CEF student Anna Hunt, top row, third from the left, who is living at St Andrew's and is also the Cultural Secretary on its House Committee. Photo credit: St Andrew's College.
The Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF), alongside their longtime partner, St Andrew's College, is thrilled to announce the extension of partnership and increased financial commitment until 2027.
St Andrew's College, a residential college located on the grounds of the University of Sydney, has partnered with CEF since 2016, supporting 59 students with accommodation scholarships to the value of almost $500,000 and providing a supportive environment for regional students to live, study and thrive in Sydney.
St Andrew's College Principal, Rob Leach, said the college had a core focus of supporting students from regional areas and enabling them to access tertiary education in Sydney.
"We are deeply committed to supporting students from rural and regional backgrounds," he said.
We understand the unique challenges these students face in accessing higher education. Beyond the typical academic demands, they must contend with the substantial costs associated with relocating and living away from home, which can often be overwhelming.
– St Andrew's College Principal, Rob Leach.
2024 St Andrew's College - CEF Scholarship recipient, Isaac Barrett.
For Isaac Barrett, the scholarship was the reason he was able to begin his studies in Sydney this year.
Inspired by his older brother, Lachie, he dreamed of studying at the University of Sydney and living at St Andrew's College.
But with the cost of relocating over 500km away from his hometown of Coonamble, NSW, leaving behind a close-knit community filled with plenty of support networks, he was hesitant about how he could make it all work.
He said the scholarship unlocked the opportunity to build connections and form friendships in the thriving community at St Andrew's.
"The scholarship has reduced the stress of moving from a small rural town to Sydney to pursue my studies," he said.
I love living in such a positive community environment at St Andrew's and have made friends that will be friends for life.
– 2024 St Andrew's College – CEF Scholarship recipient, Isaac Barrett.
For Anna Hunt, hailing from Grenfell in Central West NSW, population 2,500, the support of CEF and St Andrew's College has helped her excel in her Nursing studies at the University of Sydney and she now holds a Secretary role on the college's 2024 House Committee Team.
As a previous recipient of the scholarship, she has continued living at St Andrew's College this year, saying its environment and network of like-minded students make it a great option for regional students studying in Sydney.
Transitioning from a small rural school to Sydney was a challenging adjustment, but the community and support provided by CEF have significantly eased this transition, making the past three years a comfortable and enriching experience.
– 2023 St Andrew's College – CEF Scholarship recipient, Anna Hunt.
2023 St Andrews College - CEF Scholarship recipient and current St Andrew's resident, Anna Hunt.
Students who are interested in living at St Andrew's College, are encouraged to apply for a place as soon as possible.
Interested in this scholarship? You will need to have an offer of place at the college and be supported by your local CEF foundation to be considered for the scholarship.
