Disclaimer Information - This scholarship is offered and administered by external organisation, the Cambridge Australia Scholarships Ltd. The information and timeline may be updated in accordance with their updates / advice.

The Cambridge Australia Downing Scholarship is a postgraduate award for outstanding Western Australian students to undertake coursework Masters (except MBA) at the University of Cambridge, UK.

The scholarship is to foster candidates’ intellectual, ethical, and spiritual life to enable them to become effective leaders in the community. 

• Current Students

• Centre for Aboriginal Studies
• Faculty of Business and Law
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Science & Engineering
  • Science courses
  • Engineering courses
  • Western Australian School of Mines (WASM)

• Postgraduate coursework

• Curtin students wanting to study overseas

• Australian Citizen

• Merit Based

The Cambridge Australia Frank Downing Scholarship will cover half of the cost associated with coursework Masters degrees (except MBA).

Each scholarship is tenable for one year and covers one half of the total costs (University fees, College fees and maintenance) associated with a coursework Masters degree.

These half-scholarships are designed to encourage candidates to co-fund their studies (e.g., with funding from other scholarships; prior employment income; or sponsorship from business, clubs or family and friends).

Coursework Masters (except Mater of Business Administration) at the University of Cambridge

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible to apply for the Cambridge Australia Downing Scholarship:

• Australian citizen;
• Show proven academic ability, supported by appropriate references;
• Demonstrate achievements in other field(s) and the energy to use their talents to the full as exemplified by contribution to the community and organisations to which they belong; and
• Be of excellent character and to have the ability to lead to improve the lot of others in this life.

To apply, applicants do not need to have fully completed their undergraduate studies, but must be near completion (e.g. have one to two semesters remaining). If your application is successful you will be issued with a conditional offer that depends on your successful completion of an undergraduate degree. Your undergraduate degree must be completed before you can commence studies at University of Cambridge.

Note: 

All study areas are considered, however this scholarship may be awarded in preference for study in law.  

There are two general course deadlines of early December and early January, depending on which course of study is being applied for.  Students are advised to check the course directory to see if their course has a December or January funding deadline.

If you are applying for Graduate study, check your specific course deadline. We request that all applicants check the Graduate Admissions website for closing deadlines. Almost all graduate courses start in October, but, under certain circumstances, it may be possible to start a course of research in the following January or April.

For details of how to apply, including important information you should know before you apply, please visit the the Cambridge Australia Downing Scholarship website.

For details of how to apply, including important information you should know before you apply, please visit the the Cambridge Australia Downing Scholarship website.

Additional resources:

If you are a Curtin student based in WA, you can access resources and coaching services available through the PRISM Alliance. The Vice Chancellors of the five West Australian universities have formed the PRISM Alliance to support the WA's brightest and best students with a vision in pursuing prestigious international scholarships, such as the Cambridge Australia Frank Downing Scholarship. 

For more information on the PRISM Alliance, click here.

For more assistance from Curtin Scholarships Office, please email scholarships@curtin.edu.au.