2025 Bursary Program
About the Bursary Program
Established in 1905, the National Council of Women of Queensland Inc. (NCWQ) continues to represent the voice of thousands of women through its affiliated organisations and individual membership.
The bursary program, since its commencement in 2009, indicates the strong commitment of NCWQ to equality of opportunity for all women, especially in offering assistance to Queensland female students as they pursue their chosen pathway of study.
The 2024 program offered 34 separate bursaries to assist Queensland women with their educational expenses.
The 2025 program will open on 12 April 2025.
General Criteria
Each bursary has its own criteria. To find out more about the specific criteria, please see the Available Bursaries listed below.
- A Female Student studying full-time
- A resident of Queensland or identify as a Queenslander
- An Australian citizen or a Permanent Resident of Australia
- Plus, Bursary specific
Applications are submitted online
- Review the Available Bursaries below to determine what Bursary you would like to apply for. Please note: You may apply for more than one bursary if you meet the relevant criteria.
- Determine your eligibility. Click on the selected Bursary to review the criteria, then follow the the link to complete you eligibility test.
- Have your Selection Criteria information ready. Gather all your supporting information and documentation.
- Complete the Online Application. All applications are to be submitted online by Monday 2 June 2025, however if this is not possible, please contact us directly.
FAQs
NCWQ Bursaries are awarded to the successful Queensland female student applicants for one of the range of bursaries on offer each year.
The Bursary program, through NCWQ and its sponsors, offers a range of bursaries, to assist Queensland women with their educational expenses. Most bursaries are valued between $1,000 to $1,500 each.
The Bursary Listing details the specific criteria for each bursary on offer.
Since the Bursary Program commenced in 2009, over 230 bursaries have been offered.
The timeline for the 2025 Bursary Program is:
- Saturday 12 April 2025 – Applications open.
- Monday 2 June 2025 – Applications close. Applications submitted or post-marked after that date will not be considered.
- The Bursary Presentation will be held in Brisbane on 19 July 2025 at Women’s College, The University of Queensland. We welcome the attendance of the successful recipient of each bursary to this function, where there will be the opportunity to meet your sponsor and other bursary recipients.
Applications will open Saturday 12 April 2025.
Each bursary has its own criteria. To find out more about the specific criteria, please review the Available Bursaries listed below.
For other enquiries, please contact the Bursary Program Manager, Kathy Cavanagh, on 0407 117 378 or bursaries@ncwq.org.au
We always welcome bursary partners. Please contact our Bursaries Manager, Kathy Cavanagh Ph: 0407 117 378 or Email: bursaries@ncwq.org.au
Sponsors have included:
We understand that it may not be possible to submit your application using our online Bursary Application process. In special circumstances, we do offer a hard copy / printed version of the application for you to submit. Please contact our Bursary Program Manager, Kathy Cavanagh Ph: 0407 117 378 or Email: bursaries@ncwq.org.au to discuss your options.
Available Bursaries
What Bursaries can I apply for?
To help determine what Bursary you may be eligible for, please use the criteria below to filter the results.
Brisbane Women’s Club (BWC) Education Support Bursary
This bursary assists a young woman living in Brisbane, with education expenses to support the first year of her tertiary studies.
City of Moreton Bay Bursary
The bursary is to assist a female tertiary student from the Moreton Bay council region with her tertiary studies.
Claire Moore Bursary
This bursary, for a female student of special education, reflects Claire’s view that education provides the best opportunities for all.
Councillor Vicki Howard Bursary
This bursary focuses assistance for female students living in this council area, who identify with the LGBTIQ community.
Elsie Byth Bursary
This bursary in recognition of the work of Susan’s grandmother, Elsie Byth OBE, (1890 – 1988) helps those planning to study education at university next year.
ESA International Bursary
ESA provide cancer research & support services to women. This bursary reflects this focus by assisting a female student whose family is affected by cancer.
Ethel Rowbotham Memorial Bursary
This bursary in recognition of the work of Ethel Rowbotham RN, helps those planning to study nursing or midwifery at university next year.
Forum Communicators Bursary
Forum aim to improve the skills of women in public speaking. This bursary reflect Forum’s passion for communication.
Lady Justice Bursary
Sponsored by NCWQ member Snr Sergeant Anna Dwyer & Joanna Robinson, this bursary is offered to a female studying Law or Justice in Qld.
Lavis/Wilson Queensland Child Watch Committee Bursary
This bursary aims to help students enrolled in Early Childhood Tertiary studies who display a firm desire to teach children in the Early Years (Birth to Grade 3).
