Scientia Scholar, Academic Achievement Award and Faculty of Science Scholarship

International Grammar School Advanced Maths/Arts

Why UNSW

I chose to come to UNSW because many of my friends and family are UNSW students or alumni so I’ve known about the university for quite some time. As my HSC progressed, the online Handbook and distributed publications helped me to get to know the details of the programs I was interested in.

I was also drawn to UNSW by the breadth and reputation of its programs. However, what won me over was the genuine openness and enthusiasm of its staff at the many information days that I attended while making my decision. I wasn’t expecting to find such a strong level of engagement with individual students within such a large institution.

Why choose Maths and Arts

Maths was my favourite subject throughout high school. I particular I’d always found great satisfaction in developing the “rigour of mind” and lateral thinking skills which a study of maths requires. This is what led me to become interested in UNSW’s Advanced Maths program. I’ve also decided to combine my Advanced Maths studies with an Arts degree because I enjoyed the humanities subjects I studied at school, and because I know how easy it is to develop new interests as you are exposed to new fields.

Any advice for prospective students?

Get your information first hand, where you can. As you research programs of study, you will come across rankings, statistics and gossip about the quality of particular courses and institutions. While it is important to note these assessments, your biggest informant should be your own judgement.

Attend as many Open Days and information sessions as you can and try to talk to students and lecturers involved in your courses. Go into the actual classroom and labs where your courses will be held.

Make sure you keep an open mind towards courses that sound interesting, even if they might at first sound ‘out of your area’. And if your marks are great, don’t just follow the crowd. Yes, we need smart doctors and lawyers – but we need equally smart scientists and mathematicians and engineers too!

Benefits of holding a Scholarship?

I applied for scholarships because I was attracted by the academic and financial support which they offered. I’ve been able to pay my course fees up front, and will no longer need a part time job to finance my textbooks, food and transport. This means that I’ll be able to devote more of my time towards university life.

Being recognised as a scholarship recipient has also given me extra confidence and motivation in my academic endeavours at UNSW.

Bernard William Gould Memorial Scholarship

Smith's Hill High School Civil Engineering/Law

Why UNSW

• It has always been one of my dreams to study engineering at UNSW because of its outstanding international reputation shown by a constant ranking in the top 100 global universities and the fact that it persistently builds on its strengths in science and technology by developing a wide range of cooperative arrangements with industry and business thus allowing students to gain an easier access to their future careers.
• It is also one of Australia’s leading research and teaching universities which offers a broad range and high quality teaching programs. It has a strong emphasis on research and developing new ideas and promoting lasting knowledge. UNSW offers a modern, dynamic and innovative teaching and learning environment with extensive social and recreational facilities which suits my likings.

Why choose Engineering and Law?

My imagination and continuous thirst to discover had made me increasingly inclined to study engineering. I believe that a double degree will better prepare me for the challenges of the 21st century as I think that principles in engineering fields must be combined with a profound commerce background in order to successfully turn imaginative ideas into economical reality.

Any advice for prospective students?

Usually people will say choose something you are really interested in, but I think a problem exists where most people don’t know what the program really is. So think about the career you want to go into and track back from there. Always visit the UNSW website and read the online handbook carefully. Don’t be afraid to contact the staff at the faculties or schools that you are interested in, they are very kind and helpful. A well informed decision is a well prepared decision and thus a smaller chance of you regretting it in the future.

Leighton Holdings Engineering Rural Scholarship, Academic Achievement Award, Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship, Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship, Residential Colleges Accommodation Scholarship and Indigenous Access Scholarship

Lightning Ridge High School Bachelor of Engineering

Why UNSW

UNSW held high rankings and also a great deal of respect from those within my chosen field of study. It was recommended above all other universities from many of the engineers that I have had contact with.

Also during my time with Costin Roe Consulting, an engineering consulting company the engineers and cadets working for the company spoke highly of the university, its programs and were able to give a lot of valuable information regarding both.

Why choose Engineering?

I have always had a strong foundation in both science and mathematics. Engineering offers me the opportunity to apply both of these skills in a practical way which will have benefits for the society in which I live.

Any advice for prospective students?

The best way to find a course that suits you is to find something you have skill in, a passion for, and enough dedication to complete. The best thing you can do to learn more about a program of study is to talk to people who have already undertaken a similar, if not identical program. Furthermore research into the requirements and future prospects will be invaluable when making an informed decision.

Benefits of holding a Scholarship?

There were two major reasons for applying for scholarships with UNSW. Firstly, coming from an economically disadvantaged background I needed a way to support myself financially throughout my uni studies which would cause as little interference with my studies and community involvement as possible. Secondly and more importantly were the opportunities presented by such scholarships as the Leighton Holdings Rural Scholarship and the Co-op Scholarships. Such scholarships come hand in hand with an affiliation to the company or companies offering it, which greatly enhances your future prospects, including advantages such as pre-graduation work placement and future employment opportunities.

