Westpac Australia-Asia Fellowship

The Westpac Australia-Asia Fellowship is a 9-month leadership development program for Australian university students who have completed a learning abroad program in the Asia Pacific region. Up to 36 fellowships are awarded annually by the Westpac Scholars Trust. The program includes two week-long residential programs exploring four countries across Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam), plus the Westpac Scholars Summit in Sydney. Students from all fields of study, including creative arts and music, are eligible to apply.

How the Westpac Australia-Asia Fellowship Works

Program Structure

The fellowship runs over 9 months and includes three mandatory in-person components:

1. Westpac Scholars Summit (Sydney): A two-day event in late April bringing together fellows from all five Westpac scholarship streams. The 2026 summit is scheduled for April 29 to 30, 2026.
2. Leadership Development Residential 1 (Singapore and Malaysia): A week-long cultural immersion and leadership program. The 2026 residential is scheduled for July 5 to 10, 2026.
3. Leadership Development Residential 2 (Indonesia and Vietnam): A second week-long residential focusing on adaptive leadership and access to thought leaders working at the interface of Australia's relationship with the Asia-Pacific. The 2026 residential is scheduled for October 4 to 9, 2026.

The program combines cultural immersion, collaboration, adaptive leadership training, and candid access to thought leaders. Fellows build Asia-capability skills and join the W100 Scholars Network, connecting with alumni across all five Westpac scholarship streams.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must:

1. Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
2. Be studying full-time at one of 14 participating Australian universities (undergraduate or postgraduate) during the fellowship year.
3. Hold or have graduated with a minimum of a credit average.
4. Have completed a learning abroad program in the Asia Pacific that was:
   • Undertaken in-person for a minimum of 1 semester (or 4 months)
   • An approved program conducted through an Australian university
   • Commenced during or after semester 1, 2023
   • Undertaken at one of 38 eligible destinations across the Asia Pacific
5. Be able to attend all three mandatory in-person program dates.

Students from all fields of study are encouraged to apply, including creative arts, music, and performing arts students who have completed a semester abroad in Asia.

Application Timeline (2026 Cycle)

• Applications open: 2026 (now closed)
• Online information session: 4:30pm AEDT, Tuesday 25 November 2025
• Applications close: 5:00pm AEDT, Tuesday 9 December 2025
• Finalist shortlisting: 9 to 22 December 2025
• National Selection Panel virtual interviews: 27 January to 4 February 2026
• Notification of outcome: 12 February 2026

Registrations for the 2027 program are now open via the Westpac Scholars website.

Real-World Example

An Australian music student at the University of Melbourne completes a semester exchange at the National University of Singapore, studying ethnomusicology and Southeast Asian music traditions. After returning to Australia, they apply for the Westpac Australia-Asia Fellowship. Their application highlights how the exchange shaped their understanding of Asian music markets and their goal of building cultural bridges through music.

If selected, they join 35 other fellows at the Sydney summit in April, then travel to Singapore and Malaysia in July for the first residential. They meet with arts leaders, visit cultural institutions, and build networks with professionals working in Australia-Asia relations. In October, they travel to Indonesia and Vietnam for the second residential, gaining exposure to music industries and cultural organizations in those countries.

The fellowship does not provide a cash stipend. It covers the costs of the residential programs (travel, accommodation, and program activities). The value lies in the leadership development, cultural immersion, and network building.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

This fellowship is not a traditional music scholarship. It does not fund instrument purchases, tuition, or recording projects. What it offers is leadership development and Asia-Pacific cultural immersion for Australian students who have already studied abroad in Asia.

If you are an Australian music student planning to study abroad in Asia, completing that exchange makes you eligible for this fellowship. The fellowship then extends your Asia engagement through structured leadership training and access to professional networks across four Southeast Asian countries.

For musicians interested in Asian music markets, cultural exchange, or cross-cultural collaboration, the residential programs provide direct exposure to arts ecosystems in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The W100 Scholars Network connects you with 1,000+ alumni across business, technology, social change, and research fields, which can open doors for interdisciplinary collaborations.

The key requirement is that you must have already completed a semester abroad in the Asia Pacific before applying. If you have not yet studied abroad, plan your exchange first, then apply for the fellowship upon return.

Related Opportunities

• Music Scholarships Directory for other Australian and international funding opportunities
• Music Schools Directory to find Australian and Asian university music programs
• Performing Rights Organizations Directory to learn about PROs in the Asia-Pacific region
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your streaming earnings
• Visit the Westpac Scholars website for full eligibility details and 2027 registration