Premier's Anzac Memorial Scholarship 2025 - Student

Managed and delivered by the NSW Government Office for Veterans Affairs (OVA), the Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship gives selected high school History students the opportunity to travel on a study tour to develop their knowledge and understanding of the history of Australians at war. The Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship program was established by the NSW Government in 2008 and recipients have travelled to locations across Europe, Asia and Australia. The OVA delivers the tour in partnership with a specialist education tour operator and in consultation with the Department of Education and the History Teachers’ Association of NSW.

In 2025, up to 20 scholarships are available to eligible high school students. The scholarship is a fully funded* position on a prestigious study tour accompanied by a military historian, including meals, activities, travel, accommodation, and uniform. Scholarship recipients who have difficult financial circumstances may also be considered for additional support, such as for travel to and from the Pre-Tour Meeting, and travel to and from the study tour. Scholarship recipients may be invited to participate in media interviews and will appear on official NSW Government websites.

The itinerary of the study tour will include significant places in the Republic of Korea, including Seoul, Incheon and Gapyeong, to better understand the history of Australians serving during the Korean War. The tour will also travel to Singapore and visit military and cultural sites relating to the history of the Second World War including Kranji War Memorial and Changi Chapel and Museum. The tour will take place in the 2025 Term 3 school holidays, departing on Monday, 29 September and returning to Sydney on Friday, 10 October 2025. The full itinerary will be shared closer to the dates of the tour and will be subject to change, depending on circumstances, up to the point of departure and/or during the tour.

The key attributes required of Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholars are set out on page 4 of the Student Application Guidelines. These include having a strong interest in history, respect for Australian defence service and being a positive contributor to the community. The study tour is a challenging experience, with long days and multiple activities throughout the day and into the evening (see example of a typical tour day on page 5 of the Student Application Guidelines). Although scholars meet prior to the tour, travelling and sharing accommodation with new acquaintances may be stressful. The busy itinerary, limited downtime and the nature of group travel mean the tour can be physically, socially, and emotionally demanding. Because of this, it is essential that scholars are resilient, adaptable, and capable of successfully completing the program.

*Some additional costs will need to be covered by families such as passport application costs and travel to and from Sydney for the Pre-Tour Meeting and to and from the Study Tour.

To be considered for the 2025 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship, students applying must:

1. be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia
2. be enrolled in Year 10 or 11 at a NSW high school in 2025
3. be at least 16 years old by 31 December 2025
4. be studying History or Modern History at a NSW high school in 2025ˆ
5. have a current passport that will be valid for six months beyond the duration of the tour or agree to obtain a current passport that will be valid for six months beyond the duration of the tour, if awarded a scholarship
6. be available to attend a full day Pre-Tour Meeting at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park Sydney on Monday, 7 July 2025
7. be available to attend the tour in the Term 3 school holidays from Monday, 29 September to Friday, 10 October 2025
8. provide a personal 1,000-word essay responding to the question in Section 4 – How to apply for a scholarship.
9. provide a letter of endorsement from their school Principal and History teacher
10. provide a signed parental/guardian consent form to apply and participate in the program
11. agree to produce a piece/pieces of work as part of the program that may be published on NSW Government media platforms, including a research task and speech to be presented on the study tour.

ˆThe Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship is most beneficial to students studying Modern History. Students who are only studying Ancient History in 2025 are ineligible to apply.

The personal information collected on this application form may be used to assess and verify the details provided in the application; to contact the applicant, should the selection panel require further information; and to publicise and administer the Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship tour. The information may be accessed and used by the NSW Government. The applicant’s parent/caregiver consents to all such use by signing this form. If this application is successful, basic information such as the student's name and school will be published on the Office for Veterans Affairs website and may be provided to local MPs and media outlets.