The University of Sydney, also called Sydney Uni is a public research university that can be found in Sydney, Australia. Established in the year 1850, this 172 years old university boasts itself as both Australia’s first university and a world-leading university.

The University of Sydney is regarded as one of the six (6) Australia Universities pegged as ‘Sandstone universities’. It is a very unique university for several reasons, as such, its motto conveys that uniqueness, declaring – “sidere men eadem mutato ” – which when translated to English means “The stars change, the mind remains the same “. 

The University was established by the tenacity of one Wentworth Nicholson who argued creating a state secular university was important and would give an opportunity to ‘the child of every class, to become great and useful in the destinies of the country.’ The University was then established via the passage of the University of Sydney Act 1850, on the 24th of September 1850 and was assented to on the 1st of October 1850 by sir Charles Fitzroy.

Two years later, the University had its inauguration, on 11th October 1852, in what was known as the Big school Room and is currently the Sydney Grammar College. The University received a royal charter from Queen Victoria on the 27th day of February 1858. The Royal charter gave degrees offered by the university rank and recognition that is equal to those given by universities in the United Kingdom.

Sequel to that in 1859, the University of Sydney relocated to its current site in the Sydney suburb of Camperdown.

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Interesting to know is that the New England University College was first founded as a part of the University of Sydney in 1938 but moved on to become a separate university known as The University of New England in 1954. Under the terms of the Higher Education (Amalgamation) Act 1989, a series of bodies were incorporated into the University of Sydney. They are:

• Sydney Branch of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

• Cumberland College of Health Science

•  Sydney College of Arts of the Institute of Arts.

• Sydney Institute of Education of the Sydney College of Advanced Education (initially known as  Sydney’s Teachers College, changed in 1981).

• Institute of Nursing Studies of the Sydney College of Advanced Education.

• Guild Center of the Sydney College of Advanced Education.

• Orange Agricultural College (OAC) – was transferred to The University of Sydney from the University of England in 1994. In the year 2005, the University of Sydney transferred OAC to Charles Sturt University.

In 2010, the university was gifted a Picasso painting from the private collection of an anonymous donor. The painting, Jeune Fille Endormie, was donated on a firm understanding that it would be sold and the proceeds would be directed to medical research. In June 2011, the painting was auctioned and sold for €13.5 million.

University of Sydney’s Rankings

Like every other institution of learning, the University of Sydney hAs several rankings to its name.

These rankings aid interested students to know areas of strength and weakness of the university. It gives insight into the university’s capacity.

• The QS World University Rankings ranked the university as one of the top 25 universities for academic reputation.

• 38th in the world by QS World University Rankings 2022

• 4th most employable in the world by QS Graduate Employability Rankings

• 1st in Australia for graduate employability

• One of the first universities to admit students solely on academic merit

• One of the first universities to accept males and females on an equal opportunity scale.

• The University of Sydney’s main campus has been ranked in the top 10 of the world’s most beautiful universities by the British Daily Telegraph and Huffington’s Post.

• 2nd nationally and top-ranked university in New South Wales.

• By subject, the University was ranked in the top 50 across all five (5) broad subject areas which are:

• 15th in Arts and Humanities
• 39th in Engineering and Technology
• 15th in Life Sciences and Medicine
• 14th in Social sciences and Management
• 43rd in Natural sciences.

In other subjects, the University of Sydney ranked thus:

• 2nd in sports related subjects
• 10th in Anatomy and Physiology
• 11th in Veterinary Science
• 12th in Education
• 14th in Law and Legal Studies
• 15th in Nursing
• 16th in Architecture
• 28th in Accounting and Finance
• 18th in English Language and Literature,  amongst others.

The University of Sydney Spencer-Bennet NeuroMusic International Ph.D. scholarship Awards

This scholarship has been established to aid financially a Ph.D. student who is undertaking research into how musical training intervention benefits brain health in older people who are most likely to face the risk of developing dementia. 

The research focuses on neurobiological markers (structural and functional neuroimaging) and clinical features such as cognition, mood, cognitive self-efficacy, etc, that might underpin potential benefits of the music training intervention. 

The scholar’s academic itinerary would be composed of clinical activities, MRI acquisition, and analysis, as well as translational aspects of the project.

This scholarship is funded by a generous donation from Barbara Spencer. The scholarship derives its name from her.

Scholarship Award : 

About $35,950 per annum (for up to three years). The scholarship would provide a stipend allowance equivalent to the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) stipend rate for up to three years, depending on the student’s performance.

Scholarship Eligibility

Eligible countries

All national countries including the host country are eligible for the Spencer-Bennet NeuroMusic Scholarship award.

Eligible field/ course of study:

Applicants must be aspiring Ph.D. Holders in Psychology.

Application Process

Admission Criteria: 

The following criteria are mandated upon students to be met in order to be classified as eligible: 

• Applicants must be either domestic or international students.
• Have an offer to study or be enrolled in a full-time Ph.D. at the faculty of science (psychology)
• Holds either a first class or a second class upper honors degree, or a master’s degree in any related field with a substantial research component.

Supporting Documents

In addition to the admission requirements, the following documents are needed from candidates:

• Academic transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Referee report from the candidate’s academic supervisor
• A personal statement, stating clearly how beneficial the scholarship would be to the candidate’s research

Language Requirements

For countries that do not have the English Language as their primary language, the following English Language tests are required: 

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic
• Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL IBT)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)
• Cambridge English C1 Advanced (formerly known as CAE) 
• Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (formerly known as CPE)

Deadline: 

The application ends on the 6th of April, 2022.

Conclusion:

The University of Sydney Spencer-Bennett NeuroMusic International Scholarship is predominantly based at the Brain and Mind Center but will also be engaged with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where the intervention will be conveyed.