Sydney Opera House and the city skyline viewed across the harbour with passenger ferries on the water.

Australia Class of 2028 entry: applications open March 2027 — close 30 April 2027

ANU Tuckwell Scholarship

The ANU Tuckwell Scholarship is Australia's most generous undergraduate award — a five-year programme covering AUD 21,500 annually for personal expenses, free on-campus accommodation, intensive mentoring, leadership development retreats, and international study experiences. Total package value is approximately AUD 270,000 (LKR 56M+). Important note for Sri Lankan applicants: the Tuckwell is currently restricted to students completing Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary) within Australia — so Sri Lankan applicants must be enrolled in an Australian school (often after high school migration with family). Sri Lankan students studying A/Ls in Sri Lanka are NOT eligible. Around 25 Tuckwell Scholars are selected each year from a pool of 1,000+ applicants Australia-wide.

Australian National University

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

AUD 21,500/yr + Accommodation

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Duration

5 Years (UG + Honours)

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Awards

~25 per Year

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Currently in Australian Year 12

You must be completing Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary qualification) in Australia in 2027. Sri Lankan students studying A/Ls or IB in Sri Lanka are NOT eligible — the programme is for students who have moved to Australia and are in the Australian school system.

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Entering ANU Undergraduate Study

You must be applying to commence a full-time undergraduate degree at ANU in 2028 (the year after Year 12). The Tuckwell is for undergraduate study only — postgraduates are not eligible.

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Whole-Person Excellence

Tuckwell selection explicitly looks beyond ATAR scores. The selection criteria include leadership, service, intellectual curiosity, character, and a desire to give back to Australia. Strong applicants typically combine excellent academic projections with substantial leadership/service records.

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Commitment to Australia

Tuckwell Scholars commit to remain engaged with the Tuckwell community throughout their degree and to contribute to Australia after graduation. The 'commitment to Australia' criterion is taken seriously — applicants planning to immediately leave for the US/UK rarely succeed.

account_tree Application Process

Open application in March

Applications open on the ANU Tuckwell portal in March of the application year (March 2027 for 2028 entry). Anyone meeting eligibility can apply directly — no school nomination required.

Stage 1: Written application

Complete the online application by 30 April. Includes essays on values, leadership, service, intellectual interests, and reasons for choosing ANU. Three references are required (teacher, community/service mentor, and another adult).

Stage 2: Shortlist + interviews

Approximately 200 candidates are shortlisted for video interviews in June. Of those, ~80 are invited to Canberra for the Tuckwell Selection Weekend in August — multi-day in-person interviews, group activities, and dinners.

Stage 3: Final selection

Final 25 Tuckwell Scholars are notified after the Selection Weekend (typically in September). Scholars then complete ANU's standard UG application and confirm enrolment for the following February (Australian academic year).

Why ANU + Tuckwell?

ANU is consistently Australia's #1 university in QS rankings and sits in the world's top 30. The Tuckwell cohort lives together at one of ANU's on-campus residential colleges, has dedicated programming through the Tuckwell Foundation, and forms what is widely regarded as Australia's most elite undergraduate network. Located in Canberra — the political capital — Tuckwell Scholars gain direct access to government, foreign affairs, and policy institutions.