More than $1.6 million in scholarships for 2027
Applications are now open for more than $1.6 million in residential scholarships at St Catherine’s College UWA. One application means applicants are considered for all St Catherine’s scholarships for which they are eligible.
Colin Ferreira, UWA Fogarty Scholar, Ali Wardak, St Catherine’s Residential Scholarship recipient, Beazley Medallist Elena Latchem and Fogarty Foundation CEO and alumna Elizabeth Knight at the 2026 St Catherine’s Scholars’ Reception.
Access has been part of our story from the beginning
The story of St Catherine’s began with access. In 1928, the Women’s College Fund Committee began a campaign to establish a residence for women attending The University of Western Australia. Its purpose addressed a very practical barrier to higher education: access to university depended not only on the opportunity to study, but on having somewhere to live and participate in university life.
Women across Western Australia supported the cause, organising bake sales, fetes and garden parties to raise funds for a women’s residence. Plans developed in the 1930s reflected the conviction that women deserved equal access to higher education, although the proposed building did not proceed after government funding was withdrawn.
On 6 March 1946, that ambition became a reality when the University Women’s College opened with its first 32 residents, following almost two decades of work to establish accommodation for women studying at UWA.
The first residents of the University Women’s College in 1946. Eighty years later, the commitment to expanding opportunity continues at St Catherine’s College.
From access to opportunity
St Catherine’s has changed enormously since those first residents arrived. The College is now co-educational, but the idea at the heart of its beginnings remains relevant: talent and potential should be given every opportunity.
Scholarships are one way St Catherine’s puts that idea into practice. The College’s honour boards provide a tangible record of its scholarship tradition. The M.E. Wood Scholarship and Enid Russell Scholarship record recipients from 1981, with other boards recognising recipients of the Graduate Women WA, Jean Rogerson and Joyce Riley Scholarships.
While the scholarships and the community have evolved, the underlying purpose remains: recognising ability, expanding opportunity and helping residents make the most of university life.
2027 scholarships at St Catherine’s
St Catherine’s offers the most substantial accommodation scholarship program on College Row, with scholarships recognising academic achievement, leadership, financial circumstances, regional excellence, sport, the arts and other areas of potential.
The 2027 program includes St Catherine’s College Scholarships, the Beazley Medallist Scholarship, Fogarty Scholars, Winthrop Scholars, Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) Scholars, Lawrence Scholars and UWA Connect Scholarships.
It also includes longstanding named scholarships such as the Shirley McLeod, Elizabeth Constable, Wendy MacGibbon, Graduate Women, Enid Russell, Kingsley Dixon, Margaret Medcalf, Angel, Jean Rogerson, Joyce Riley and Nye Polson Scholarships, alongside access, regional, Indigenous, sport, arts, postgraduate and exchange scholarships.
Scholarships vary in value, from partial reductions in College fees to fully funded accommodation. Some are renewable for up to four years, subject to the individual scholarship conditions.
Applicants do not need to determine which individual St Catherine’s scholarships to apply for. One application is considered against all scholarships for which they are eligible, with the College determining the most suitable scholarship or scholarships for each applicant.
St Catherine’s Residential Scholarship recipient Gabriel Yannarakis, who studies a Bachelor of Commerce and Engineering at UWA, at the Scholars’ Reception.
An academically ambitious community
Scholarship support sits within a broader culture of academic achievement at St Catherine’s. The College’s annual Scholars’ Dinner is its premier academic event, recognising residents for outstanding academic achievement and connecting them with leaders from academia, research, government, industry, business, health and philanthropy.
In 2026, eight residents from St Catherine’s UWA and Curtin campuses received Academic Excellence Awards across disciplines including medicine, biomedical science, frontier physics, engineering, software, business and accounting.
Kingsley Dixon Award recipient Joe Noble, who studies International Relations and Applied Human Geography, at the Scholarship Reception.
The achievements of residents also extend beyond College, with recent St Catherine’s residents receiving significant university and external scholarships and pursuing further study and research in Australia and internationally.
Living alongside people studying different disciplines is part of that academic culture, exposing residents to new perspectives, connections and opportunities beyond their own course.
Applications for 2027 are now open
Applications for St Catherine’s College UWA scholarships for 2027 are now open.
The main scholarship round closes on 21 November 2026, with first-round offers made by 4 December 2026, subject to final ATAR results.
Applicants who receive a College offer after 21 November may apply through a later scholarship round, with applications closing 8 January 2027.
New applicants must first have received an offer to St Catherine’s College. Returning residents must have applied for readmission.
Only one application is required to be considered for all scholarships for which an applicant is eligible.
Frequently asked questions
What scholarships does St Catherine’s College offer?
St Catherine’s offers residential scholarships across academic excellence, financial consideration, regional excellence, sport, the arts and other areas of achievement and potential. These include St Catherine’s College Scholarships, scholarships linked to major UWA programs and a substantial portfolio of named St Catherine’s scholarships.
Explore the 2027 scholarships for individual values, eligibility requirements and conditions.
Can UWA students apply for St Catherine’s scholarships?
Yes. St Catherine’s offers residential scholarships for eligible residents studying at UWA. Eligibility varies by scholarship.
Do I need to apply separately for every St Catherine’s scholarship?
No. Applicants submit one scholarship application and are considered for all St Catherine’s scholarships for which they are eligible.
When do St Catherine’s College scholarship applications close for 2027?
The main 2027 scholarship round is now open and closes on 21 November 2026, with first-round offers made by 4 December 2026, subject to final ATAR results.
Applicants who receive a College offer after 21 November may apply in a later round, which closes on 8 January 2027.
Do I need an offer from St Catherine’s before applying for a scholarship?
Yes. New applicants must have received an offer to St Catherine’s College before applying for a scholarship. Returning residents must have applied for readmission.
What is the value of St Catherine’s College scholarships?
More than $1.6 million in residential scholarships is available for 2027.
Individual scholarship values vary, from partial reductions in College fees through to fully funded accommodation. Some scholarships can also be renewed for multiple years, subject to their individual conditions.
For example, St Catherine’s fully funds accommodation for eligible regional UWA Fogarty Scholars for the duration of their undergraduate degree, while metropolitan Fogarty Scholars can receive a 50% reduction in accommodation fees.
Learn more about living at St Catherine's College or book a tour.