The Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship is one of five scholarship programs offered by Westpac Scholars, with 17 scholarships on offer each year.

Whether your focus is Asia, new technology, or social change, the scholarships offers financial assistance for postgraduate study for talented individuals at Australia’s leading universities. You’ll be chosen for your potential to make a difference to Australia’s future in one of three focus areas:

• Technology and innovation
• Strengthening Australia-Asia ties
• Enabling positive social change
• Building a sustainable future

"If you have a passion, if you love volunteering, if you love doing internships and research, if you’re doing mentoring – anything that shows how you’re participating in your community and how much you love to go out to do things to help people, then you’re a really good candidate for the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship and I would definitely recommend that you apply. It’s such an amazing opportunity."

Kelly MacKinnon
2021 Westpac Scholar

"Receiving this scholarship means the selection committee believes in my ability to become a future leader – an incredibly humbling and motivating thought. I want to become a scientist that communicates well and brings people on-board to help shape the future, as well as put Australia’s science and scientists at the forefront. Being part of Westpac’s program will help me to do this. From having access to people I can learn from and get ideas off the ground with, through to helping me become a better leader with the opportunity to broaden my experience with international travel and new financial stability, I can dedicate time to my research rather than being hampered by working commitments."

Sabrina Davies
2018 Westpac Scholar

“Being a Westpac Scholar means that I am connected to an incredible and growing network of ambitious, passionate and innovative change-makers. The opportunity to reach out for support or to discuss a new idea is met with meaningful assistance and encouragement. The other Westpac Scholars want to see you succeed and will be in your corner the whole way through your academic journey.”

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, applicants are required to:

• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (NZ citizens who are not also Australian citizens are not eligible).
• You have completed your first undergraduate degree after 1 September 2017, OR will complete by 31 December 2022.
• Have achieved or are on track to achieve an average result of H1 or H2A equivalent (approximately 75 WAM).
• Have chosen to undertake a full-time master’s by coursework or research or a PhD at UWA.
• Have chosen a field of study which, for PhD and master’s by research applicants has an ERA four digit FOR rating of ‘well above world standard’ and for master’s by coursework applicants, must be in area of world-class standing.
• Commence study in 2023 (Jan - Dec 2023), not before.
• The proposed program of study:
  • Can be in any field and must be relevant to the Foundation's focus areas
  • Include international opportunities, such as a period of study at an overseas university, an invited presentation at a conference significant to the discipline, or a period of internship or placement at an overseas organisation, which will develop your leadership skills and global networks
  • Underpin a worthy and viable post-study plan that benefits Australia
• Funding requests for the purpose of medical research as defined in the ARC Medical Research Policy available on the Australian Research Council website will not be considered; MD, juris doctor programs or equivalent are also excluded.
• Master’s by coursework programs must be completed within two years.
• Supply two letters of reference – one academic reference and one personal reference.
• PhD and master’s by research applicants must also supply one letter of support from either a supervisor, dean of the faculty or head of school, or equivalent.