Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships in Australia

Deadline: 1-Sep-22

Applications are now open for the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships to support Australia’s future leaders by providing an enriching postgraduate experience for talented individuals to study at one of Australia’s leading universities and participate in a bespoke, nine-month, Leadership Development Program. Scholars also have the chance to add a global context to their education, with tailored international experiences of up to six months.

Focus Areas

Scholarship recipients will be exceptional people, chosen for their ability to make a difference to Australia’s future in one of the four focus areas:
- Sustainable Futures
- Australia in Asia
- An Inclusive Country
- Thriving Tech Sector

Scholarship Program

The scholarship program includes:
- Support for your study or research: The Scholarship supports university course fees (for coursework applicants) and assists with living expenses for your study or research period so you can focus on your learning.
- Leadership Development Program: The nine-month Leadership Development Program provides leadership development beyond the classroom and supports you to build on your strengths and develop targeted leadership capabilities that will allow you to be best placed to succeed in your chosen field, and beyond.
- International Experience: Leadership demands an ability to view situations and circumstances from a variety of different perspectives. This Scholarship gives you the chance to add a global context to your education, with tailored international experiences of up to six months.
- Westpac 100 Scholars Network – the “W100”: Money can help launch a vision but it takes a network of inspired and inspiring people to sustain it. That’s why every Westpac Future Leaders Scholar will be part of the Westpac 100 Scholars Network or W100.
- 2023 Westpac Scholars’ Summit – 3/4 April: All 100 Westpac Scholars from the five scholarship programs will come together in Sydney in April 2023 to participate in tailored workshops, hear from business and academic luminaries, and form connections with fellow scholars. It is compulsory to attend the Summit.

Award Information

Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships are among the most powerful development scholarships in Australia.
As well as investing up to $120,000 over 2-3 years into your postgraduate studies, the Scholarship will also shape your leadership skills far and your expectations.

Eligibility Criteria

You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident (NZ citizens who are not also Australian citizens are not eligible).
You have completed your first undergraduate degree after 1 September 2017, OR will complete by 31 December 2022.
You have achieved or are on track to achieve an average result of H1 or H2A equivalent.
You have chosen to undertake a full-time Masters by coursework or research or a PhD at one of the nine participating universities.
You have chosen a field of study which, for PhD and Masters by research applicants has an ERA four digit FOR rating of “well world standard” in the ERA 2018 exercise and for Masters by coursework applicants, must be in area of world-class standing.
You must commence study in 2023 (Jan – Dec 2023), not before.
Your proposed program of study:
Can be in any field and must be relevant to the Trust’s focus areas
Include international opportunities, such as a period of study at an overseas university, an invited presentation at a conference significant to the discipline, or a period of internship or placement at an overseas organisation, which will develop your leadership skills and global networks
Underpin a worthy and viable post-study plan that benefits Australia
Funding requests for the purpose of medical research as defined in the ARC Medical Research Policy available on the Australian Research Council website will not be considered; MD, juris doctor programs or equivalent are also excluded.
Masters by coursework programs must be completed within two years.
You are able to supply two letters of reference – one academic reference and one personal reference.
For PhD and Masters by Research applicants, you must also supply one letter of support from either your supervisor, dean of the faculty or head of school or equivalent.