Catherine and Peter Tay for Singapore Alumni (follow on) Scholarship

Applications closed
Amount

$5,000

Number available

1

Closing date

24 February 2024

Scholarship details

Donor

Catherine and Peter Tay Excellence Fund

Establishment

This scholarship was established in 2018 by Catherine and Peter Tay from Singapore. It is a continuing demonstration of appreciation that 50 years earlier in 1968, Dr Peter Tay received his undergraduate education for a double degree in Industrial Engineering and Economics from the University of Newcastle through a Colombo Plan Scholarship from the Australian Government. That scholarship became a stepping stone in Peter's life-long achievements, and helped him to become what he is today.

After being fully involved in the establishment, governance and fundraising for the Singapore Alumni Scholarship since 2011, including chairing the Singapore Alumni Scholarship Committee, Peter has come to appreciate that there is a need to support gifted and disadvantaged students who were recipients of the Singapore Alumni Scholarship in a subsequent year as they continue to cope with those disadvantages while trying to complete their undergraduate degree with good academic results.

This scholarship is open to previous recipients of the Singapore Alumni Scholarship. These students may also like to apply for the Singapore Alumni (follow on) Scholarship.

For more information on this scholarship, please review the full Terms and Conditions.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, you will need to:

  • Be a past recipient of the Singapore Alumni Scholarship.
  • Be enrolled in any year of an undergraduate degree program at the University of Newcastle.
  • Be enrolled full-time.
  • Demonstrate the impact of educational disadvantage such as carer and sole parent responsibilities, financial hardship, long-term medical condition, a disability, the ongoing effects of abuse, regional/remote disadvantage, English language difficulty.
  • Equity scholarships will also consider applicant attributes such as being an Indigenous Australian, having a Refugee background, or placement with an Out-of-Home Care provider.
  • Demonstrate academic achievement by having a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0 or higher in your current program.
  • If successful, be willing to submit an essay of approximately 400 words on Singapore and one or more aspects of its people, economy, geography, history, culture, political system etc.
  • Not be the recipient of another University of Newcastle donor-funded or sponsored scholarship concurrently.

Required Documentation

Required documents will be listed on the ‘Your Documents’ page of your application. The application portal accepts PDF only. A maximum of 3 PDF smaller than 5 MB can be added per document type upload field.

  • A personal statement (approx. 1 A4 page) outlining your academic achievements, career aspirations in the relevant area of study, and how this scholarship would assist you. This statement will cover all scholarships you are submitting for.
  • You may be required to provide documents to support your educational disadvantage claims. These will be identified when you apply based on your individual application responses.

Benefit

This scholarship provides a benefit of $5000 to be paid as a lump sum following the semester 1 census date.

Selection

Selection of the scholar/s will be on the basis of:

  • Academic merit, namely Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) or equivalent or cumulative GPA.
  • Assessment of required written statement and any provided supporting documentation.

There is an essay requirement for the successful scholarship recipient.

Recipients of the Singapore Alumni Scholarship are required to write a 400-word Singapore essay following acceptance of the scholarship. This will be due within 3 weeks of receiving the scholarship offer.

The essay will be of a suitable academic standard and properly referenced. Scholars agree that the essay is their own work and no part of it has been generated and/or copied from generative Ai Tools.

The essay is to provide an opportunity for scholars to learn more about Singapore and appreciate the country that the scholarship donors were born in and are immensely proud of. They write:

“It is hoped that by reading, reflecting, analysing, and writing on one aspect of Singapore’s people, economy, geography, history, culture, political system, etc, that the scholar can gain insight in to Singapore and what makes it tick. For instance, how did Singapore become successful given its being potentially fragmented society of many races, religions, cultures with four official languages (English and three major Asian languages), possibly pulling in several different directions? At a geopolitical level, how did Singapore become so successful, despite it being a small island, surrounded by big neighbours and maintain its Asian identity, despite English being the lingua franca, and therefore exposed to Western culture. While holding a view or expressing an opinion is encouraged, students should not use the essay to advocate changing Singapore society or how its people conduct itself. While critical thinking is encouraged, scholars are asked to approach the task respectfully and not use the essay as opportunity to advocate changing Singapore society and culture.”

Contact Details

Admissions and Scholarships
Student and Academic Services
University of Newcastle
University Drive
CALLAGHAN NSW 2308

Phone: +61 2 4921 5000
Email: scholarships@newcastle.edu.au