In a game changer for Queensland school leavers, the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) will offer new automatic scholarships for students with OPs from 1 to 8.
School leavers who achieve an OP of 1-2/ATAR 97.5 will automatically receive a scholarship package valued up to $29,000, including an optional study abroad package and leadership development.
Students with an OP 6/ATAR 90 or above will be awarded a scholarship package valued up to $20,000.
And students with an OP8/ATAR 85 or above will be awarded up to $6,000.
USQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie said it was a decisive move to help keep young people in the regions, and attract students from capital cities to study at USQ.
“We want to ensure our best and brightest are staying in the region, and that we are attracting school leavers from across the State,” Professor Mackenzie said.
“We want to build strong rural and regional communities and we know that providing outstanding educational opportunities (and careers) locally is the best way of doing just that.”
Professor Mackenzie said the suite of scholarships would apply to accomplished students who listed USQ as their number-one choice for QTAC.
The scholarships will be available to school leavers studying full-time at any USQ campus.
“The university scholarship process has been simplified to encourage greater participation from prospective students,” she said.
“The new scholarships are automatically awarded to students who place USQ as their first preference and meet the qualifying results – it’s that simple”.
The scholarships, which are unlimited in number, are:
- Chancellor’s Excellence Scholarship – awarded to 2019 school leavers with OP 2/ATAR 97.5 or above. Total scholarship value of $29,000 over four years of study (or $23,000 over three years) including a $5000 Study Abroad package, participation in a leadership and development program, plus the opportunity to participate in the Student Ambassador program.
- Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship – awarded to 2019 school leavers with OP 6/ATAR 90 or above. Total scholarship value of $20,000 over four years of study (or $15,000 over three years), plus the opportunity to participate in the Student Ambassador program.
- Executive Dean’s Scholarship – awarded to 2019 school leavers with OP8/ATAR 85 or above. Total scholarship value of $6,000 over four years or $4,500 over three years), plus the opportunity to participate in the Student Ambassador program.
USQ has three campuses – Ipswich, Springfield and Toowoomba – and also delivers degrees online.
Courses range from aviation and agriculture to astronomy, law, education, health and so much more.
It is the number one university in Australia for graduate starting salary, and the number one university in Queensland for graduate employment outcomes, according to the Good Universities Guide, 2019.
“It may surprise some that their local university is ranked so highly on a national scale but just because something is in a capital city it doesn’t equate to better,” Professor Mackenzie said.
In 30 key research areas USQ is above world standard, according to Australia’s Research Council’s Excellence in Research for Australia report.
For more information, go here.
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