BlogUniversityTop 12 Most Lucrative Uni Scholarships in Australia for Year 12 Students

Top 12 Most Lucrative Uni Scholarships in Australia for Year 12 Students

In Year 12 and thinking about applying for a uni scholarship for next year?

We’ve rounded up the top 12 most lucrative university scholarships for domestic students in Australia!

Check them out below!

#12 University of Queensland Excellence Scholarship $6k/yr

This scholarship offered by the University of Queensland is open for school-leavers who have demonstrated outstanding academic, leadership, and/or major community service achievements in Years 11 and 12 and have achieved a minimum ATAR of 99.00. 

Monetary Value

The UQ Excellence Scholarship is worth $6000 per year of undergraduate study up to 4 years.

Application Process

In order to apply, you’ll need the following:

  • Your QTAC Application number
  • Proof of the your most outstanding achievements across Years 11 and 12 in relation to leadership and community service

Selection for the scholarship is provided on the basis of a written application, which is then decided by the UQ Scholarship panel.

Learn more about the UQ Excellence Scholarship!

#11 Melbourne University Chancellor’s Scholarship $5k-$10k/yr

This scholarship offered by the University of Melbourne seeks to reward high-achieving students who have received exceptional results in their Year 12 studies. To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must receive a minimum ATAR of 99.90, unless applying for a Bachelor of Music (99.85) or be of Indigenous Australian descent (90.00).

Monetary Value

The Melbourne Uni Chancellor’s Scholarship includes a fee remission plus is worth up to $17,500 – $32,500 with an annual living allowance for up to 3 years of $5000 for students who studied in Victoria and $10,000 for those who studied outside Victoria. It also includes the Melbourne Global Scholars Award worth up to $2,500 for an approved period of overseas study as an Exchange or Study Abroad student.

Application Process

Students who have received the above minimum ATAR of 99.90 are guaranteed a scholarship when applying for The University of Melbourne through VTAC.

Check out more information on the Chancellor’s Scholarship!

#10 Macquarie University Leaders and Achievers Scholarship $10k/yr

The Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Scholarship rewards high-achieving students who have also demonstrated initiative and commitment through leadership, community, sport or casual work activities.

Monetary Value

The Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Scholarship is valued at $10,000 per year for up to 5 years.

Application Process

Scholarship recipients should apply via the Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme. 

  1. Select the course you would like to receive a scholarship in
  2. Obtain referees, which include a school referee such as your school principal or year coordinator, and a referee for each of the activities you have included in your application who are familiar with your participation.
  3. Prepare your responses to the Leadership and Community Engagement questions.
  4. Apply online.

Get more info on the Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Scholarship.

#9 UNSW Women In Engineering Scholarship Program $10k/yr

The UNSW Women in Engineering program is designed to raise awareness of engineering as a potential career option for women, encouraging and assisting high-achieving female students interested in engineering become lateral thinkers who are creative, problem solvers and build management skills.

Monetary Value

The UNSW Women in Engineering Scholarship Program is worth $10,000 a year for up to 4 years.

Application Process

Applicants are assessed based on:

  • Academic Merit
  • Demonstrated or potential leadership skills
  • Extra-curricular activities (sporting, cultural activities, volunteer/work experiences)
  • Aptitude and commitment to studies in an area of Engineering

You can read more about the scholarship!

#8 UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholarship $10k/yr

Empowering, extending and creating opportunities for high-achieving, high-potential students. The UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholarship is one of Australia’s premier scholarship programs, made for the future leaders of Western Australia.

Together the Fogarty Foundation and the University of Western Australia are enriching local community by investing in exceptional young people who use their skills, abilities and commitment to lead positive change.

Monetary Value

Up to 15 scholarships are awarded to Year 12 high school students from WA.

Each scholarship is valued at $10,000 per year and is available throughout the students’ undergraduate and postgraduate studies at UWA, which may 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.

