Future Honours Students - Information for Prospective Honours and Graduate Diploma Students

Are there scholarships and prizes?

See here for information on honours scholarships.

The University of Sydney also offers a limited number of scholarships to students relocating from a university outside NSW. Eligible students require a SCIWAM of 80. Payment is made as two instalments of $3000 for a total of $6000 for the year. Click here for more information.

The Centre for Mathematical Biology also offers scholarships to students working on a project that combines Biology and Mathematics. Click here for more information.

Prizes awarded to honours students:

John H. Elliott Memorial Prize

Established in 1980- in memory of John H. Elliott, Deputy Registrar (Staffing), who died suddenly in October 1978.
Awarded annually to the honours student in the School of Biological Sciences who submits the best thesis on any aspect of animal biology, provided that the student’s thesis is of sufficient merit.

William John Dakin Memorial Prize in Zoology

Established in 1977 by a bequest of $2000 from Catherine Mary Gladys Dakin in memory of William John Dakin, Professor Zoology at the University from 1929-47.

Awarded annually on the recommendation of the Head of School of Biological Sciences for excellence in the subject of Zoology to a student gaining first class honours in biology.

Professor Spencer Smith-White Prize

Established in 1987 from donations to a fund set up by the academic staff of the School of Biological Sciences working in the field of genetics to commemorate the work of Professor Smith-White, for many years Professor of biology with particular interest in the cytogenetics of Australian flora and widely remembered for his encouragement of and participation in undergraduate and graduate research training.

Awarded annually on the recommendation of the Head of the School of Biological Sciences, for greatest proficiency in the field of genetics in undergraduate biology honours, provided the student’s work is of sufficient merit.

Ilma Brewer Prize

Established in 1987 by a gift from Ilma M. Brewer and Richard H. Brewer.

Awarded annually on the recommendation of the Head of School of Biological Sciences for excellence in any aspect of the subject of botany of plant sciences, to a student gaining first class honours in biology.

University Medal

In order to qualify for the award of a university medal, it is necessary but not sufficient for a candidate to achieve a WAM of 80 or greater and an honours mark of 90 or greater. Students with an honours mark of 90 or greater and a WAM of 77 to 79 inclusive may be considered for the award of a university medal only if it can be demonstrated that their WAM was affected by sickness, misadventure, unusual workload or choice of units of study.