The Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students has been working with the University of Oxford to establish two annual Charlie Perkins Scholarships for Australian Indigenous students to study at the University of Oxford from 2010.
The Scholarships have been established to provide two talented Indigenous Australians each year with the opportunity to undertake postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.
These postgraduate scholarships are particularly directed towards Indigenous Australians who have the potential to become leaders in their field of study and in their communities. The first two Charlie Perkins Scholars are being funded by the Australian Government, the British Government (through the Chevening program) and Rio Tinto.
A panel of prominent Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, together with a representative of the British Government, will select the Charlie Perkins Scholars.
Participating Colleges
The Scholarships will be tenable at a number of participating colleges at the University of Oxford. At this stage Balliol College, Corpus Christi College, Green Templeton College, Jesus College, Keble College, Linacre College, St Catherine's College, Trinity College and Wolfson College have all agreed to join as participating colleges. A number of other colleges are currently considering coming on board.
Location
The postgraduate Scholarships are offered for study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
Financial value and details
The value of each Perkins Scholarship will be between £33,000 and £45,000 per year (approximately $60,000-$80,000), depending on the scholarship-holder’s course of study, for up to three years.
This covers university and college fees, travel cost and £13,500 (approximately $24,000) per year for living expenses.
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be of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent |
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have tertiary qualifications |
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be accepted into any graduate degree program offered at the University of Oxford - it should be noted that this will require a First Class Honours degree, upper Second Class Honours degree or equivalent. |
Selection of successful applicants will be based on the academic success of the candidates and their potential to contribute as leaders and role models.
When and how to apply
Before applying interested candidates should check the University of Oxford website to clarify exact entry requirements for their chosen course/s.
Applications for the 2011-2012 Charlie Perkins Scholarships will open on Monday 15 November 2010.
Applications will close at 5pm AEDST on Friday 28 January 2011.
Applicants will firstly need to apply directly to the University of Oxford for admission to study (please check deadlines) and secondly to the Trust for a Scholarship.
Only applicants who are accepted to the University of Oxford will be eligible to receive the Charlie Perkins postgraduate Scholarships.
Before applying interested candidates should contact us for further information and to discuss college selection.
Read more on how to apply for a postgraduate Scholarship.
Background
More about the Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students
The Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students was formed in 2002 in memory of the late Dr Charlie Perkins AO. The Trust was initially set up as the Charlie Perkins Children’s Trust to assist Indigenous children in the following areas:
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improving health and wellbeing |
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education and training |
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research into improving the status of Indigenous children |
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addressing the welfare of Indigenous children |
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making donations to cultural organisations that promote issues relevant to Indigenous children. |
In 2008 the purpose was expanded to include students.
Read more on the work of the Charlie Perkins Trust.
The legacy of Charlie Perkins
Charlie Perkins always strived to do things considered unattainable for Aboriginal people. In the early 1960s he was wondering if he could go to university at a time when no Indigenous Australian had studied at a university anywhere. Almost 50 years on, as far as we are aware, no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student has studied for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at Oxford, in spite of the fact that many leaders from around the developed and developing world launch their careers there.
As Charlie once said:
“When I was playing against Oxford I thought how odd it was that I, an Aborigine, was playing soccer against all these university characters. That day it started going through my mind that I would like to go to university one day. There on that Oxford soccer field I began to think, ‘Geez, it’s lovely around here… I wonder if I could go to university?’ I had thought about it before but on that particular day it came home to me with force because of these surroundings, the atmosphere and the people I met there. One’s life turns about unexpected events.”
The Charlie Perkins Trust
Inspired by and in memory of Dr Charlie Perkins, the Trust has established a scholarship scheme which will give talented Indigenous Australians the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford.
The Trust, working with the Aurora Project, has also produced a comprehensive handbook for Indigenous students outlining 121 scholarship opportunities for postgraduate study in Australia and overseas.
Over 98% of the 8,500+ Australian Indigenous students study at 35 of Australia’s 90 tertiary institutions. To publicise the Perkins and other available postgraduate scholarships, we will be visiting each of those universities with The Indigenous students' guide to postgraduate scholarships in Australia and overseas to inform students of the opportunities and encourage them to apply.
Please contact us for more information on the Charlie Perkins Scholarships or order a copy of the Guide.
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