This scholarship is valued at up to $48,000.

About this scholarship

Established in 2022, this scholarship, generously donated by the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, to commencing students enrolling in the Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation).

Who is a Ramsay Scholar? 

An ACU Ramsay Scholar is a future leader committed to the enrichment of society and the promotion of the common good. In pursuit of this endeavour, you will demonstrate a passion for engaging intellectually with the ideas and important questions that have shaped Western civilisation. 

The essential quality of your intellectual engagement is a critical habit of mind demonstrated through debate and discussion of ideas, and careful consideration of different views and perspectives and the dignity of those who hold them. 

Applications

Applications close: Monday, 13 January 2025

Applications for this scholarship must be made through the ACU Course Browser. Applicants who meet the essential requirements for course admission will be considered for the scholarship.

Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation) | ACU courses

Scholarship type

Merit

Value

• The value and payment type will differ according to the recipient’s study load, see below for further details.

Full-Time Scholarship Awards

• Full-time study is defined as enrolment in a minimum of 30 credit points (0.375 EFTSL) per semester.
• The scholarship is valued at up to maximum of $48,000 for 1.5 years of full-time study.
• Scholars enrolled in a minimum of 30 credit points (0.375 EFTSL) per semester will receive $16,000 each semester. 
• Scholars from remote areas will receive $3,000 of the scholarship in the first week of their first semester to help with start-up costs. They will receive the remaining $13,000 after the census date.
• Scholars from non-remote areas will receive $2,500 of the scholarship in the first week of semester to help with start-up costs. They will receive the remaining $13,500 after the census date.
• In subsequent semesters, Scholars will receive $16,000 after the census date, subject to full-time enrolment.
• Scholars who have received the full scholarship but have not completed their program of study in 1.5 years, may remain enrolled in order to complete the award, but will be ineligible to receive further scholarship payments. 

Part-Time Scholarship Awards - Full-Fee Paying Students

• This scholarship is valued at up to a maximum of $30,000 for up to 3 years of part-time study.
• Scholars must be enrolled in a minimum of 40 credit points (0.5 EFTSL) per year.
• Scholarships are paid on a pro-rata basis, comprising $2,500 per 10 credit point unit (0.125 EFTSL) enrolled, up to a maximum of $10,000 per calendar year.
• Scholars from remote areas will receive $1,500 of the scholarship in the first week of the first semester to help with start-up costs. They will receive the remaining scholarship allowance after the census date, as per their enrolment load.
• Scholars from non-remote areas will receive $1,250 of the scholarship in the first week of the first semester to help with start-up costs. They will receive the remaining scholarship allowance according to their enrolment load after the census date.

Part-Time Scholarship Awards - Commonwealth Supported (CSP) Students

• This scholarship is valued at up to a maximum of $24,000, for up to 3 years of part-time study.
• Scholars must be enrolled in a minimum of 40 credit points (0.5 EFTSL) per year.
• Scholarships are paid on a pro-rata basis, comprising $2000 per 10 credit point unit (0.125 EFTSL) enrolled, up to a maximum of $8,000 per calendar year
• Scholars from remote areas will receive $1,500 of the scholarship in the first week of the first semester to help with start-up costs. They will receive the remaining scholarship allowance after the census date, as per their enrolment load.
• Scholars from non-remote areas will receive $1,250 of the scholarship in the first week of the first semester to help with start-up costs. They will receive the remaining scholarship allowance according to their enrolment load after the census date.

Student type

Future or Commencing Students
  

Eligibility

This scholarship is open to those who meet all the following criteria:

• Citizenship: Domestic
• Course: Enrolment in the Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation)
• Campus: North Sydney
• Year Level: commencing in Semester 1, 2025
• Minimum GPA of 4.0 (on the ACU seven-point scale, or equivalent)
• Recipients may not hold any other ACU scholarship in addition to the ACU Ramsay Scholarship.

Application process

Applicants will be required to provide the following as part of the application for admission:

• Written submission
• Resumé
• Essay
• Interview (shortlisted applicants only) 
• Details of academic achievements

For details on how to apply please visit: Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation) | ACU courses.

Selection criteria

Applications are assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• Academic merit
• Alignment with Ramsay Attributes demonstrated through:
  • leadership qualities
  • commitment to the enrichment of society
  • passion for intellectual engagement with ideas and great questions that have shaped Western Civilisation
  • critical habit of mind demonstrated through capacity to debate and discuss ideas, and to consider different views and perspectives.
• Alignment with the ACU Mission as demonstrated through evidence of commitment to the:
  • pursuit of truth
  • dignity of the human person
  • common good
• Alignment with ACU Strategic Focus Areas of: 
  • opportunity: commitment to enriching society through learning and knowledge,
  • innovation: cultivation of imagination 
  • ethics: willingness to develop the highest ethical standards in self, others and society generally.
• Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed by the selection panel.

Selection process

Applicants will be shortlisted and selected by the Ramsay Scholarship Selection Panel comprising of senior ACU and Ramsay Centre staff. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview with the Selection Panel. 

Applicants may receive offers prior to the closing date of the scholarship. This scholarship may close prior to the closing date if all scholarships are allocated.

Ongoing requirements

To remain eligible for this scholarship, recipients are required to maintain the following:

• Enrolment in the Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation) 
• Recipients must maintain the minimum study load for their respective scholarship.
• Minimum Pass grade for all units in which they were enrolled in the previous study period.
• Recipients may not hold any other ACU scholarship in addition to the ACU Ramsay Scholarship.