Undergraduate / Honours Scholarships and Prizes

A variety of scholarships and prizes are available to students within the School of Communication and Arts. The values, requirements, and application procedures of these awards vary greatly, and students are urged to study the list carefully to determine those most appropriate to their plans and achievements. For postgraduate scholarships and prizes click here.

T he Cole Lawson Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2009, and is awarded to an outstanding communication student enrolled in the Bachelor of Communication or associated duals. It has motivated our PR/communication students to strive for excellence in academic work and to pursue a career in public relations and communications.

Previous School winners:

2023: Kacy Miaco
2022: None awarded
2021: Naomi Lewis
2020: Jessica Cuskelly
2019: Odette Miller
2018: Laura Kane
2017: Laura Sinclair
2016: Natalie Fortuna
2015: Stephanie Brownlee
2014: Natassja Bertram
2013: Tara Roberson
2012: Tania McPherson
2011: Hannah Lucas
2010: Rebecca Brown and Lily Howe

The Kingshott Cassidy Scholarship Award

The Kingshott Cassidy Poetry Scholarship Award was established in 2010 by a bequest from the estate of Dorothy Susan Cassidy who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1980 and a Master of Arts in 1986. Applications are invited from undergraduates who are currently enrolled in a UQ undergraduate program; have completed at least 2 units of poetry courses; can provide evidence of financial need; and have not previously been the recipient of the award.

Previous School winners:

2023: Michelle Sands (1) Ella Kratzer (2)
2022: Darby Jones
2021: Helen Gearing
2020: Helena Turner
2019: Imogene Bourke
2018: Samuel Lennon
2017: Nicholas Van Buuren
2016: Torrey Atkin
2014: Taylor-Jane Wilkshire
2013: Reuben McGeever-Yeates
2012: Jeremy Thompson
2011: Zenobia Frost

Paula and Tony Kinnane Art History Scholarship

The Paula and Tony Kinnane Art History Scholarship was established to support students undertaking undergraduate studies in art history.

The scholarship was established in 2017 and is maintained by the income of a perpetual endowment fund from a bequest to The University of Queensland under the will of Paula Ruth Kinnane, who graduated from The University of Queensland in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

The scholarship recognises Paula and Tony Kinnane, who were lifetime lovers of art, art galleries, and collecting art for their own pleasure.

Paula Ruth Kinnane (died 2014) was an alumna of UQ (BA 1991) and a supporter of the UQ Art Museum and School of Music. Following her death, The University of Queensland received a generous bequest to assist students in regional areas through access to higher education in the arts. The Paula and Tony Kinnane Art History Scholarship, named for her and her late husband, Tony Kinnane (died 2011), is one of the activities funded from that bequest.

Previous School winners:

2023 Alex Chadwick and Megan Gardner

Clare Atkinson Memorial Scholarship

The scholarship was established in 2017 and maintained by gifts from many donors in memory of the dearly missed Clare Atkinson.

The Clare Atkinson Memorial Scholarship will empower journalism students to dive headfirst into the industry, make the most of the profound impact they can have on our public discourse. It supports students who demonstrate the commitment to journalism that Clare displayed throughout her life.

Laurie Hergenhan Scholarship in Australian Literary Studies

The Laurie Hergenhan Scholarship in Australian Literary Studies was established in 2019 under the Create Change Scholarship Match Initiative and is maintained by the Laurie Hergenhan Scholarship Endowment fund.

UQ Winter/Summer Research Scholarship

This scholarship sees an outstanding student attached to a research project within the school.

The Steele Rudd Memorial Prize

Awarded annually based on the school's recommendation to the student who has written the best essay in the course ENGL3100 Australian Literature. $100 to be used for books is awarded.

Previous School winners:

2023: Georgia Perissinotto
2022 Brianna Merriman
2021: Jasmine Collison
2020: Samantha Hammond
2019: Zoe Jeffrey
2018: Nicholas van Buuren
2017: Hannah Woods
2016: Matthew Miers
2015: Isabel Prior
2014: Jarred Turner
2013: Tui Trezise
2012: Danielle Merrett
2011: Jessica Lydiard
2010: Briony Lipton
2009: Sarah Boothroyd

The Lizzie Heal-Warry Prize

Awarded annually, based on the school's recommendation, to the female student who, not having already been awarded the prize, obtains the highest mark in a first-year literature course. A cheque to the value of approximately $120 to be used for books was first awarded in 2008.

