August 22, 2019
In what could be a game changer for Queensland school leavers, the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) will offer automatic scholarships to students with OPs from 1-8.
On Thursday, USQ announced that school leavers who achieve an OP of 1-2 (ATAR 97.5) will automatically receive a scholarship package valued up to $29,000, including an optional study abroad package and leadership development.
Students with an OP 6 (ATAR 90) or above will be awarded a scholarship package valued up to $20,000.
And students with an OP8 (ATAR 85) or above will be awarded up to $6000.
USQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie said it was a decisive move to help keep young people in the regions, and attract students from capital cities to study at USQ.
“We want to ensure our best and brightest are staying in the region, and that we are attracting school leavers from across the State,” Prof Mackenzie said.
“We want to build strong rural and regional communities and we know that providing outstanding educational opportunities and careers locally is the best way of doing just that.”
Prof Mackenzie said the suite of scholarships would apply to students who listed USQ as their number-one choice for QTAC.
The scholarships will be available to school leavers studying full-time at any USQ campus.
“The university scholarship process has been simplified to encourage greater participation from prospective students,” she said.
“The new scholarships are automatically awarded to students who place USQ as their first preference and meet the qualifying results – it’s that simple”.
The scholarships, which are unlimited in number, are the:
- Chancellor’s Excellence Scholarship – awarded to 2019 school leavers with OP2 (ATAR 97.5) or above. Total scholarship value of $29,000 over four years of study (or $23,000 over three years) including a $5000 Study Abroad package, participation in a leadership and development program, plus the opportunity to participate in the Student Ambassador program.
- Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship – awarded to 2019 school leavers with OP6 (ATAR 90) or above. Total scholarship value of $20,000 over four years of study (or $15,000 over three years), plus the opportunity to participate in the Student Ambassador program.
- Executive Dean’s Scholarship – awarded to 2019 school leavers with OP8 (ATAR 85) or above. Total scholarship value of $6000 over four years or $4500 over three years), plus the opportunity to participate in the Student Ambassador program.
USQ has three campuses – in Toowoomba, Ipswich and Springfield – and also delivers degrees online.
According to the 2019 edition of the Good Universities Guide, USQ is the top university in Australia for graduate starting salary, and also number one in Queensland for graduate employment outcomes.
“It may surprise some that a local university is ranked so highly on a national scale, but just because something is in a capital city it doesn’t equate to better,” Prof Mackenzie said.
In 30 key research areas USQ is above world standard, according to Australia’s Research Council’s “Excellence in Research for Australia” report.
For more information about the scholarships, visit the USQ website
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TAFE Careers Day
Many South Burnett students looking for higher education and career options took advantage of the South Burnett Careers Market held at Kingaroy’s TAFE College last month.
The event attracted more than 900 students this year and took over most of the TAFE complex.
Students from Wondai P-9, Yarraman P-9 and St John’s Lutheran School joined other students from St Mary’s Catholic College, Burnett State College (Gayndah), Goomeri P-10 and Kingaroy, Nanango and Murgon State high schools at the Careers Day.
Students had the opportunity to learn more about a range of career choices, try their hand at a few new skills and talk to representatives from major local employers, employment agencies, TAFE and universities.
