The Bill and Melia Hutchinson Scholarship

The purpose of the MySydney Scheme and The Bill and Melia Hutchinson Scholarship is to address the educational disadvantage experienced by people living in areas affected by socio-economic disadvantage, by facilitating and supporting their participation in University of Sydney engineering or medicine and health courses. 

1. Eligibility criteria

Applicant who:

a. is a domestic applicant enrolled in an engineering or medicine and health undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney as defined in the Coursework Policy 2021.

b. applied for admission to the engineering or medicine and health undergraduate degree through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

c. when applied for admission through UAC resided in an area listed in the bottom 25 percent of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Education and Occupation (IEO), based on the address they provided to UAC.

d. did not hold enrolment in an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney prior to enrolment in the engineering or medicine and health undergraduate degree.

e. was not enrolled in an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney in the preceding year of their current engineering or medicine and health admission application via UAC.

2. Selection criteria

a. The scholarship is offered to students with the highest Australian Teritary Admission Rank (ATAR) who meet the eligibility criteria. Students will be offered the scholarship in the following order of priority:

i. studying engineering from a remote location in Australia,

ii. studying engineering from a regional location in Australia,

iii. studying engineering from Western Sydney,

iv. studying medicine or health from a remote location in Australia,

v. studying medicine or health from a regional location in Australia, and

vi. studying medicine or health from Western Sydney.

b. A separate scholarship application is not required. 

3. Value

a. The scholarship provides a cash payment of AUD$8,500 per year and is tenable for the published full-time duration of the recipient’s undergraduate (single or combined) degree up to a maximum total duration of 5 years full-time study or part-time equivalent.

b. The annual amount will be paid in three instalments during the first year of enrolment:

i. an initial instalment of $1,000 will be paid within two weeks before commencement of the first semester; 

ii. a second instalment of $3,250 will be paid within 30 days after census date of the first semester;

iii. a third instalment of $4,250 will be paid within 30 days after census date of the second semester. 

c. For the remaining tenure of the scholarship, the annual amount will be paid in two equal instalments of $4,250 within 30 days after the census dates of first semester and second semester. 

d. The scholarship does not cover appended Honours degrees.

e. The scholarship does not cover any postgraduate studies, such as a Master of Nursing or Doctor of Medicine, even if taken as part of a vertically integrated combined degree.

4. Ongoing eligibility 

To continue receipt of the scholarship, the recipient must: 

a. continue to meet the progression requirements for their course in each relevant teaching period;   

b. remain enrolled in an engineering or medicine and health undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney after relevant census dates in each relevant teaching period; and

c. if undertaking an exchange program during the tenure of the Scholarship, achieve a ‘Satisfied Requirements’ (SR) grade.

5. Part-time study

a. The scholarship can be held whilst studying part time, subject to meeting ongoing requirements of the recipient’s course.

b. Recipients will receive 50% of the full-time payment of the scholarship if they enrol part-time (less than 18 credit points) in a semester.

6. Deferral and suspension

a. Deferral of the scholarship is permitted for up to two semesters provided the recipient obtains approval from the University to defer their degree.

b. Suspension of the scholarship is permitted for up to two semesters provided the recipient is permitted to, or obtains approval to, suspend their degree.

c. Requests for deferral or suspension of the scholarship for more than two semesters will be considered, and if appropriate approved, on a case-by-case basis by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or their nominee.

d. The recipient must contact the Scholarships Office at least two months before the end of their deferral or suspension period to request reinstatement of the scholarship. Failing to do so may result in the scholarship being terminated. 

7. Transfer of degree

a. The scholarship is transferable to another engineering or medicine and health undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney, provided the recipient obtains approval from the University to transfer.

8. Privacy

a. Personal information about recipients collected by the University will be managed in accordance with the University’s privacy obligations. See our Privacy webpage for more information. 

b.  Scholarship recipients who do not meet or are identified as being at risk of not meeting academic progression requirements may be contacted by the University to offer academic and other student support services.

9. Termination

a. The scholarship may be terminated if a recipient:

i. withdraws from an eligible award course or fails to enrol;

ii. does not meet the eligibility or ongoing eligibility criteria for the scholarship;

iii. unless approval is granted by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or their nominee, is a holder of an alternative scholarship administered by the University valued at $8,500 or more per year, excluding accommodation, tuition fee offset or exchange scholarships; 

iv. fails to enrol at the end of permitted or approved deferral or suspension; 

v. exceeds the maximum total duration of study supported by the Scholarship; or

vi. is found guilty of misconduct.

b. Once the scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to administrative error.