A $400,000 scholarship program for students affected by the December 2004 tsunami in Indonesia and Sri Lanka has been announced.

The Tsunami Response Scholarships will be offered as part of IDPEducation Australia's Peace Scholarship Program in conjunction withMacquarie University and Central Queensland University.

The scholarships will be coordinated in-country by IDP Indonesia and IDP Sri Lanka.

Seven scholarships will be offered to eligible students to study at either undergraduate or postgraduate level from July 2006.

Macquarie University will offer two undergraduate scholarships toSri Lankan students valued at over $100,000 each and four postgraduatescholarships to Indonesian students which will be worth more than$36,000.

Central Queensland University will offer one postgraduate scholarship valued at over $46,000 to a Sri Lankan student.

All applicants must meet a range of general criteria to be eligible for a scholarship. Applicants must be able to:

1. demonstrate that they were affected by the December 2004 tsunami in Indonesia or Sri Lanka by
   • being personally injured as a result of the tsunami
   • having a close family member seriously injured or killed as a result of the tsunami
   • family livelihood/income being affected by the tsunami
   • personal study affected or even postponed because the studentwas active in the relief efforts or unable to afford to continue study
2. indicate how the experience of studying in Australia will further their professional development
3. demonstrate a financial need which indicates that without a scholarship, they would not have the chance to study overseas
4. fulfil the entry requirements for the specific program thescholarship is being offered for, including previous academic historyand English language ability
5. prove they do not hold citizenship or permanent residency in Australia

Applicants must also meet specific criteria related to the specific scholarship they are applying for.

Scholarship applications close on February 1, 2006. Selection panelsin Indonesia and Sri Lanka will then review the applications. Theselection panels will be made up of IDP in-country staff, Australiandiplomatic mission staff and industry representatives.

Short-listed applications will then be referred to an Australianpanel for final selection and placement at participating universities.

Students will be notified of the results by April 1, 2006.

Media Contact: 
Tim Dodd
Tel: +61 2 8251 2775, Mobile: +61 0407 440160

Reference:
http://www.idp.com/mediacentre/2005/december/article1301.asp