The UWA Winthrop Scholarship is one of UWA's most prestigious academic scholarships and is named in honour of Sir John Winthrop Hackett KCMG, an influential politician, agriculturalist, editor, and inaugural Chancellor of UWA.

He believed people should be able to utilise their talents without restriction. As such, he was influential in the establishment of free, compulsory, and secular education in Western Australia in 1899.

Winthrop Hackett’s leadership and passion facilitated many civic and cultural improvements across his life, particularly in the Western Australian Community. Our current day Winthrop scholars embody these traits as they are a leader in their community and firm in their convictions and values. A Winthrop scholar is civic minded and invested in the advancement of their community through developing their personal leadership.

Each year, up to ten scholarships valued at $10,000 per annum are awarded to domestic* Year 12 high school students who demonstrate exceptional academic capabilities, can articulate their leadership vision, and demonstrate community and co-curricular achievements.

* An Australian citizen or permanent resident or holder of a Permanent Humanitarian Visa or a New Zealand citizen.

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About the program

Students selected for a UWA Winthrop Scholarship benefit from:

• Comprehensive education scholarship which provides $10,000 per annum to assist in university tuition, accommodation, and general living expenses as well as academic, social and career support to retain exceptional young people to our state and nation.
• St Catherine's College provides scholarships that can assist UWA Winthrop Scholars with the cost of accommodation at St Catherine’s College while undertaking undergraduate studies at the University. An offer of a place at St Catherine's and subsequent application for a College scholarship are required to be eligible.
• Access to the Fogarty Ripple at UWA Leadership Program, a leadership and enterprise program to expand horizons by initiating opportunities for exceptional young people to learn from, and have access to, a network of leaders. which provides opportunities for recipients to learn from, and access to a network of leaders.
• The opportunity to be involved in a University internship.
• Recipients of the scholarship will be invited, and expected, to participate actively in a university prescribed leadership development and mentorship program. This includes membership of the University's mentor scheme, participation in other selected activities and periodic visits to schools to promote university education in general.

How to apply

Scholarships are assessed based on the following core competencies:

1. Academic Excellence*
2. Community Excellence
3. Excellence in Co-Curricular
4. Leadership

*To be eligible to apply, students must reasonably expect to achieve an ATAR of 95.