Being on a scholarship has allowed me to become more self-sufficient and will benefit both my studies and my community involvement as I will not have to invest copious amounts of my time in working to support myself through university. This is a massive advantage as I have practically no financial assistance from my family and thus these scholarships have opened up numerous doors across all aspects of university life for my immediate future.

Alexandria Ada Lam Scholarship

Sydney Girls High School Engineering/Law

Why UNSW

Location was a factor but particularly because UNSW boasts quite a reputation for Engineering and I liked the teaching style for Law which focused on small classes as opposed to large lecture halls.

Why choose Engineering and Law?

Purely out of interest of course. I liked all the subjects I studied in high school and so I focused on English and literary skills through law. Also I’ve always had a passion for maths/science so I took up Engineering. I suppose it was a degree that demands a large frame of talents which is something I like.

Any advice for prospective students?

Do what you like. Never do something for the stability of a solid income or what your parents tell you to do. Live your life and enjoy every moment of it.

If you aren’t sure what you want exactly which I can most definitely empathise with, write a list of all the advantages and disadvantages of all the programs you are considering. Talk to people a few years above you who are ideally taking both the courses you are considering and ask them for how they have found it.

The best part of uni and your program?

Most definitely the people. The range of people, students and teachers alike is amazing. You get to talk to post graduates who are taking a second degree and have had a lifetime of experience as well as students raised overseas etc. The diversity is incredible.

UNSW is a social hub of people and activities. There are so many ideas, events, socials you can throw yourself into. You will learn a lot about the world and yourself as long as you give yourself the chance to experience it.

Malcolm Chaikin Foundation Scholarship and Academic Achievement Award

New England Girls School Commerce/Science

Why UNSW

UNSW was recommended to me by an array of people - from career advisors and teachers, to friends and family members. I didn’t really begin to seriously consider universities until about half way through Year 12, when careers testing recommended the Commerce program at UNSW as being one of the best and most flexible. This recommendation, combined with UNSW’s reputation for Science courses, made UNSW a serious contender in my university choices.

The Malcolm Chaikin Scholarship to UNSW provided an obvious incentive to study there as opposed to other universities. It certainly played a major role in my decision making process, yet ultimately it was the reputation and standard of the University’s business and science schools that was the culminating factor in choosing UNSW as my university.

Why choose Maths and Arts?

I chose to study Commerce/Science because this degree will allow me to combine two areas that I find incredibly interesting in such a way that I hope will be not only stimulating and useful but also fulfilling. In different ways, both business and science make the world go round. It is this practicality and the possibility of seemingly limitless applications that attracts me to such a program of study. I hope that to study Commerce and Science together, I can achieve my goals of making a positive social and ecological, as well as economic contribution to society, through business.

Any advice for prospective students?

I think that choosing a program of study can be a really tough decision and I recommend getting as much information as you can, from all the sources that you can access, before you make a final choice. Talk to people you know - from teachers, to uni students, to people in the work force. Be willing to listen, but at the same time, know that it is ultimately you who will have to study the program that you chose, so sticking to your strengths and interests will probably end up leading to the most fulfilling degree.

Benefits of holding a Scholarship?

The scholarships at UNSW appeared to be highly attractive financially and if obtained, a scholarship would guarantee me the opportunity of attending university in the following year. After reading the profiles of past scholarship recipients, particularly reading of one applicant’s surprise at receiving an interview and later the actual scholarship, a scholarship seemed much more attainable and I figured that I had nothing to lose in applying.

Besides the apparent financial benefit, being on a scholarship will make me all the more determined to achieve both academically and through involvement in the UNSW and wider community. Financially, the scholarship will provide me with a greater level of freedom with time – allowing me to fully utilise the time I have to not only learn, but to also join and be an active member of sporting, dramatic and volunteer social groups.

Scientia Scholar

James Ruse Agricultural High School Commerce/Science

Why UNSW?

I went to the open days and had a browse online at everything that the univesity offered. My brother (an ex UNSW student) also gave me the low-down on how UNSW worked.

Friends and family told me that UNSW was the best university at which to study science and commerce. Also, from my experience at the open days, UNSW seemed like a friendly, multicultural environment in which I would easily fit in. A lot of my friends wanted to go to UNSW so I wanted to stick with them and to top if off, I got a scholarship which made my decision even easier.

Why choose Commerce and Science?

I want to eventually do teaching and studying both commerce and science will give me the opportunity to teach a wide variety of subjects. Also, my favourite and best subjects in high school were sciences (chemistry and physics) so I always felt like Science was for me.

I decided to do commerce based on advice from my siblings and uncle. I have always been interested in property investment and share trading so I felt commerce would give me a good knowledge base in these fields.

Any advice for prospective students?

Do what you like; not the highest course that your UAI allows!

Benefits of holding a Scholarship?

A scholarship significantly reduces the financial burden of my university schooling and gives me more time to participate in wider areas of university life (such as sport, music and culture).

There is an obvious financial gain from scholarships. With the money provided by my scholarship I am be able to pay off my university and textbook fees whilst using leftover funds to pursue my musical aspirations.

In order to maintain my scholarship I have an incentive to work hard and achieve my best whilst in university.