Bill Nicholes "Willigobung" Scholarship for Medicine

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Overview

Each year the ANU School of Medicine and Psychology may offer two awards known as the Bill Nicholes "Willigobung" Scholarship for Medicine.

The objective of the award is to provide financial assistance to students enrolling in the Australian National University's four year graduate entry Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD) program.

Funding for this award has been provided by the late Bill Nicholes, who bequeathed more than $4.2 million to support students studying graduate medicine at ANU. Bill was a retired farmer who lived and worked on his family's farm near Tumbarumba, NSW, for most of his life. The estate was called "Willigobung" and was acquired by his father as a Solider's Settlement block in 1951. There the family established an apple orchard and eventually became one of the most successful apple growers in the region. In later years, when his mother and father's health deteriorated, Bill cared for them at "Willigobung". Bill also suffered from a number of medical conditions and it is thought that these experiences may have contributed to his decision to support scholarships in medicine. To honour Bill's regional background one of the scholarships available each year will be for a student who has been identified as someone from a rural background.

Field of study

Medicine

Eligibility

The Award is available each year to a commencing ANU student who:

is an Australian citizen, holder of an Australian Permanent Resident visa or a permanent humanitarian visa; and
receives an offer of admission to the Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (8950XMCHD) program at the School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine; and
has achieved an overall weighted minimum GPA of 6.8 (as per GEMSAS calculation); and
is able to attend the School of Medicine and Psychology Nicholes' Scholarship interview; and
is able to demonstrate the attributes of a Nicholes' Scholar; and
for the scholarship reserved for student from a rural background, has resided for at least 5 consecutive years or 10 cumulative years in a Modified Monash Model (MMM) 2019 category MM 2 to MM 7 area. This aligns with the rural background criteria as defined by the Department of Health for admission to the Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (8950XMCHD) program.

Supporting documentation to confirm rural background status is collected at the time of admission.

Selection

Selection is made on the basis of applicants meeting the eligibility criteria and:

Academic achievement;
A track record of sustained contributions to the applicants community eg. during university life (Volunteer Programs);
Ability to demonstrate personal qualities, abilities and talents desirable in a clinician;
Extra-curricular activities beyond academic achievement; and
Nicholes Scholarship interview.

Benefits

The scholarship is valued at $20,000 per annum for four years. The scholarship is paid in equal instalments after census date each semester unless otherwise stated in the letter of offer.

How to apply

The application form is available from the "Apply Now" link at the top of this page. Applications must be submitted by the closing date i.e., Friday, 5 January 2024, 5:00 PM.

Further information

A Nicholes scholar will display the following attributes:

an individual who will practise medicine with humility, compassion, self-sacrifice, courage and resilience
an individual who will aspire to advocacy and leadership in their chosen field.

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