Previous School winners:

2023: Pantea Safa
2022: Eleanor Shaw
2021: Hannah Rae
2020: Candice Wehr
2019: Brianna Merriman
2018: India Oswin
2017: Hannah Woods
2016: Recca Pheonix
2015: Chelsea Lyall
2014: Jemimah Thompson
2013: Isabel Prior
2012: Harriet O'Hare
2011: Jessica Lydiard
2010: Christabel Hough
2009: Sarah Hegarty

The Ford Memorial Prize

The Ford Memorial Prize was founded in 1916 by a gift of $200 from the Queensland United Licensed Victuallers' Association in memory of Lieutenant S.K. Ford and Corporal T.W. Ford, brothers, both of whom lost their lives in the defence of the Empire.

The award is open to undergraduate students who have not been twice awarded the prize. The best poem in English (published or unpublished) will be selected as the winner. The value of the prize varies each year and is designated as books.

All entries are to include name, student number, phone contact, current postal address, and the program in which you are enrolled.

Previous School winners:

2023: Inez Chong
2022: Emily Winter
2021: Sharlene Allsopp
2020: Nuala Beahan
2019: None awarded
2018: Drew Pavlou
2016: Nicholas van Buuren
2015: Mimi Arent
2014: None awarded
2013: Leith Reid
2012: None awarded
2011: Jeremy Thompson
2010: Kirk Graham
2009: Zenobia Frost

The Journalism Prize

Awarded annually to an undergraduate student enrolled in the Bachelor of Journalism program with the highest GPA for 16 units listed under the heading 'Group 2' in the course list for the program.

Previous School winners:

2023: Grace Nakamura
2022: Crispian Yeomans
2021: Trisha Danitiani Husada
2020: Zoe McDonald
2019: Jacqueline Pon
2018: Tobias Jurss-Lewis
2016: Kaikane Hayes
2015: Aimee Hourigan and Jesse Thompson
2014: Ashley Mackinnon

The Thomas Morrow Prize

Awarded annually to an undergraduate student who writes the best essay on a topic from one of the following fields: Australian literature, Australian exploration and history, or scientific inquiry in Australia. In the years where the prize is to be awarded to a Communication and Arts Student (every third year), essays written as part of Australian literature courses are considered.

Previous School winners:

2020: Samantha Hammond
2017: Simon Munro
2014: Onjawli Chakravarty and Rachel Harris
2011: Sally Olds and Daniel Dixon
2008: Alexandra Dellios
2005: Brian Blackwell

The Brisbane School of Arts Prizes

Awarded annually based on the school's recommendation. Prize 1 is awarded to the student who has obtained more than 16 units (and not more than 32 units) towards completion of a Bachelor of Arts by the end of the year of award, with at least 8 units in that year for advanced courses offered by the school with the greatest proficiency. Prize 2 is awarded to the student who has completed the requirement of the Bachelor of Arts pass degree and obtained at least a major (16 units) in courses offered by the school with the greatest proficiency.

Previous School winners:

2023: Emma Utashiro (1), Thomas Lewis (2)
2022: Roseleigh Priest (1), Casey Gilbert (2)
2021: Geraldine Porter (1) and Samantha Hammond (2)
2020: Lucy Turner (1) and Lillian Rangiah (2)
2019: Thea Blaskovich (1) and India Oswin (2)
2018: India Oswin (1) and Suneha Lal (2)
2017: Imogene Bourke (1) and Damien Maher & Jarred Turner (2)
2016: Chloe Mabb (1) and Geoffrey Hondroudakis (2)
2015: Geoffrey Hondroudakis (1) and Danielle Merrett (2)
2014: Bronte Anthony (1) and Georgina Sharouni (2)
2013: Jacob Warren (1) and Jessica Lydiard (2)
2012: Ellen Cattach (1) and Katherine Valenta (2)
2011: Sally Olds (1) and Katherine Valenta (2)
2010: Jean Skeat (1) and Carolina Caliaba Crespo (2)
2009: Qian Rong Pua (1&2)

The Valerie Joy Prize in Film and Television Studies

Awarded annually to an outstanding undergraduate student enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts or associated duals, who is majoring in Film and Television Studies.

