The Holden Family Scholarship

1. Background

a. This Scholarship was established in 2023 to provide financial assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to study an Extended Bachelor degree program at the University of Sydney.

b. This Scholarship is funded by a donation from Kimberley Holden and Angus Holden. 

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently full-time in the first semester of one of the following degrees at the University of Sydney.

I. Bachelor of Science (Extended),

II. Bachelor of Arts (Extended),

III. Bachelor of Science (Extended) (Health), or

IV. Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (Extended).

b. Applicants must identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person as defined in the University of Sydney’s Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy 2015.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. financial hardship in relation to regional or remote disadvantage, and

II. a personal statement that addresses how this scholarship would address the challenges they face in relocating to Sydney for study (maximum of 500 words).

b. The Scholarship will be awarded by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Indigenous Strategy and Service (DVCISS) and/or their nominated delegate(s) on the basis of a recommendation by a selection committee consisting of:

I. Extended Bachelor Program Coordinator or the equivalent most senior role in the administration of the Extended Bachelor Program (Chair),

II. a representative from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,

III. a representative from the Faculty of Science,

IV. a representative from the Gadigal Centre, and 

V. a representative from Sydney Future Students.

4. Value

a. A recipient enrolled full-time will receive the following benefits in the first year of their eligible degree:

I. $10,000 per annum towards their tuition fees, and

II. $15,000 per annum for living expenses which will be paid in two equal instalments after the census date of each semester.

b. A recipient enrolled full-time will receive the following benefits in the second, third and fourth years of their degree:

I. $10,000 per annum towards their tuition fees,

II. $25,000 per annum towards accommodation costs,

III. $15,000 per annum for living expenses which will be paid in two equal instalments after the census date of each semester.

c. If the recipient is approved to hold the scholarship on a part-time basis, the scholarship payment will be 50% of the full-time semester payments and the Scholarship will be extended by one semester for each semester that the recipient is approved to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis.

d. Deferral and/or suspension of the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior permission of the DVCISS.

e. Recipients may transfer the scholarship to an alternative undergraduate degree. The duration of the scholarship will remain as the full-time duration of the original full-time degree the recipient received the scholarship for, unless the new degree is a shorter duration, in which the scholarship duration will be reduced to the full-time duration of the new degree.

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 of the DVCISS, 

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.