News about Aboriginal country and culture in Western Australia

24 July 2012

Applications Open for a Chance to Visit Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the UK

Would you like to head overseas to the UK on a tour of Cambridge and Oxford Universities?

The Charlie Perkins Scholarship Trust and The Aurora Project are seeking applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university undergraduates to participate in a UK tour of these highly regarded universities in October this year. The visit may also include a stopover at Harvard and New York Universities in the US.

Applicants must have completed at least one year of their university course, and can be in their honours year. Overall preference will be given to students in their final years of study, but university graduates who are wishing to undertake further study are also encouraged to apply. The successful applicants will be chosen primarily on the basis of academic achievement (Distinction or higher), but also on the basis of their potential to become leaders in their field and in their communities. There is also the opportunity for these students to become Charlie Perkins Scholars in the future.

The project aims to provide Indigenous students with the opportunity to meet with academics in their field at Cambridge and Oxford. The trip will take place over one week in mid-October, with the possibility of extension to a second week if the US leg proceeds. Costs associated with travel, accommodation and meals will all be covered.

To be considered, applicants should email the following documents to fi.belcher@auroraproject.com.au by 5pm on Wednesday 1 August 2012:

- a cover letter
- a curriculum vitae
- an official transcript of university results (including mid-year results if available)
- confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent through a signed, written statement (including common seal) of an Aboriginal Heritage Association, Aboriginal Corporation or Land Council in the community where you live or have lived
- details for two academic referees (email and telephone numbers)


Any questions about the application process should be emailed to Fi Belcher at the above email address, and include a contact phone number.

To read about the experiences of students who attended last year's trip, visit the Charlie Perkins Trust 2011 testimonials. Four students from last year's tour will be commencing study at Cambridge and Oxford in October this year, three of which received Charlie Perkins Scholarships.

Applications for this year's Charlie Perkins Scholarships will open Monday 6 August 2012, and must be submitted by 5pm AEST on Friday 5 October 2012. For more details about Charlie Perkins Scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge, including eligibility and application requirements, visit the Charlie Perkins website.

If you are interested in staying up to date with Australian scholarships for Indigenous students, visit http://www.indigenousscholarships.com.au/