Catalyst program

Combine your STEM degree with overseas trips, summer research programs, special events, and up to $14,500 in scholarships. Our Catalyst Program offers domestic high achieving school leavers all this, and more.

Are you a domestic high achiever seeking the most out of your undergraduate uni experience? The Catalyst Program combines your bachelor's degree with scholarships of up to $14,500 value, research and travel opportunities, plus connection with the Catalyst Community.

The Catalyst Program gives you the best value uni experience and ensures you'll stand out in your chosen field. The experiences, research opportunities and skills you develop along the way set you up to lead meaningful change in societies and workplaces globally.

$3,000 Catalyst Scholarship will be awarded to all domestic students with an ATAR of 90 or greater, enrolled in a range of STEM courses. Once you apply you will be assessed for this scholarship. Full eligibility requirements are also provided.

Catalyst program inclusions

Join the Catalyst community

There will be opportunity to participate in Catalyst Community events and connect with other students. Your course will have a dedicated Catalyst Ambassador who will be your point of contact.

Catalyst program scholarship

As a Catalyst student, you’ll receive a $3,000 Catalyst Program Scholarship, delivered as two $1,500 payments over your first two semesters. Once you’re admitted to the program, all you need to do is enrol in and successfully pass your units each semester.

Catalyst Travel Support

Catalyst Scholarship recipients have access to up to $2,500 scholarship payment to support overseas experiences relevant to your degree. And if you successfully apply for a semester overseas exchange program, the full amount is guaranteed. Note: that there are other overseas experience scholarships available and these are to be exhausted prior to applying for Catalyst travel support.

Deans Summer Research Scholarship (DSRS )

Catalyst Scholarship recipients are eligible to receive $3,000 each time you elect to participate in the DSRS. You may undertake the DSRS three times during your degree, with up to $9,000 in scholarships. Note; non Catalyst students may undertake the DSRS with a scholarship payment of $2,000 per experience.

Bachelor of Philosophy

Created for critical and creative thinkers, you can apply to study this unique companion degree with a 100% HECS fee waiver. Expand your uni experience to include multi-disciplinary perspectives to affect positive change no matter what your career.

Catalyst program course options

Eligibility requirements

If you are a school leaver or completed school in the last two years

The Catalyst Program is designed for high achieving school leavers who have completed secondary education within the past two years.

The Catalyst Scholarship will awarded to all students, who apply within the scholarship portal for the catalyst scholarship up until the closing date.

To be eligible you need to have:

  • Completed secondary education within the past two years;
  • Achieved an ATAR of 90 or greater; and
  • Have applied to study a course included in the Catalyst Program.

Catalyst Ambassadors

Our dedicated Catalyst Ambassadors will be your point of contact during the program, assisting with accessing program benefits and facilitating communication across the cohort.

Course

Catalyst Ambassador

Bachelor of Science

Dr Rebecca Jones

Bachelor of Architecture and Built Environments

Dr Richard Burnham

Bachelor of Design

Dr Richard Burnham

Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Science

Dr Taryn Noble

Bachelor of Natural Environments and Conservation

Dr Vishnu Prahalad

Bachelor of Engineering

Dr Sarah Lyden

Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology

Dr Lawrence Sambrooks

Payment

The Catalyst scholarship is paid in your first year of study, it is paid in two equal amounts of $1,500 within 21 days after census date in Semester 1 and Semester 2.

Dean’s Summer Research payments are made in full within 21 days of acceptance of the scholarship.  Please note that students entering the program who consequently experience personal or professional issues that mean they are unable to complete the 6-8 weeks of research need to discuss the matter with their supervisor as soon as possible.  The School reserves the right to recover monies where the program is not completed without adequate reasons.

Please note: A requirement of the Dean’s Summer Research program is enrolment in the relevant Bachelor of Philosophy unit – these units are currently covered by a tuition fee scholarship for both domestic and international Dean’s Summer Research students i.e. there is no HECS payment for these units.

Catalyst Travel Support payments are made in full within 21 days of approval – documentation of approved travel is required for assessment of eligibility.

Double degrees

Interested in studying a double degree which includes a Catalyst course? The inclusions will simply apply to the course which is part of the program.

If your double degree includes two Catalyst courses, you'll receive the Catalyst Program Scholarship once, with the other inclusions applying to both courses.

Learn more

Applying to university

Applying to study with us is free using our simple online form. Find out how to apply, to get started.

If you would like help applying, please enquire with our friendly team. You can even set up an appointment to be guided through the process.

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Useful information

Key dates

When starting uni, there are important dates to be aware of. These include Orientation Week, the start of semester, census date, and the release of exam timetables.
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Support

Need help? Our friendly team are here to guide you through the entire process. You can even book in a one-on-one session to enrol in your units.
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Glossary

Confused by words and terms used by universities? Don't be! Here is our friendly guide to help. And remember, you can always contact us for more information.
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