Kath Watson Scholarship for Women 2025

The Kath Watson Foundation was established to support female students from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake and/or continue tertiary education and to achieve their full academic potential by reducing the need to work outside of study.

Any vocational education (Certificate IV and above), undergraduate or postgraduate course offered by Swinburne University of Technology.

To be eligible for the Kath Watson Scholarship for Women, applicants must:

1. Meet the following criteria:
   • identify as female
   • 25 years of age or older in the year the scholarship commences
   • an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or holder of a permanent humanitarian visa
2. Meet the following enrolment criteria:
   • be a commencing or continuing Swinburne student in Semester 1, 2025
   • enrolled full-time in an eligible course (see courses eligible in section above)
3. Submit a personal statement (500 words) addressing the following points:
   • a commitment to study
   • career aspirations
4. Demonstrate and provide evidence of financial hardship and educational disadvantage. Disadvantage may include:
   • financial difficulty or low income (Centrelink statement, payslips)
   • disability or medical condition
   • delay or interruption to career or studies because of family responsibilities or illness
   • relocation from a rural or regional area in order to undertake tertiary study
   • English as a second language
   • identification as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
5. Written Reference: Once applications have closed and shortlisting has been completed, all shortlisted applicants will be contacted to provide a personal written reference. This reference should be submitted within 5 days of request and can be written by a teacher, community leader, or employer.

The scholarship is valued at $7,500 per year, for up to three years, paid bi-annually.

From time to time Recognition Awards may be bestowed.

Applicants must complete an online application form and submit with all supporting documentation by 16 March 2025. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered. For assistance preparing your scholarship application, please refer to the Scholarship Help Guide.

Fees and Scholarships Team, Student Administration.
scholarship@swin.edu.au