Roberta Sykes Scholarship
The Roberta Sykes Scholarship provides supplementary financial assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander postgraduate students who wish to undertake full-time studies at any recognised overseas university. Roberta Sykes scholars must embody academic excellence and demonstrate a commitment to contributing to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The value of the Scholarship is up to a maximum amount of AUD $75,000, paid directly to the recipient in equal instalments at the start of each semester or term, subject to academic progress.
Roberta Sykes Scholarships are administered by the Aurora Education Foundation and jonintly funded by the Australian Government (National Indigenous Australians Agency), the British High Commission (Chevening), Cambridge Australia Scholarships Ltd, Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the University of Cambridge.
This scholarship is for:
Open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students Only
Areas of study:
Any Area of StudyAt Institution:
- Cambridge
- Harvard
- New York University (NYU)
- Other
- Oxford
- University College London
Study Level:
- Doctoral Research
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Postgraduate Research
Study Load:
Full TimeLocation:
Overseas
Applicants must:
Be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and be accepted as such by the community in which they live or have lived;
Provide written confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity from an incorporated Indigenous organisation or Land Council;
Provide written confirmation of enrolment in a postgraduate course at an overseas institution;
Provide a budget outlining how the scholarship funds will be used. The budget must also outline all additional funding and income (a template is provided) and;
Be able to demonstrate how your chosen course of study will support you in contributing to your community and the wider Indigenous community upon your return to Australia.
Please ensure you submit an application with all required documents. Your application will not be considered complete or pass the shortlisting process if all required documents are not submitted by the Scholarship closing date.
The required documents include:
A personal statement of no more than two pages, outlining:
Why you want to study your chosen course;
How you identify with the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community(ies) in which you live, have lived or have ancestral connection to, and the contributions you have made within the community;
Ways in which understanding and completing your chosen course will contribute in tangible, applied ways to advance the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
Written confirmation of full-time enrolment from the relevant university. Alternatively, written confirmation of the application submitted to the relevant university;
Current Curriculum Vitae (CV);
A high-resolution corporate headshot in jpeg format;
A copy of your most up-to-date official academic transcript;
Academic transcripts: official transcripts of your university results (including mid-year if possible);
Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity through a letter stamped with a common seal and signed by the chairperson of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Land Council, in whose area the person lives or has previously lived OR a letter stamped and signed by an authorised delegate of an incorporated Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisation;
Completed budget (there is a downloadable template within the application form);
One written reference from an Elder or senior member of your community to highlight your connection to community and;
Two written academic references highlighting your capabilities and the benefits of completing the chosen course OR;
One academic and one professional written reference highlighting your capabilities and the benefits of completing the chosen course.