Avant Scholarship

1. Background

a. The Avant Scholarship was established in 2026 to support students enrolled in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the University of Sydney who demonstrate strong academic potential and a commitment to contributing to an equitable and inclusive medical workforce.

b. The Scholarship recognises that students from certain backgrounds may experience systemic, social or structural barriers to accessing and progressing through medical education. Accordingly, the Scholarship seeks to support students from under-represented backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, regional and remote areas, socioeconomically disadvantaged circumstances, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, and sexuality and gender diverse communities.

c. The Scholarship has been generously donated by the Avant Foundation, reflecting its commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and opportunity within the medical profession and to strengthening the future medical workforce through equitable access to education.

2. Eligibility

a. Applicants must be enrolled full time in the first year of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at the University of Sydney.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit

II. demonstration of financial hardship

III. an interview

IV. personal statement demonstrating

a. their motivation for studying medicine.

b. how the Scholarship would support their progression through the MD program; and

c. commitment to contributing to an equitable, inclusive and socially responsive medical profession.

b. Preference will be given to those demonstrating they identify as belonging to one or more of the following groups:

I. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, as defined in the University of Sydney’s Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy 2015

II. Students from regional and remote backgrounds

III. Students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds (Low SES)

IV. Students living with disability

V. Sexuality and gender diverse (SGD) students

VI. Students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

c. Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an interview.

d. The Scholarship will be awarded by the Head of School and Dean, or their nominated delegate(s).

4. Value

a. The Scholarship value is at $10,000.00 per annum and is tenable for up to 4 years and will be paid as follows:

I. a one-off payment of $10,000 upon receipt of an acceptance form, for a student enrolled in first year Doctor of Medicine program.

II. For a student enrolled in years 2, 3 and 4 of the Doctor of Medicine the Scholarship annual value will be paid in two equal instalments after the census date of each semester.

III. Suspension or deferral of the Scholarship is not permitted.

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

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

VI. No other amount is payable

5. Ongoing eligibility

a. To continue to receive the Scholarship, recipients must:

I. maintain satisfactory academic progress; and

II. successfully complete each year of the Doctor of Medicine program.

b. Recipients who undertake an approved exchange during the tenure of the Scholarship must

achieve a Satisfied Requirements (SR) result in order to receive subsequent payments.

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 Director MD program, Sydney Medical School,

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.