Left to Right : Ransimala Weerasooriya (Musaeus College) , Ramith Samayamanthree (AIS), Deshal Hemachandra (Leeds International)
Ranked in the world’s top 50 universities, the University of Queensland is one of Australia’s top research and teaching institutions. For more than a century, the university has educated and worked with outstanding people to deliver knowledge leadership for a better world. Set on the outskirts of the river city of Brisbane, the University of Queensland provides a campus lifestyle amidst beautiful lakes and gardens. This is a truly multicultural city and university – 25% of students are international coming from more than 120 countries around the world. The city regularly hosts notable international events such as the recent G20 in 2015.
UQ’s School of Economics which offers the Centenary Scholarship is consistently ranked in the top 2% of research-intensive economic departments in the world. The School is a leading teaching and research centre both nationally and internationally. Economics provides meaningful solutions to many of the big issues facing our world, such as climate change, the ageing population and assisting economies to be competitive in a globalised world.
The challenging academic environment at the School helps attract the brightest and best students in Australia and abroad, there are over 1200 students enrolled in the School, including more than 450 international students from 48 countries.
UQ's School of Economics has been offering a Centenary scholarship since 2010 to celebrate its 100 year anniversary. It is awarded to one student selected from applicants for Bachelor of Economics from all over the world. The Scholarship covers 100 percent tuition fees for the 3 years program, a living allowance to the value of AUD20, 000 per year, an annual return economy airfare from the country of residence and a one off book allowance of AUD500. It is a proud achievement that for the last 3 years this top international scholarship has gone to a Sri Lankan student. Here are their stories.
Deshal Hemachandra from Leeds International School in Panadura was the recipient of the 2014 Scholarship. He passed the London GCE A/L examination with 4A*.
Having completed two years in UQ, Deshal is so pleased that he made several excellent choices in his life at the present time - they being selecting to do tertiary studies overseas, selecting Australia as the country of his choice, applying to enroll in UQ , accepting the offer of a scholarship and choice of Economics as the future career of his. UQ being ranked very high internationally gave him the comfort that it would offer him quality and satisfying employability on graduation. He selected Economics over Business and Commerce after very methodical research which made him realize that as a Bachelor of Economics student at UQ one can pursue individual interests and also professional specializations through a wide choice of courses and study areas including business economics; economic history; econometrics; environmental and resource economics; financial markets; labour economics; health economics; international trade and development; macroeconomics; and microeconomics.
When asked what are the best things about his program at UQ he said that the academic staff at UQ who are very friendly and approachable showed him the right pathway to achieve his dream career.
Ransimala Weerasooriya a former head girl of Musaeus College in Colombo did very well in her London GCE Advanced Level examination with 3A* and 2A passes. She was a 2015 winner of this Scholarship. She did her own research about studying in Australia in her chosen field which was Economics. She found UQ School of Economics to be one of the best schools in Australia with high ranking for economic studies. Having completed first year of studies she is very happy with her selections.
The scholarship has made her determined to live up to the level of previous scholarship winners or even surpass them and to bring credit to UQ and to the school of economics by doing exceptionally well. She has already set her eyes on doing the Honors Year and later on get a PhD. Eventually, she wants to become an Economist in future and help Sri Lanka in some way to overcome its current economic problems.
She lives in a Residential College of the university and says that this has probably been the most enjoyable and eye opening experience in her life. She has made a lot of friends and says "Brissie" has a life of its own with its mix of various cultures, a thriving social life and an exciting arts scene. She is a member of the UQ Sri Lanka (UQSL) association which represents the Sri Lankan students at UQ. It organizes various events such as get-togethers and picnics.
Ramith Samayamanthree who completed his secondary education at the Asian International School (AIS) is the 2016 winner of this Centenary Scholarship, having passed the London GCE A/L examination with 2A* & 3A passes. He has enrolled and looking forward to the new chapter in his life in Australia in Brisbane at UQ and studying in the School of Economics.
He says that he was overwhelmed of winning this scholarship and was elated that it is offered only to one student every year which made it even more special.
He had his sight firmly set on Economics when he started doing his secondary school studies. Economics he says "is central to an understanding of business, markets, trade, government policies, international issues, globalization, health, development, and the environment.
He was full of praise for his teachers at the Asian International School who guided him to maintain the optimal balance between studies and extra-curricular activities, he being an outstanding sportsman who excelled in Athletics, swimming and basketball.
All three students were assisted by Edlocate in their enrolments.Their advice to future students from Sri Lanka is to do hard and systemic work at school have focus in what they want to choose as a career, select good university like the UQ, make the best of their stay and to enjoy living and studying in Australia.
If you would like to find out more about the University of Queensland Economics school and the extensive range of programs on offer and scholarships contact Edlocate (79/5 Horton Place, Colombo 7) on 0771- 770361.
