Top VCE students choose Monash

15 December 2008

Victoria's best Year 12 students have been offered a scholarship of up to $15,000 to study at Monash University and in an Australian-first they received the good news via a text message on their mobile phone.

Monash University is one of the first universities to use SMS to make scholarship offers to elite students who received a perfect ENTER of 99.95.

For students it was the second official text message they received today, coming hours after they learnt of their perfect VCE score via SMS.

Monash University Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins today presented students with their Scholarships for Excellence at a ceremony in Melbourne. The scholarships covers the cost of a Commonwealth Supported Place (between $4000 and $9000 a year), plus a $6000 allowance for each year of study.

Professor Larkins congratulated the successful students and presented them with framed certificates.

"A university degree opens new doors to opportunity and Monash University provides an education with a truly international perspective that encourages students to engage with the world," Professor Larkins said.

"This is a key feature of our recently-launched education blueprint, the Monash Passport.

"By deciding to study at Monash University, students are choosing a career orientated-university degree that allows them to begin working towards their careers from day one. Monash offers the choices of double degrees and the flexibility to change courses should they need to."

Monash University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker said the University would next year offer new and ongoing research and coursework scholarships, awards and bursaries for undergraduate and postgraduate students worth $86.9 million.

"Monash is recognised around the world for its commitment to providing outstanding educational experiences to every student," Professor Shoemaker said.

"The University offers prestigious professional degrees that are diverse and flexible and give students a passport to a world of choice and opportunity."

Monash University is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of its creation by a Victorian Act of Parliament.

It was recently ranked as being among the top fifty universities in the world by The Times Higher Educational Supplement.

Monash is Australia's most international research-intensive University, with 55,000 students, 6000 staff and eight campuses in Australia, Malaysia and South Africa.

To see the range of scholarships and bursaries at Monash University visit the Monash University Scholarships website.