Previous School winners:

2023: Emily Davis and Evangeline Pritchard (1), Bronte Kelly (2), Grace Watson and Ian West (3), Catherine Li and Lily Smith (4)
2022: Catherine Li (1), Alexandra McFarland (2), Chelsea Malunga (3), Ethan Pratap (4), Lily Smith (5)
2021: Catherine Li
2020: Lillian Rangiah
2019: Meg Thomas
2018: Olivia Ustariz
2017: Sofia Mamonova
2016: Rosaleen Shaw
2015: Poppy Templeton
2014: Danielle Merrett

Geoffrey Joseph Kuskie Prize in Poetry

(The prize was established in 2020 and is maintained by a bequest from the estate of the late Violet Kuskie, in memory of her husband Geoffrey Joseph Kuskie.) It is awarded to any undergraduate student enrolled at The University of Queensland based on the best essay on poetry.

2023: Andrew Millar
2022: Lillian Ross

The George Essex Evans Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1972 by a bequest from the late Anne Basilea Valentina Evans in memory of her brother George Essex Evans. It assists an outstanding student to complete an honours program in English Literature or Drama. Applicants are expected to have shown outstanding ability in the field of Australian literature and culture, and should intend to continue in that field. Please email student.commarts@uq.edu.au for further details.

Previous School winners:

2024: Brianna Merriman
2023: None awarded
2022: Jasmine Collison
2021: Joy Chalaby
2020: Samantha Schraag
2018: Torrey Atkin
2017: Anna Madill
2016: Sean Mitchell
2015: Annabelle Hazell
2014: Mengki Norman
2013: Sally Olds
2012: Briony Lipton
2011: Carolina Caliaba Crespo
2010: Jami Acworth

The Kate McNaughton of Roma Scholarships

Two scholarships are awarded annually to Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences students who complete a Bachelor of Arts degree and enrol in a Bachelor of Arts Honours program the following year. The school recommends recipients for these scholarshps to the faculty based on the record of each candidate throughout the program and the candidate's general suitability.

UQ Winter/Summer Research Scholarship

This scholarship sees an outstanding student attached to a research project within the school.

The Alrene Sykes Memorial Prize

This prize was established in 1991 as a memorial to the late Alrene Sykes, who was formerly a Senior Lecturer in English at The University of Queensland. The prize is awarded annually, based on the school's recommendation, to a student writing a thesis in Australian literature or drama and who has a background in Australian literature or drama in their BA. It is maintained by the income from a fund subscribed to by relatives, former colleagues, professional drama associates, students and other friends together with an annual donation of books from UQ Press.

Previous School winners:

2023: Leah Mustard
2022: None awarded
2021: Finnley Stott
2020: Thomas Gunther
2019: None awarded
2018: None awarded
2017: Karl Ricker
2015: Rhumer Diball
2014: Mengki Norman
2013: Sally Olds
2012: Claire Monsour
2011: Alice Richard
2010: John Da Conceicao
2009: Jill Carman

The Brisbane School of Arts Prizes

Awarded annually based on the school's recommendation. Prize 3 is awarded to the student who completes the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) program with the greatest proficiency. The amount of each award is designated in books.

Previous School winners:

2023: Emma Wall (3)
2022: Samantha Hammond (3)
2021: Joy Chalaby (3)
2020: India Oswin (3)
2019: Nicholas van Buuren (3)
2018: Scott Williams (3)
2017: Damien Maher (3)
2016: Simon Brigden (3)
2015: Dominic O'Donnell (3)
2014: Ellen Cattach (3)
2013: Jean Skeat (3)
2012: Kristian Radford (3)
2011: Melanie Piper (3)
2010: Joanna Luke (3)
2009: Jill Carman (3)

The Donald Tugby Prize in Art History

Awarded annually to a first-class honours student, majoring in Art History in the year of the award and submitting a thesis on Asia Pacific Art (excluding Australian art).

Previous School winners:

2023: None awarded
2022: None awarded
2021: None awarded
2020: None awarded
2019: None awarded
2018: None awarded
2017: Lou-Anne Clancy
2016: Michaela Bear
2015: Alice-Anne Psaltis
2014: Rachel King
2013: Rebecca Joyce
2012: Harriet Hunt