Australia-Asia Fellowship

FAQs

What is the Westpac Australia-Asia Fellowship?

Fellows attend our annual Westpac Scholars Summit in Sydney, and participate in two week-long, culturally immersive Residential programs. The first of these programs will take place in Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The second Residential program will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Fellows also gain lifelong membership to the Westpac 100 Scholars Network (W100). This fellowship is one of five programs offered by Westpac Scholars Trust, backing people from all walks of life who have the drive and ideas to shape the future of Australia. The Trust partners with Australia’s leading universities to offer 100 scholarships a year, forever.

Which destinations in the Asia-Pacific are eligible for my previous overseas experience?

The following 38 destinations are included in eligible previous Asia-Pacific experiences:

How much is the fellowship worth? 

The fellowship is valued at $16,000. This funds fellow participation for most aspects of the program, including airfares, accommodation, logistics, transportation, meals, and other expenses. Fellows may incur some minor expenses relating to travel and other incidentals. Please note, you do not receive any in-pocket funding as part of this fellowship, all expenses are paid on your behalf directly to the program organisers.

What is not covered by the fellowship? 

You are responsible for funding and organising your own valid visa, passport and travel insurance for Residential programs. All three are mandatory to participate in the programs and maintain your eligibility for the fellowship. We will provide you with an official letter which details your reason for entry and can work with you to provide any other documentation necessary.

There may be minor incidental meals incurred while in-country, for example, at low-cost food markets where cash is required. We will do our best to minimise these instances, but fellows will be advised to carry a certain amount of their own cash while in-country.

What kinds of previous long-term Asia-Pacific experiences are eligible? 

Previous Asia-Pacific experiences must have been:

• A minimum of 4 months in person (or 1 semester)
• An approved/official program administered through an Australian university
• Commenced during or after semester 1, 2023
• Undertaken at one of the 38 eligible destinations

Assuming it meets the above criteria, this may include:

• International exchange/study abroad (min. 1 semester)
• International internships
• International volunteering
• In-country language training
• Research

What it does not include:

• Recreational travel
• Living abroad
• Working abroad, if not undertaking a work-integrated learning/internship program through an Australian university
• Studying at an overseas institution, if not undertaking an exchange/study abroad program through an Australian university
• Virtual exchanges/study abroad programs

If you are unsure whether your previous Asia-Pacific experience is eligible, please contact: westpacscholars@westpac.com.au

I'm in my final year of university, can I still apply? 

You must be studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree during the year of your fellowship. If you apply in 2025 for the 2026 application round, you must be studying for all of 2026.

What degrees are eligible for the fellowship? 

• Undergraduate degrees, including Honours, with a minimum of a credit average
• Postgraduate degrees, including Masters, PhD, Graduate Diploma/Certificate

Postgraduate degrees must be a minimum of 1 year. You must be studying full-time during your fellowship year. 

Can I defer my fellowship? 

No. You must undertake your fellowship program (including attendance at the Westpac Scholars Summit, and both Leadership Development Residentials), during the year of award.

What happens during the leadership development residentials? 

Workshops

Our workshops focus on experiential learning, where concepts are explored and then put straight into practice in small groups.

Panel discussions
Our panel discussions bring together leaders from across industry, government and civil society for in-depth discussions on issues of regional importance.

In-conversation sessions
In-conversation sessions feature informal yet structured conversations with distinguished guests. These sessions provide a unique opportunity for you to interact, ask questions, and delve deeply into specific topics.

Reflection sessions
Reflection sessions provide us all the opportunity to reflect on the previous day’s sessions and consider how we are showing up as our best selves. They are designed to stimulate conversation, pose challenging questions and build adaptive leadership capabilities.

Social events
Our social events are designed to support you to create networks and explore the region. From formal dinners to an Amazing Race, the Asia-Pacific is one of the most exciting regions on the planet and we want you to explore it to its fullest.

What happened to the Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship? 

In 2025, Westpac Scholars Trust conducted a review of the Asian Exchange Scholarship to consider how to best have impact in our Asia-Pacific Leadership (then ‘Australia in Asia’) impact area. The review concluded that the program was duplicative of other scholarships that offer in-pocket funding for long-term exchanges.

Westpac Scholars Trust set-out to redesign a program that leveraged our strengths of university partnerships and leadership development and occupy a niche in the Asia-capable ecosystem that maximised the impact of our investment. The result of this process is the Australia-Asia Fellowship. This fellowship is the successor to the Asian Exchange Program, and alumni of both programs will be closely connected through their shared interests and objectives of a more Asia-capable Australia.