Cary James and Anne Witheford Visual Arts Scholarship

1. Background

a. This Scholarship was established in 2021 to provide support to an undergraduate student to undertake studies in visual arts at the University of Sydney.  

b. This Scholarship has been donated by the Cary James and Anne Witheford Foundation.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission and enrolling full-time in the first year of one of the following degrees within the Sydney College of the Arts at the University of Sydney. 

I. Bachelor of Visual Arts, or

II. Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies.

b. Applicants must have achieved a minimum ATAR of at least 80 or equivalent.

3. Selection Criteria

a. The Scholarship will be awarded on the basis of:

I. academic merit,

II. portfolio,

III. evidence of hardship, and

IV. a personal statement that demonstrates:

i. why they are studying visual art,

ii. a commitment to studying at Sydney College of the Arts, and

iii. the impact of their hardship has on their studies.

b. Preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate financial disadvantage and/or hardship based on one or more of the below:

I. identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island person as defined in the University of Sydney’s Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy 2015, 

II. low socio-economic status,

III. carer responsibilities,

IV. long-term medical condition/disability (including ongoing effects of abuse),

V. sole-parent responsibilities,

VI. regional or remote disadvantage,

VII. identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer (LGBTIQ+), and/or

VIII. first in family.

c. The Scholarship will be awarded by the Chair of the Sydney College of the Arts, or their nominated delegate(s). 

4. Value

a. The Scholarship is valued at $8,550 per annum and is tenable for up to 3 years. 

b. The Scholarship annual value will be paid in two equal instalments after the census date of each semester. 

c. Deferral of the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior permission of Chair of the Sydney College of the Arts.

d. The scholarship can be suspended for up to 2 semesters with prior permission of Chair of the Sydney College of the Arts.

e. The scholarship cannot be transferred to another University school, faculty or university. 

f. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funds.

g. No other amount is payable.

5. Ongoing eligibility

a. To continue receipt of the Scholarship, the recipient must maintain a minimum Semester Average Mark (SAM) of 50 each semester. 

b. Recipients undertaking an exchange during the tenure of this Scholarship are required to have achieved a Satisfied Requirements grade (SR) to receive their next payment. 

6. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient:

I. withdraws from an eligible course or fails to enrol,

II. commences part-time study without prior approval, 

III. does not maintain satisfactory academic performance, 

IV. is determined by the University to be guilty of serious misconduct, including, but not limited to, having provided false or misleading information as part of their Scholarship application, 

V. accepts an alternative scholarship, administered by the University of Sydney, valued at $8,000 per annum or more for the same purpose as this Scholarship, or

VI. does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave.

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

c. Where a student is found guilty of serious misconduct or the Scholarship is terminated under any instance in the Termination Clause of these terms and conditions, the University reserves the right to request that any Scholarship funds paid to the Scholarship recipient be reimbursed.