Uni's earner for learners
By BRUCE McDOUGALL
Daily Telegraph, January 7, 2005
A UNIVERSITY has offered to help students pay their rent, petrol, transport, insurance and computer costs – and already hundreds have put out their hand for assistance.
The University of Western Sydney is offering scholarships worth $2000 each to the most promising students for the extra expenses of starting their studies.
Under the $240,000 SmartStart Scholarship program, students will be allowed to spend the money on any items associated with study or university life.
UWS marketing manager Angelo Kourtis said yesterday more than 500 applications had been received for the 120 scholarships. They will be offered to this year's new students across 39 courses at all six campuses.
New student Gianna Salchi, 18, said the extra money would be a blessing when she began her Bachelor of Performance course.
Ms Salchi, who wants a career in the theatre, said transport costs would be a major issue in her first year at university.
She will travel from her Winmalee home in the Blue Mountains to UWS Penrith campus.
"No one usually thinks about how hard it is for students just out of school to get by financially," Ms Salchi said.
"I'm going to be juggling my bills all year and will have to drive to uni because the campus is about a 6km walk from Kingswood station. That's going to mean petrol costs but the train is just not an option."
Ms Salchi, who scored a UAI (Universities Admission Index) of 87.55, already writes and performs her own plays.
"I love performing . . . love musical theatre and hope to work in it eventually," she said.
Until yesterday's deadline students could register for the new scholarships via SMS or e-mail.
Mr Kourtis said: "University life is as much about lifestyle as it is about academic success.
"For many students it represents the start of a new era, maybe moving out of home and a significant investment of their time and energies to achieve a dream.
"With university studies come many associated costs, such as public transport, rent, car insurance, petrol, internet or broadband access from home, photocopying or a new computer.
"UWS understands this and so is offering these one-off 'no strings attached' scholarships to new students."
UWS has been allocated extra places in courses considered a priority by the Federal Government, such as nursing, accounting, economics and finance, business and law, applied and health sciences, computing, languages and visual and performing arts.
To qualify for scholarships potential students must have listed the eligible UWS courses as either their first or second preference with the Universities Admissions Centre.
SmartStart scholarships will be awarded on the basis of UAI score and successful enrolment in an applicable UWS course.
Recipients will be notified at the end of March.