Other Benefits

  • 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.
  • Academic mentoring from a UWA academic faculty member to guide the Scholar’s university journey.
  • Access to scholarships for accommodation at university colleges.
  • Leadership opportunities allowing Scholars to lead projects, initiate ventures and act as an ambassador for the University.
  • The Scholars Enterprise Investment Program for Scholar led enterprises, particularly focused on next generation, technology businesses.
  • The Scholars and Alumni Network, connecting Scholars with exceptional young people who support, mentor and inspire each other.

Application Process

Scholarships are awarded on three criteria:
  1. Academic achievement*
  2. Significant achievements in areas such as sports, arts, community involvement, initiative, leadership and enterprise
  3. Demonstration of the Core Competencies of a UWA Fogarty Scholar
*To be eligible to apply, students must reasonably expect to achieve an ATAR of 98. Students attending Tier A Broadway UWA identified schools must reasonably expect to achieve an ATAR of 95.

Applications are assessed through an initial online application that includes:

  • Evidence of Achievements and Activities: A demonstration of a student’s achievement and activities in Year 11 and Year 12 in relation to sports, arts, community involvement, leadership and academic achievements (in at least 3 out of the 5 categories, including documentary evidence). Refer to the Applicant Matrix for further details.
  • Principal Endorsement: A signed School Principal Endorsement Form from the student’s school principal verifying the student’s predicted ATAR.
  • Enterprise (optional): The option to include a short description of an activity or initiative they have developed that demonstrates enterprising aptitude.
  • High achievement related to opportunity (optional): The option to include a demography profile and short description of a significant hardship that has impacted daily life and the motivation and hard work shown by the student in overcoming this hardship.

Students shortlisted from the online application assessment will be invited for an interview. Interviews are usually held in the July school holiday period.

Learn more about the UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholarship!

#7 University of Queensland Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship $6k-$12k/yr

This scholarship offered by the University of Queensland is open for school-leavers who have achieved exceptional academic results. The scholarship seeks to reward those who have achieved high results in their Year 12 studies. 

Monetary Value

The UQ Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship is worth $6000 – $12,000 per year of undergraduate study for up to 5 years.

Application Process

Applications open before the release of ATARs in August. Awarded applicants must receive a minimum ATAR of 99.90 to be awarded the scholarship. Selection for the scholarship is provided on the basis of a written application, which is then decided by the UQ Scholarship panel.

Find more information on the scholarship and application process!

#6 UTS Bachelor of Information Technology Co-operative Scholarship Program $16.5k/yr

The Bachelor of Information Technology Co-operative Scholarship is a co-op program that aims to give scholars strong practical experience in the IT field with the hope that they will become leaders in information technology in Australian organisations.

Monetary Value

The UTS Bachelor of Information Technology Co-operative Scholarship is worth $16,500 a year, or $49,500 in total, including 2 industry placements.

Application Process

  1. Submit your UTS BIT online application which requires you to submit your most recent Year 12 results, most recent school report and answer several questions
  2. Submit your UAC application and nominate the Bachelor of Information Technology (UAC code 603210) as one of your preferences with UAC.
  3. If you’ve submitted a strong application, UTS will invite you to attend a face-to-face interview.
  4. Receive an ATAR between 85 – 99.95.

Read more about the UTS BIT Co-op Scholarship!

#5 UTS Women in Engineering and IT Cooperative Scholarship $16.5k/yr

The UTS Women in Engineering and IT Cooperative Scholarship is a co-op program that seeks to attract high-achieving female students who are interested in pursuing a career in engineering or IT. The scholarship includes 3 industry placements as well as mentoring, networking, leadership and professional development opportunities.

Monetary Value

The UTS Women in Engineering Scholarship is worth a total of $66,000, or $16,500 a year, including 3 internships.

Application Process

  1. Candidates are required to submit an online application form that includes their most recent Year 12 results, UAC preferences, most recent school report and answer several questions
  2. Selected applicants will be invited to attend an interview
  3. Successful applicants will be notified after the release of ATAR results

You can find more information on the Women in Engineering and IT Cooperative Scholarship here!

