Getting a university education should be open to everyone – but finance can sometimes be a barrier. Fortunately, UNE and our generous donors offer many scholarships that could make all the difference. These UNE students have kindly shared how it’s made a difference to them.
Name: Brody Pettet
Degree: Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine
Scholarship: Max Schroder Indigenous Scholarship and Betty J Fyffe Scholarship
“When I decided to study medicine at UNE I wanted to live on campus so I could really settle in and meet new people, but I knew I’d need financial assistance to live away from home, so I decided to apply for a scholarship.
“I’d always thought scholarships were too hard to apply for, and that there would be too many hoops to jump through. And I know many people don’t bother applying for this reason, but for many students a scholarship can make the difference between continuing their studies and dropping out.
I knew that studying medicine was going to be both a challenge and an adventure.
“I was so relieved and grateful when I was told I’d been successful. I knew that studying medicine was going to be both a challenge and an adventure, and I’d saved as much money as I could, but this scholarship really put me at ease regarding my finances while I study.
“It means I can afford to live on campus, as well as purchase study material and other essentials, meaning I can concentrate on my academic performance without worrying about finances.
“So far, I’ve really enjoyed my first year at UNE. Of course COVID-19 has added a whole other lot of challenges, especially with medicine being so hands-on, but we students are adapting to this post-pandemic world, and are continuing the course with minimum disruptions.
“When it comes to scholarships my advice is ‘apply, apply, apply!’ So many people don’t apply because they think it takes too much time and they probably will not get it anyway, but I think it is best to give it a crack – who knows, you could be the one that fits the criteria perfectly!”
