Issue 4, 2007
News
Macquarie University reforms make getting into uni fairer
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Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz |
Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz recently announced major reforms of the University's scholarship program and admissions procedures that will give all students a fairer chance of attending Macquarie University.
Professor Schwartz said that at a time when a tertiary education in Australia was becoming more expensive, universities had an ethical responsibility to ensure the best and brightest students could access a first-class university education.
"Australian universities have tended to rely on a single entry mark - such as the Universities Admissions Index - to rank applicants, but these may not always be the best indicator of a person's aptitude to undertake tertiary level studies," he said.
"By using a combination of application methods including an application letter, a UAI rank and an aptitude test, we hope to be able to select the students who really deserve to be at university."
To help ensure these students have the financial ability to study, Macquarie University is also revamping its scholarship scheme in 2008, and committing an extra $700,000 to it in the first year, Professor Schwartz added.
"From next year, when determining whether a high-achieving applicant will receive a scholarship, Macquarie University will consider the applicant's academic merit relative to their opportunity," he said. "This scholarship scheme is unique in Australia because it not only generously rewards students who have demonstrated academic excellence, but it also has an equally strong commitment to equity."
The flagship of the scheme will be the Macquarie University Merit Scholar Program, which guarantees all domestic students with a UAI of 98.5 or above access to a host of opportunities such as advanced programs, internships and international studies. Merit Scholars may also apply for a non-deferrable scholarship of $12,000 per annum.
A number of generous equity scholarships will also be offered by Macquarie to assist students with their education costs and/or accommodation costs.
"These initiatives are about giving students 'a fair go', a traditional Australian value, and about ensuring that higher education in Australian remains a force for social mobility," Professor Schwartz said.
Macquarie University's trial of the UNITEST aptitude test will begin in December, after the HSC is concluded, in time for the 2008 student cohort. Students will be able to apply online to sit the test from the end of August.
Scholarship information is available on the website www.reg.mq.edu.au/undergrad/current/scholarship/new.html