke, who were the parents of residents Karen, Marian, Susan and Lyndall Duke.
UQ Residential Scholarships Scheme
Partnered Scholarships with The Women’s College
Students only need to submit one application to be considered for all scholarships in the UQ Residential Scholarships Scheme. Click here to apply.
Dorothy Marsden Undergraduate Scholarship
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
You’re eligible if you:
- are an undergraduate student who is or intends to be a resident at The Women’s College
- are a domestic student in the year of award
- are enrolled, or intend to enrol in any bachelor program in the year of the award
- are able to demonstrate financial hardship.
About this scholarship
Established in 2021 by The Women’s College in partnership with Alumni Friends, under the Create Change Scholarship Match Initiative, to honour the life of Dorothy Marsden, the oldest alumna of The Women’s College when she passed away in June 2020 at the age of 101 years. Miss Marsden completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours at the University of Queensland, was an active member alumna of the Women’s College and a member of the Alumni Association of the University of Queensland.
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Dorothy Marsden is pictured in the front row, third from left, in the 1939 year group photo.
Dr Maureen Aitken Undergraduate Scholarship
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
You’re eligible if you:
- are an undergraduate student who is, or intends to be, a resident at The Women’s College
- are a domestic student in the year of award
- are enrolled, or intend to enrol, in any bachelor’s program in the year of the award
- are able to demonstrate financial hardship.
About this scholarship
This scholarship was established in 2021 by The Women’s College in partnership with Alumni Friends, under the Create Change Scholarship Match Initiative, to honour Dr Maureen Aitken, who had a significant influence in the life of The Women’s College, serving as Principal from 1991 – 2008.
Dr Aitken held a BA with First Class Honours In French Language and Literature, a Postgraduate Diploma In Education and a PhD from The University of Queensland. She gave opportunity and encouragement to countless students by believing that confident and creative women can shape a better future. The annual distributions of the endowment support students experiencing financial hardship with the cost of residential fees at The Women’s College.
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Dr Maureen Aitken, pictured in the garden that bears her name at The Women’s College.
Marian Duke and JD Adams Memorial Scholarship
Amount
$10,000
Criteria and notes
You’re eligible if you:
- are a domestic student
- are from a rural or regional background
- are able to demonstrate educational disadvantage as a result of financial hardship as determined by QTAC’s Educational Access Scheme
- are a commencing student
- are enrolled, or intend to enrol, in any bachelor program at UQ in the year the scholarship is awarded
- are a resident (or intends to be) at an Approved Accommodation Provider.
About this scholarship
This scholarship was established in 2018 through a bequest to the University under the will of John Dugald Adams, a long time donor and a Bachelor of Commerce graduate of this University from 1961, who died in 2017.
One successful resident demonstrating financial hardship may be offered a matched scholarship of $10,000 by The Women’s College, with funds provided by the Stan & Maureen Duke Foundation in honour of one of their daughters, Marian Duke (deceased), who was a resident of The Women’s College.
Note: On UQ’s website, this scholarship is called the JD Adams Memorial Scholarship.
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The Duke sisters, daughters of Stan and Maureen Duke. This scholarship is jointly named after Marian Duke.
Jill Fittock Harrison Scholarship
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
You’re eligible if you:
- are a domestic student in the year of the award
- can demonstrate financial hardship
- are enrolled or intend to enrol in any Bachelor program in the year the scholarship is awarded
- are or intend to be a resident at The Women’s College within The University of Queensland.
About this scholarship
This scholarship was established in 2022 by The Women’s College within The University of Queensland in memory of Jill Fittock Harrison (alumna 1946 – 1948), under the Create Change Scholarship Match Initiative. The scholarship is maintained by income generated from the underlying endowment fund.
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Jill Fittock Harrison is pictured in the third row, eighth from the left, in the 1946 year group photo.
Joan Metcalfe Scholarship
Amount
The amount for this scholarship will be announced soon.
Criteria and notes
The criteria for this scholarship will be announced soon.
About this scholarship
The Joan Metcalfe Scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2024 to support a resident of The University of Queensland residing at The Women’s College who is facing financial hardship from regional and rural Queensland.
The Scholarship was established in 2023 by Gillian Sarah Russell, Peter James Metcalfe and John Stanley Metcalfe in memory of Joan Metcalfe, a friend of The Women’s College, whose husband, Professor Stan Metcalfe CBE, Stanley Jevons Professor of Political Economy (Emeritus), The University of Manchester, UK, resided at The Women’s College during his visits while lecturing at The University of Queensland.
