2022 - Don Watts High Achiever Scholarship

Status: Closed

Applications open: 29/09/2021
Applications close: 26/11/2021

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About this scholarship
Description/Applicant information

The prestigious Don Watts High Achiever Scholarship has been developed by Curtin University to encourage, support, and acknowledge academically outstanding students who have demonstrated excellence in the fields of leadership, community service, sport, arts/culture or entrepreneurship.

Recipients will be provided with opportunities that enhance their employability and position them for other prestigious scholarships such as the John Monash, Fulbright and Rhodes scholarships.

Interview date has been updated. See "Application Process" below for details.

Student type

• Current Students

Faculty

• Centre for Aboriginal Studies
• Faculty of Business and Law
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Science & Engineering
  • Science courses
  • Engineering courses
  • Western Australian School of Mines (WASM)

Course type

• Undergraduate

Citizenship

• Australian Citizen
• Australian Permanent Resident
• New Zealand Citizen
• Permanent Humanitarian Visa

Scholarship base

• Merit Based

Value

The Don Watts High Achiever Scholarship will provide the following support for the expected remaining duration of the undergraduate degree (based on a full-time study load of 200 credits per year).

• A total value of $12,000 per annum paid as a cash stipend of $6,000 per semester. The amount can be used at the recipient’s discretion to contribute towards educational related expenses
• One-off payment of up to $6,000 for an international student exchange/leadership development opportunity and networking. Payment is subject to enrolment/admission to the recipient's intended program.

Scholarship Details
Eligible courses

All undergraduate courses

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the Don Watts High Achiever Scholarship:

• Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (PR visa holder), New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holder
• Enrolled in, or received an offer of admission into a Curtin undergraduate course at Curtin University in WA by the scholarship closing date; which upon completion, their qualification will be awarded by Curtin University
• Enrolled at Curtin in Semester 1, 2022
• Have completed  200 credits, including *Credits from Recognised Learning (CRL) of study in an undergraduate degree by the end of Semester 2, 2021:
  • Applications from students who have only completed 100 credits by the closing date of the scholarship will be accepted but must have completed 200 credits by results release in semester 2, 2021
• Minimum Course Weighted Average (CWA) of 80 by results release for Semester 2, 2021
• Ability to demonstrate excellence in one (or more) of the following:
  
  • Leadership
  • Community service
  • Sport
  • Arts/Culture
  • Entrepreneurship
• Must not be in receipt of another Curtin scholarship
• Willing to provide feedback on their scholarship experience, if requested

Please note:

*Credits from Recognised Learning (CRL)

• For applicants transferring courses (within Curtin or from another university) and receiving CRL for units previously undertaken, it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their CRL is completed by the results release for Semester 2, 2021 in order to meet the eligibility criteria. Applicants who do not have CRL finalised by this date (1 December 2021) will not be considered

Students below are not eligible for this scholarship:

• Enrolled through Curtin OUA undertaking single subjects in the "Open Universities Australia" non-award course
• Enrolled in a not-for-degree course
• Students from all other institutions who are enrolled in a Curtin course as part of an exchange program or cross-institutional studies where their qualification will be awarded by their home institution

Students who are currently in receipt of another Curtin scholarship

• Students who are currently in receipt of another Curtin scholarship (continuing basis) may apply for a Don Watts High Achiever Scholarship. However, they will be required to relinquish their Curtin scholarship in order to accept the Don Watts High Achiever Scholarship, if successful.

Application process

Step 1: Apply

• Application form can be accessed via the ‘Apply Online’ button on the top right-hand side of this page
• The link will take you through to your OASIS account log-in for online application

Step 2: Complete

• Complete the application form online
• Application form can be saved at any point of the process
• Tips on how to complete your application can be found under the Applying for scholarships link on the scholarships website

Step 3: Submit

• Closing date listed at top of page and within scholarships channel on OASIS
• Incomplete applications will be assessed as unsuccessful
• Once submitted, application status will change to submitted
  

Step 4: Receipt

• Application receipt will be sent to student email once application has been submitted

Step 5: Assessment

• Applications will be assessed by an assessment panel using the following criteria:
  • Academic merit
  • Leadership potential
  • Responses to questions in application form
  • Demonstrated excellence in the fields of leadership, community service, sport, arts/culture or entrepreneurship
  • Performance in interview

Step 6: Shortlist for Interview

• Shortlisted applicants will be sent interview date and time via student email late-January 2022
• Interviews are tentatively scheduled for 7 February 2022, however, this is subject to change
  
• Shortlisted applicants must be available for designated interview time
• Unsuccessful applicants will be sent a notification via scholarships channel on OASIS

Step 7: Outcome

• Successful and unsuccessful interview applicants will be notified of the outcome via scholarships channel on OASIS within approximately 2 weeks of the interview

Step 8: Acceptance

• Successful applicants must return acceptance documents by deadline listed in scholarships channel on OASIS

Please note:

• Scholarship will be awarded if there are applicants of sufficient merit
• Scholarship will commence from first semester of study
• Scholarship is not transferrable to another major, course or university

Enrolment Requirements

Recipients must meet all of the following:

• Remain enrolled in an undergraduate course
• Maintain a full-time study load of at least 200 credit points each year at Curtin University
• Maintain a Course Weighted Average (CWA) of 80 or above each semester
• Pass all units attempted each semester

Changes to Enrolment

If a recipient intends to change their enrolment, they must also apply in writing to the Scholarships Office ([email protected] ) for approval BEFORE the change. The Scholarships Office will advise how the change will affect their scholarship.

Withdrawal or Terminated from units or course: A recipient who withdraws from their units or course of study, or has been terminated from their studies will become ineligible for the continuation of the scholarship, will not receive any further payments and will be required to repay to Curtin University the stipend awarded for that study period if applicable.

Cancellation of Scholarship: Notwithstanding any provision above, Curtin reserves the rights, at its sole discretion, to cancel the award of, or continuity of, the scholarship where the sponsor ceases to fund the scholarship.

Enquiries

Scholarships Office

E: [email protected]

T: 1300 222 888

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions

Further Information

Application Advice

Tips on how to complete your application can be found under the Applying for scholarships link on the scholarships website.

Students may apply for as many scholarships as they are eligible for, and if successful, will be awarded the highest value scholarship. If students are successful in receiving an offer for more than one scholarship valued the same, they will have the opportunity to select their preferred scholarship. 

For further information about holding more than one scholarship contact the Scholarships Office .

Centrelink

For advice on your Centrelink payments and how your scholarship could affect your payment please see the Department of Human Services or contact a Centrelink Office.  If you require a letter about your scholarship for Centrelink, please contact the Scholarships Office. 

Taxation

Generally scholarship money paid to full-time students is not treated as taxable income, however if your study load is less than 75 credits (part-time) your scholarship money is not  tax exempt. Other than the full-time study requirement, the general rule is that scholarships are exempt from taxation unless:

• It is a condition of the scholarship that a recipient is required to undertake activities that are of use, help or benefit to the scholarship provider - then the student is rendering a service by agreeing to undertake those activities;
• An award is received by a student where the scholarship is not provided principally for educational purposes.
• During or upon completion of the degree for which the scholarship is awarded a recipient is required to become, or shall continue to be, an employee of the funding body; or

The Australian Tax Office has a tool  to help you determine if your scholarship is taxable.  For expert advice please contact the Australian Taxation Office  or your accountant when completing your annual Tax Return.  If a letter regarding your scholarship is required for taxation purposes, please contact the Scholarships Office .

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