A generous bequest by the late Professor Ivan Shearer AM RFD has enabled the creation of the Ivan Shearer Scholarship to support St Mark’s Collegians to study at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge.
An international law academic and practitioner who developed a high global reputation, Ivan Shearer (1938-2019) was Dean of St Mark’s College from 1968 to 1971, and an Honorary Fellow of the College from 2005.
The first Ivan Shearer Scholarship was awarded in 2022 to Rebecca Keeley (St Mark’s 2012-14) for study in the 2022-23 academic year in Oxford.
The College now invites applications for the Ivan Shearer Scholarship from members of the College who meet the eligibility criteria and who will be, or expect to be, studying at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge in the 2024-25 academic year (including from members of the College currently studying at Oxford or Cambridge).
Eligibility: Under the terms of Professor Shearer’s will, the Ivan Shearer Scholarship is open to current and Old Collegians of St Mark’s College, Adelaide, who have resided at St Mark’s for at least one academic year.
Purpose and value: The Scholarship will be paid towards the travel, accommodation, tuition, and/or general living expenses of the Scholar/s to support them to study at either the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge. Any part of the Scholarship used for payment of fees will be paid directly by St Mark’s College to the relevant college in the University of Oxford or Cambridge, or to the relevant university, and any part to be used for travel, accommodation, and general living expenses will be paid to the Scholar/s by St Mark’s College.
The award for the 2024-25 academic year will comprise a single Scholarship with a value of up to $37,000 (AUD), or a number of Scholarships totalling not more than $37,000 (this figure was revised upwards in March 2024 from the previously advertised figure). In the case of more than one award, the selection committee will allocate funds to Scholars according to assessed merit and need. As tuition and living costs in Oxford or Cambridge will exceed $37,000 per annum, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for other scholarships and sources of financial support.
At the absolute discretion of the College, a Scholarship may be renewed for up to two further academic years subject to satisfactory performance by the Scholar and the Scholar demonstrating need for the renewal of the Scholarship. In exceptional circumstances, the College may give consideration to a further award to enable a doctoral student to complete their doctorate at Oxford or Cambridge; no Scholar should assume that such further funding will be possible.
Criteria for award: The award will be based on:
- excellence in intellect, character, leadership, and service; and
- demonstrated need for financial support to study at Oxford or Cambridge.
Candidates must have applied to, or been admitted to study at, or be studying at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge at the time of application. (If a candidate is already studying at Oxford or Cambridge, the Scholarship could support them either to move to a new course, or to complete a course for which they are currently enrolled; in either case, financial need would need to be demonstrated.)
The academic standards for admission to Oxford and Cambridge are very high, and the selection committee will offer the Scholarship only to a candidate or candidates who, in its judgement, is/are likely to be admitted to Oxford or Cambridge, and to achieve at a satisfactory standard there.
The Scholarship will only be confirmed upon successful admission to the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge, and will not be paid if the Scholar does not take up their place at Oxford or Cambridge. The College may apply other terms if judged appropriate.
Preference will be given to candidates undertaking or intending to undertake a graduate degree.
The Scholarship will not be offered if there is not a sufficiently qualified candidate who is also in need of financial support.
The names of Ivan Shearer Scholars are recorded on an honour board in the Junior Common Room at St Mark’s.
Application process: Applications should comprise a letter of application, addressed to the Head of St Mark’s College, and enclosing:
- a full curriculum vitae (of up to three pages);
- a complete transcript or transcripts of all your university study to date;
- a statement (of up to two pages) outlining:
- details of the course of study proposed to be (or being) undertaken at Oxford or Cambridge, and the status of your application for admission to that University and any of its colleges (including, if relevant, second preference for a course);
- your reasons for undertaking this course; and
- your likely or intended further study (if any) and career after undertaking this course;
- a personal statement (of up to three pages) outlining your interests, priorities, and motivation, which reflects how you fulfil the criteria of excellence in intellect, character, leadership, and service;
- a statement (of up to two pages) setting out your need for financial support to study at Oxford or Cambridge, including details of other scholarships or sources of financial support applied for or likely to be applied for, and the status of those applications; and
- the names and contact details (including email addresses and telephone numbers) of three referees, at least one of whom must have formally taught you in a university course.
The font size of the CV and statements should be no smaller than 11 point.
Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 15 April 2024.
Selection process: Selection will be by a committee appointed by the College, comprising individuals of high academic and/or professional standing.
The committee will interview only short-listed candidates, and references will ordinarily only be sought for short-listed candidates.
It is likely that interviews will be in May or June 2024.
The award of the Scholarship is at the absolute discretion of the College.
For further information: please consult the Head of College, Professor Don Markwell AM.
November 2023
A PDF of the call for applications is available here.