#4 Macquarie University Cooperative Education Program $21.6k/yr

Macquarie Uni offers a co-op program in Actuarial Studies. This co-op program seeks to attract high-achieving, motivated students and help them gain practical experience with a leading organisation whilst undertaking their studies. The program aims to provide students with the opportunity to improve their employability in the workplace and build a professional network.

Monetary Value

Macquarie Uni’s Cooperative Education Program is worth $21,600 per year for a maximum of 4 years plus provides 15 months of placements with three different organisations.

Application Process

  1. In UAC, you must put either of the eligible Macquarie Uni undergraduate courses as your first preference
  2. Complete the online application form which includes 3 questions
  3. You may then be selected for an interview
  4. If you are successful at the interview, you’ll receive a conditional offer pending your final selection rank

Learn more about Macquarie Uni’s Co-Op Program.

#3 UNSW Co-op Program $21.6k/yr

UNSW’s Co-Op Program is available for school-leavers who have displayed excellent leadership and community service. Those candidates considered for the program must meet the minimum ATAR requirements of their course without adjustment factors. The program offers successful candidates: 

  • Leadership and mentoring opportunities 
  • Industry training 
  • Networking opportunities 
  • Financial support 

Monetary Value

UNSW’s Co-Op Program is worth $21,600 for up to 4 years. 

Application Process

The application process for the UNSW Co-Op Program is broadly composed of four steps:

  1. Online application process 
  2. Completion of the Schools Assessment Page (SAP) by your careers advisor/school representative 
  3. If selected for an interview, candidates will submit a video introduction called a ‘Video Snapshot’ 
  4. Successful applicants based upon the online application and SAP will be invited for an interview

More information can be found at Co-op Program Scholarships.

#2 ANU Tuckwell Scholarship $26k/yr

Each year, 25 school-leavers are awarded a Tuckwell Scholarship to attend the Australian National University in Canberra. The scholarship is highly competitive, and provides students with financial support throughout their university degree, leadership opportunities and access to specialised support and mentoring services for the duration of their scholarship. 

Monetary Value

ANU’s Tuckwell Scholarship is worth $26,000 per annum for the length of an undergraduate degree.

Application Process

The application process for the Tuckwell Scholarship is complex: 

  1. Initial applications are due in May – this stage requires references from your teachers and completion of the scholarship application form 
  2. If successful from Stage 1, participants will be invited for a video interview and will be required to submit a written reference for their principal 
  3. If successful, students will be placed on a short-list of 75 students. Those students selected on the short-list will be eligible for the ANU ‘All-Rounders’ scholarship. Subsequent in-person interviews will be conducted to determine the final 25 successful applicants. 

Learn more about the scholarship on offer!

#1 University of Wollongong’s Ramsay Scholarship $32k/yr

UoW’s Ramsay Scholarship is awarded to 30 high-achieving students who wish to study a Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation as a single undergraduate degree or double degree. Scholarship recipients will receive access to a dedicated study lounge, small class sizes, academic mentoring and an international return airfare for an approved overseas experience as part of their studies.

Monetary Value

The Ramsay Scholarship is worth $32,000 per year for up to 5 years.

Application Process

  1. Online application which includes a written essay on one of three given topics and your most recent academic results
  2. Invitations to scholarship interviews
  3. Scholarship interviews held at UOW Wollongong campus
  4. Offers for UOW Ramsay Scholarships

You can read more about the Ramsay Scholarship.

Looking for more uni scholarships? Check out our master list of uni scholarships you can apply for in NSW universities!


Grace Mitchell hopes to one day stand in front of a Year 12 Modern History class teaching the history of the Soviet Union, or have an insightful discussion with a Year 10 English class on race relations in To Kill a Mockingbird. Either way, Grace is beginning her teaching journey studying a Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences)/Bachelor of Arts at Sydney University. Grace loves to learn new things, write short stories and opinion pieces, read, and play contemporary Australian compositions on the clarinet. When she is not learning – if that is possible – Grace loves to sit and watch the sun set.

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