One of the important questions facing students considering a university education is how do I pay for it? Providing support for students with financial need is one of the core values of the University of Tasmania’s philosophy.
“We recognise that financial constraints can sometimes discourage bright and promising students from applying to the University of Tasmania,” said Young Dawkins, Executive Director of Advancement.
That is precisely why we work so hard to identify philanthropic support for scholarships across a wide range of academic disciplines and activities.
A focus on fundraising for scholarships began at the University with the formation of the University Foundation in 1993. Since then an endowment fund of some $47 million has been built up, thanks to the generous donations of alumni, individuals and others who deeply believe in the value of a University of Tasmania education.
The University currently awards more than 900 scholarships and prizes each year, and that number is growing. In 2016, the Foundation received more than $2 million in gifts specifically designated to scholarship support.
Thanks to this generosity, the University offers a wide range of scholarships. The University’s newest scholarship was established last month by the iconic Tasmanian company Blundstone. The scholarship is designed to support students in the new, two-year Associate Degree program, with a special focus on individuals pursuing the Associate Degree in Agribusiness.
“We are now a global brand with growing sales and production capacity,” said Steve Gunn, CEO of Blundstone.
“Our past is extremely important to us, and our farming heartland is at the centre of that.
“These scholarships allow us to give back to a community that has supported us for many years.”
The power of scholarships was on display recently at the University Dinner in Burnie, where Bachelor of Agriculture student Lauren Viney spoke about the impact the two scholarships she received had on her academic career.
Scholarship recipient Lauren Viney speaking at the Burnie Foundation dinner.
The scholarships took a lot of pressure of my shoulders and allowed me to focus on my studies, she said.
“They allowed me to place my energy and time in getting the most out of my education and achieving the goals I had set for myself, enabling me to work hard and to the best of my ability.”
Another scholarship was recently established by alumnus Father Michael Tate, who has established a fund to allow a University graduate to spend a year at the University of Oxford to study theology, a path Father Tate followed in the 1970s.
“Oxford was a transformative experience in every sphere,” said Father Tate.
If one or two Tasmanians can have a similar experience, that will be enough for me to die a happy man.
To find out more about scholarships that could assist with your studies at the University of Tasmania, visit www.utas.edu.au/scholarships or phone the Scholarships Office on 1300 361 928.
This story features in the University's latest Open To Talent magazine.