Scotch College

New scholarship honours historic Scottish links

A new PhD scholarship will honour Scotch’s historic links with the north-east of Scotland.

Words: MR DAVID ASHTON

Scotch College has historic links with the north-east of Scotland, and in particular with the University of Aberdeen. For example, Scotch’s founder, the Rev James Forbes, studied mathematics and theology at the university; and our second Principal, Alexander Morrison received his doctorate at Aberdeen.

The University of Aberdeen is proposing to commemorate these historic links in a highly innovative way. It will award a new PhD scholarship for research on any topic associated with Australia, Scottish-Australian relations, and/or Scots in Australia. The aim is to ensure the scholarship recipient studies at the University of Aberdeen, and graduates in years when a number of key anniversaries relating to the historic links will be commemorated.

These are:

• The 200th anniversary of the birth of James Forbes (4 April 2013)
• The 110th anniversary of the death of Alexander Morrison (31 May 2013)
• The 175th anniversary of Forbes holding the first Presbyterian service in Melbourne (3 February 2013)
• The 185th anniversary of Morrison’s birth (3 February 2014)
• The 140th anniversary of Morrison receiving a Doctor of Laws from the University of Aberdeen, and the 160th anniversary of Morrison’s appointment as Principal of Scotch (June 2016)
• The 165th anniversary of Forbes’ death (12 August 2016), and
• The 165th anniversary of the founding of Scotch (2016)

The university hopes to secure future funding to enable it to offer recurring scholarships to honour these historic ties.

To be eligible for the award, applicants must be citizens of Australia liable to overseas tuition rates. First preference will be given to Scotch College alumni and their children or grandchildren, then to residents of Melbourne. The closing date for applications is Friday 6 April 2012.

More information is available at www.abdn.ac.uk/cass/prospective/bursaries or at oscanet.com.au.