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Donor Stan Metcalfe and Director of Operations Jeff Sipek outside Piddington Wing, where Stan and his wife, Joan, would stay when they visited The Women’s College and UQ.
Marie Myers Scholarship
Amount
$4,500
Criteria and notes
You’re eligible if you:
- are a domestic student
- can demonstrate financial need
- are enrolled, or intend to enrol, in an approved program in the year the scholarship is awarded
- are or intend to be a resident at The Women’s College.
About this scholarship
This scholarship was established in 2023 by Marie Myers (alumna 1984 – 1985) under the Create Change Scholarship Match initiative. The annual distributions of the endowment support a student experiencing financial hardship with the cost of residential fees at The Women’s College.
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Marie Myers (alumna 1984 – 1985).
The Women's College Young Achievers Scholarships
Amount
$11,000
Criteria and notes
Up to two bursaries are available for First Year Residents of The Women’s College who are studying a full-time course at The University of Queensland.
About this scholarship
The University of Queensland Young Achievers Program (UQ YAP) is an exciting initiative which aims to support the tertiary study and career aspirations of senior secondary school students who might not otherwise have access to university as a post-school option.
Broadly, the focus of the UQ Young Achievers Program is on nurturing and developing the educational ambitions of participants through mentoring, financial assistance and opportunities for personal growth and leadership development.
UQ Young Achievers applying to The Women’s College are able to apply for the The Women’s College Young Achievers Scholarship, which is jointly provided through funding from the University of Queensland and The Women’s College.
Apply through The University of Queensland. Click here for more information, including the criteria, about each scholarship and how to apply.
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The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus.
Source: Ashton 29 (2015) University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:University_of_Queensland,_Brisbane,_Australia.jpg
Other UQ scholarships available to Women’s College students
Residential
The following scholarships are provided through the UQ Residential Scholarships Scheme and are available for residents of The Women’s College. Please click on the scholarship names to view the criteria and application information on UQ’s website.
- 33rd UQ Senate Create Change Residential Scholarship
- Cairngorm-Kurrajong Scholarship Endowment
- Flannery Foundation Residential Scholarship
- Frazer Family Foundation Young Achievers Scholarship
- John Martin OAM Residential Scholarship
- R.D Arida Residential Scholarship
Click here to apply for the above UQ Residential Scholarships.
Associate
The following scholarship is provided through the School of Law at UQ and is available for associates of The Women’s College. Please click on the scholarship name to view the criteria and application information on UQ’s website, and to apply.
- Leadership, Excellence and Diversity (LEAD) Scholarship | available through the UQ School of Law
Other Scholarship/Funding Opportunities
The following scholarships are provided by external organisations, and are not administered by The Women’s College. Click on the toggles to learn more about and apply for each scholarship.
Applications for the Charlie Bell Scholarship
- Are you aged 15-20 years?
- Have you suffered a serious illness or injury during childhood that has caused you to miss significant amounts of schooling?
You may be eligible for Ronald McDonald House Charities South East Queensland’s (RMHC SEQ) Charlie Bell Scholarship which closes on 30 November each year.
The Scholarship is a one off, $5,000 grant awarded to help young people get their education or career back on track. The funds can be used for residential college fees.
For more information visit https://www.rmhc.org.au/charlie-bell-scholarships
GradReady is proud to award one student residing at The Women’s College a GradReady GAMSAT® Attendance (Comprehensive) Course each year. The scholarship is designed for prospective medical students and provides them with comprehensive preparation for the Graduate Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT®). Please click here for more details on the course.
GradReady is an education technology company aimed at making learning more effective and engaging. GradReady has helped over 6000 students prepare for the GAMSAT® exam since 2010. Their students have improved by an average of 24 percentile points and 90%+ have achieved medical school admissions. To learn more about GradReady, click here.
ABSTUDY refers to a group of payments for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students – in order to be eligible, students must not be getting any other payment to study. There are multiple types of payments available, including rent assistance, living allowance, incidentals allowance, and a relocation scholarship.
The amount of the payment depends on a range of factors, including whether the student is dependent or independent, the age of the student, and personal and parental income. Please click here for further eligibility requirements and more information about how to apply.
Please visit the UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Scholarship page for further information about the available scholarships.