Australia (Commonwealth)_The University of Queensland in Australia has recently announced the introduction of “high-achievers scholarships” specifically aimed at Indian students. In an interview with Careers360, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Deborah Terry, shed light on the scholarship program, Australia’s new visa regulations, and the rationale behind the ban on dual visas for international students.
The High Achievers Scholarship is available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Unlike many scholarships, applicants do not need to submit a separate application for consideration. Instead, they are automatically evaluated for this scholarship when they apply for a program at UQ. Successful candidates who meet the eligibility criteria are notified of their scholarship offer alongside their letter of admission to UQ. This scholarship encompasses a substantial 20 percent reduction in tuition fees. To qualify, students must apply for full-time study and meet UQ’s entry, rank, and English language proficiency requirements. Additionally, they should not have received any other scholarship from UQ or any other external organization. However, partial scholarship recipients are also eligible for consideration.
Explaining the focus on Indian students, Vice-Chancellor Terry emphasized the university’s longstanding academic ties with India, spanning over five decades. The aim is to extend this opportunity to high-achieving students from India, fostering a seamless exchange of knowledge, expertise, and innovation between the two nations.
Currently, the University of Queensland hosts a thriving community of over 1,350 Indian students in the ongoing semester. This robust presence underscores UQ’s appeal and popularity among Indian students seeking higher education opportunities in Australia.
UQ offers a diverse array of degree programs, catering to both undergraduate and postgraduate students across various disciplines. The university’s comprehensive offerings were recognized when it was ranked as Australia’s most comprehensive university in April of the current year. The government of Queensland’s substantial investments in sectors such as medicine, green energy, and clean energy align closely with UQ’s research and teaching endeavors. Moreover, the Study Queensland Talent Programme supplements UQ’s academic programs by honing students’ employability skills and connecting them with alumni and potential employers.
Highlighting the programs favored by Indian students, Vice-Chancellor Terry mentioned that in 2023, the most popular courses included doctoral studies in philosophy (PhD), postgraduate programs in business, master of food science and technology, postgraduate programs in biotechnology, and a bachelor of engineering.
Touching upon recent changes in Australian visa regulations, Vice-Chancellor Terry elaborated on the closure of the dual-study loophole. This new policy restricts students from switching educational institutions midway through their studies. This measure was implemented by the Australian government on August 26, 2023, with the aim of safeguarding the integrity of the international education system and supporting genuine international students. Investigations had identified misuse of ‘concurrent enrollment’ as an integrity concern, prompting this action. The data revealed a sharp spike in enrollments in the first half of 2023, with 17,000 new enrolments compared to approximately 10,500 for the same period in 2019 and 2022 combined.
Regarding the potential impact on student numbers, Vice-Chancellor Terry expressed confidence that the new policy would not lead to a decrease in student enrollment. The University of Queensland remains committed to fostering educational ties with India and is dedicated to attracting, supporting, and welcoming students from the country. This policy change is not anticipated to adversely affect the influx of students to UQ.
Addressing the housing challenges faced by international students this year, Vice-Chancellor Terry assured that the university has been actively working to alleviate this issue. Prior to the current semester, UQ provided an accommodation guarantee for incoming students. The university offers a range of on-campus accommodations and collaborates with external providers to ensure suitable housing options. Additionally, purpose-built student living facilities off-campus are available. These efforts will continue into the upcoming semester to ensure that students have access to comfortable and secure housing options.
