Joan McPherson Welcome Scholarship 2026

The Joan McPherson Welcome Scholarship was established by former Swinburne Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Linda Kristjanson AO, in honour of her mother, Joan McPherson.

This scholarship is part of Swinburne’s broader Welcome Scholarships program, created to support people seeking asylum in Australia. It recognises the significant challenges asylym seekers face and aims to assist them in pursuing their studies and building a new life.

The Joan McPherson Welcome Scholarship is available to full-time students who currently hold one of the following visa types:

• Bridging Visa 'E' (V050)
• Temporary Protection Visa (V785)
• Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visa (V786)
• Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (V790)

This scholarship is valued at $7,000 for one year only.

Any course offered by Swinburne University of Technology.

To be eligible for the Joan McPherson Welcome Scholarship, applicants must:

1. Meet the following criteria:
   • provide evidence of currently holding either a Bridging Visa 'E' (V050), a Temporary Protection Visa (V785), Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visa (V786) or a Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (V790).
2. Meet the following enrolment criteria​​​​:
   • be a commencing Swinburne student in Semester 1, 2026
   • enrolled full-time in an eligible course (see courses eligible in section above)

3. Please provide evidence of educational disadvantage, which may fall under the categories listed below. To assist you, we’ve included a link to the VTAC website for further guidance on preparing your evidence.

   Personal information and location
   Financial hardship
   Living with a disability or medical condition
   Difficult family and life circumstances

4. Submit a personal statement of up to 500 words addressing:
   • interest in your chosen course
   • career ambitions
   • how this scholarship will assist you to achieve your goals

Your personal statement must also exhibit your resilience, determination and commitment to service. This could have taken place in your home country or in any part of your journey in coming to and living in Australia. You should tell us how you intend to contribute to your community and society in future.

This scholarship is valued at $7,000 for one year only, paid bi-annually.

Applicants should complete an online application form and submit with all supporting documentation by 15 March 2026.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. For assistance when completing your application, please view the Scholarship Application Help Guide.

Fees and Scholarships Team, Student Administration.
scholarship@swin.edu.au