Science/Law student, Andrew McLeod, is the winner of The Boston Consulting Group's Undergraduate Scholarship for 2008.

BCG director, Tom von Oertzen, today announced the winner of this year's scholarship, which comes with a cash bursary of $10,000.

"The scholarship provides support and recognition for a talented young Australian in his or her penultimate year of study. Andrew is a very worthy winner from a strong field of candidates."

Andrew, 22, has just completed a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) degree in chemistry.

He recently won the 2008 University Medal in Chemistry, the latest in a string of science awards going back to his days at North Sydney Boys' High School. He is also this year's winner of the University's most prestigious award, the Convocation Medal.

But Andrew is equally at home with legal studies and is now in the penultimate year of a law degree.

He said chemistry and law had some surprising things in common.

"They require similar methods of analysis, thinking and problem solving. And a surprising number of fields have a crossover between law and chemistry, such as intellectual property, forensic science and even trade disputes."

Andrew said it was increasingly common to find students undertaking law and science studies because it gives them a wide base of generic skills.

He has yet to decide the next step after completing his studies in 2009, but is keen to maintain his interests in both chemistry and law.

In addition to multiple studies, Andrew is a keen student representative on a number of university and government committees, and a paralegal volunteer at Marrickville Legal Centre.

He is also a mooting champion, being judged best oralist (and a member of the winning University of Sydney team) in last year's Sir Harry Gibbs National Moot Competition.

Those skills may yet become the basis of a career as a barrister, provided Andrew can resist the lure of the chemistry lab.

The Boston Consulting Group Undergraduate Scholarship

The $10,000 scholarship is awarded to students in their penultimate year of study.

Eligibility criteria:

• Academics: top 5% of their class
• Leadership: in work or in extra-curricular activity
• Creativity: the ability and desire to seek and create new solutions
• Teamwork: be able to work well in a team environment
• Communication: the ability to connect and relate to a wide range of people in diverse environments

The Boston Consulting Group