The Roberta Sykes Scholarship provides partial funding to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander postgraduate students who wish to undertake studies at recognized overseas universities.
Its mission is to support scholars who will return from their overseas studies with a commitment to ‘give back to their community.
Benefits
- The value of the Scholarship is up to $30,000 per year,
- Applicants may be awarded funding for a number of years or may need to reapply for the Scholarship in subsequent years.
Eligibility
- Usually have an undergraduate degree with a strong academic record
- Also, be accepted into postgraduate coursework or research degree at a recognized overseas university
- Be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and be accepted as such by the community in which they live or have lived
- In addition, be able to demonstrate that alongside a Roberta Sykes Scholarship, they will have sufficient funds to support themselves during the course of their postgraduate degree
- Be able to demonstrate that their studies will be of benefit to their community upon their return to Australia
- Moreover, applications for part-time study can be eligible for special circumstances.
How to Apply
- A personal statement outlining:
- Why do you want to do the program
- Background of your area of research, where you are studying overseas, for how long, and the focus of your study
- Also, the background of your area of employment or business, if applicable
- The amount of funding your require
- How you will support yourself during your studies, including other scholarships
- How do you identify with the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community in which you live or have lived and past contributions you have made within the community?
- Ways in which undertaking your chosen course will benefit the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community, and future contributions you plan to make to the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community (and wider community) following completion of the course.
- Also, your curriculum vitae
- Academic transcript(s)
- 4 written references highlighting your capabilities, your past contribution to the Indigenous community, and the perceived future benefit of doing your chosen course. These should be:
- Two academic or current/former employers
- One from an Elder in your community
- Also, One personal
- A financial budget
- In addition, confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent through a signed statement