Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for a Mary Jane Lewis scholarship?
- Any girl commencing a degree at the University of Melbourne. There are no restrictions on the degree course that scholarship recipients can take.
- Scholarship recipients must have attended a Victorian state school or college for at least five consecutive years. Exceptions may apply for holders of humanitarian visas. See below.
- Applicants will need to complete a means test to be eligible. Combined parental gross annual income must be less than $64,641 per annum (earnings in 2010).
Is the Mary Jane Lewis scholarship an equity and merit-based scholarship?
Yes, the Mary Jane Lewis scholarship is an equity and merit-based scholarship. The scholarship is paid to a person to undertake study at an educational institution, specifically tertiary studies at the University of Melbourne. All applicants are subject to a personal and parental income test. Successful applicants are awarded a scholarship on the basis of academic achievement.
What does the scholarship provide for?
The Mary Jane Lewis scholarship is currently valued at $10,000 per year for three years of the scholarship holder’s undergraduate degree. Scholarship payments can be used to cover such items as university fees, living allowances, books, equipment and transport.
How many scholarships are awarded each year?
The Foundation currently has 5 scholarship recipients. The Foundation expects to award at least one scholarship in 2011.
When do scholarship application forms need to be submitted?
Application forms need to be received by the second Friday in December (10 December 2010). Interviews will occur in late January or early February 2011.
What restrictions are there regarding my secondary education?
Applicants must have been educated at a Victorian State School for at least 5 years preceding the award of the scholarship. Applicants holding humanitarian visas may be granted scholarships if they meet the following criteria:
The applicant holds a visa issued by the Commonwealth on the grounds that she, her parent or parents or any other relevant person should be granted asylum in Australia, she was a refugee, or on any other humanitarian ground.
The applicant has been educated in Victoria at a Victorian State School for a period of not less than two years preceding the award of the scholarship.
What if my birth certificate is not in English?
You must submit a copy of your original birth certificate with a translated version accompanying it.
What if my parents are divorced or separated?
If your parents are divorced or separated but they both still support you (or your custodial parent) then financial details from both are required. If only one parent actually contributes to your maintenance and that parent does not receive maintenance from the other parent, information about the contributing parent’s income will be sufficient.
What does ‘Name of Examination’ mean?
This means the name of your final high school examination. In Victoria, this means VCE or VET or IB.
What if I have more information than the space provided allows?
You may attach extra pages. Please write your name on every extra page attached.
Who can witness the Statutory Declaration of your parents?
In Victoria, persons authorised to witness statutory declarations include:
A Justice of the Peace
A member of the police force
A senior officer of a Council as defined in the Local Government Act 1989
A Councillor of a municipality
A legally qualified medical practitioner
A dentist
A veterinary surgeon
A pharmacist
A principal in the (State) teaching service
The manager of a bank
A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia or the Australian Society of Accountants or the National Institute of Accountants
The secretary of a building society
A minister of religion authorised to celebrate marriages
A barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court
A member or former member of either House of the Parliament of Victoria
A member or former member of either House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth
Will information supplied by me and documents I submit be treated in confidence?
Your application itself, and any document of a personal nature such as a birth certificate, passport photograph or any financial documents attached to your application will be treated confidentially.