UQ awards $15 000 economics scholarships

Two top Queensland Year 12 students have won the inaugural UQ Economics Scholarships covering full tuition fees for the duration of the University’s three-year Economics degree.

Gemma Aryriss, 17, of St Ursula’s College in Toowoomba will enrol in a dual degree in Economics and Law and Harry Cominos, also 17, of St. Joseph’s Nudgee College will enrol in the Bachelor of Economics degree (the only one offered in Queensland).

Both Gemma and Harry scored the coveted OP1 and have broad academic, cultural and sporting achievements.

Gemma and Harry are examples of a resurgence of interest in economics that reflects growing awareness of the complexity of the rapidly changing global economic environment.

“Knowledge of economics is vital to understanding the underlying issues in any significant world event,” said Gemma, who, like many students is now seeking to balance specific vocational skills with broad analytical training by combining economics into a dual degree.

Head of UQ’s School of Economics Professor John Foster said the discipline offered opportunities to study social, environmental and economic policy, business strategy, econometrics and game theory.

“People’s perceptions are now catching up with the exciting developments the discipline of economics has experienced in the past twenty years – for example game theory is the subject at the heart the forthcoming Russell Crowe film A Beautiful Mind,” Professor Foster said.

UQ Economics also offers various international scholarships which has attracted elite students from Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

To find out more about Economics and the chance to study at UQ’s School of Economics, contact - a.lindley@economics.uq.edu.au. For further information about studying at UQ and the School of Economics, you can visit our websites at www.economics.uq.edu.au and www.studyatuq.net/ .

Media: For more information contact Peter McCutcheon at UQ Communications (tel. 07 3365 1088)