National Council of Jewish Women Brisbane Section Bursary
Commencing in 2020, this bursary reflects their interests in education and the advancement of women.
NCWQ Bursary for a PhD Student
The bursary recognises the importance of post-graduate study both to the career development of an individual and to research for the benefit of the wider community.
NCWQ Helen Ovens Memorial Bursary
The Helen Ovens bursary is to honour Helen, an integral member of NCWQ who passed away suddenly in 2013.
NCWQ Regional/Rural Bursary
The focus is to assist young women living in regional or rural Queensland, relocate from home to undertake their tertiary studies.
NCWQ Young Woman from a Refugee Background Bursary
The focus of this bursary is to assist young women from a refugee background, now enrolled at high school, aiming to achieve further educational outcomes.
Office for Women (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Bursary
The focus is on assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander female students studying a tertiary course.
Office for Women (Leadership) Bursary
In recognition of the under-representation of women in the higher levels of management and as board members, The focus is on assisting females to increase the development of their leadership skills.
Older Women’s Network Return To Work Bursary
The bursary recipient must be preparing to work in an area which benefits older women – possibly the health care sector, but any field that includes older women.
QMWS (AMAQ) Professor Tess Cramond Memorial Bursary
The purpose of this bursary is to assist the recipient to attend a Medical Women’s event or AMA Conference that will foster commitment, involvement and leadership in issues relevant to medical women.
QMWS (Mater) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Bursary
The bursary aims to encourage and empower a female medical graduate who identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, to further their medical career and/or leadership aspirations.
Queensland Medical Women’s Society (QMWS) Bursary
The bursary is intended to support its recipient to attend, present or participate Medical Women’s event or AMA Conference on a topic relevant to medical women, women’s health issues, social issues relevant to women’s health or leadership by women.
Quota Brisbane/NCWQ in honour of Dr Laurel Macintosh OBE Bursary
The focus of this bursary is to assist a female medical graduate who is undertaking specialist training to become an ophthalmologist
Rotary e-Club of NextGen Bursary
This bursary is to support members in pursuing interests and projects that are meaningful to them.
Science Bursary
Sponsored by June McNicol OAM, this bursary reflects her career expertise and her desire to assist female students following in her footsteps.
Senator Susan McDonald Bursary
This bursary is sponsored by Senator Susan McDonald and reflects her interest in the issues for northern Queenslanders, including access to education.
Soroptimist International Bursary
This bursary is for an Indigenous female student in education or health-related fields including nursing.
Soroptimist International Moreton North Inc Bursary
Aimed for those studying within a Veterinary Science degree or veterinary nurse in Qld. We expect that you are passionately following your dreams in this field.
South Burnett Mayor Bursary
For female students residing in its council area. The bursary recognises the additional difficulties faced by students living away from major cities, with studies often requiring time away from home and families.
The Boyce Bursary for a student with a Learning Disability
Former Senator Sue Boyce has been a long-term advocate for those with a disability. This bursary is for a female student with a disability, to assist her study program after high school.
The Boyce Disability Bursary
Former Senator Sue Boyce has been a long-term advocate for those with a disability. This bursary is for a female student with a disability, to assist her study program after high school.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Women in Engineering (Regional Queensland) Bursary
The Department of Transport and Main Roads Women in Engineering Bursaries form part of The Department of Transport and Main Roads’s ongoing commitment to increase the number of women in the traditionally male dominated engineering profession. This bursary is for students enrolled in a university located in Regional Queensland.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Women in Engineering (South East Queensland) Bursary
The Department of Transport and Main Roads Women in Engineering Bursaries form part of The Department of Transport and Main Roads’s ongoing commitment to increase the number of women in the traditionally male dominated engineering profession. This bursary is for a student enrolled in a university located in South East Queensland (SEQ) region.
The Hon. David Littleproud MP Bursary
In recognition of the difficulties experienced by country students wishing to pursue their education, this bursary is for a female student in their first year of tertiary studies.
The Kathleen Langan Sports Management Bursary
The bursary is in honour of the late Kathleen Langan,. The focus is on females enrolled in at least the second year of study in a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management or similar degree such as a Bachelor of Business with Sports Management as a major.
Women’s College, UQ Bursary
This bursary assists a young woman living in Brisbane, with education expenses to support the first year of her tertiary studies.
Thank you to our kind Bursary Program Sponsors
Bursary Enquiries
We welcome enquiries from potential bursary partners and bursary applicants. Please contact the NCWQ Bursary Program Manager, Kathy Cavanagh.