If you’re a Year 12 student staring at ANU costs and thinking, “I can get in… but can I afford to thrive?”, the tuckwell scholarship is one of the biggest game-changers on the table. It’s also one of the most competitive scholarships in Australia, so it pays to know the rules early and prepare your story properly.
The Tuckwell scholarship (ANU) is for exceptional school leavers with substantial financial support and a rigorous program of community, leadership development, and shared activities at ANU. The university of ANU offers up to 25 Tuckwell scholarships every year. The Tuckwell scholarship will fund undergraduate degrees for three to five years, with the funding value of the scholarship varying between 76,000 to 136,000 Australian dollars. Then in tuckwell scholarship 2026 (beginning at ANU in 2026), apart from fulfilling the conditions already discussed, additional criteria introduced involve nationality/residency criteria, suitable age group, completion of year 12 in Australia, and the ATAR cut-offs.
Applications process using ANU Direct with multi-step selection procedure with interview weekend.
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What is the Tuckwell Scholarship?
The Tuckwell sSholarship is ANU’s flagship scholarship program for high-achieving, high-character school leavers. ANU describes it as an undergraduate scholarship program that supports talented, motivated students through financial support, personal enrichment, and a community base on campus (Scholars House).
At PickMyUni, we explain it like this: it’s not just funding — it’s a built-in student community plus a program that expects you to contribute, not just collect a cheque.
Tuckwell scholarship benefits
Here’s what ANU publishes for the scholarship’s value and inclusions:
Total value
The scholarship is valued between AUD$76,000 and AUD$136,000 across 3–5 years of undergraduate study at ANU.
Annual payment and key inclusions (2026 rate)
As a Tuckwell Scholar, ANU lists:
AUD$27,600 per annum (2026 rate) for the length of your full-time undergraduate program (rate increases annually)
a one-off AUD$1,500 relocation grant for first-year scholars (from 2024)
guaranteed access to ANU-approved student accommodation
travel allowances (move to Canberra + two return trips per year)
support for parents to attend Commencement Weekend + ANU Sports Centre membership
PickMyUni take: If you’re moving from interstate or regional areas, those travel and accommodation supports can matter just as much as the headline $ figure.
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How many people get the Tuckwell scholarship?
ANU states it awards up to 25 Tuckwell Scholarships each year.
That means the bar is high — but also that selection is about fit and cohort balance, not just “top marks only.” (More on that in the selection criteria section.)
Tuckwell scholarship eligibility and requirements
If you’re aiming for the tuckwell scholarship 2026 (study commencing in 2026), the 2026 Application Guide lists these eligibility requirements:
You must:
be eligible to apply to ANU in 2026 via ANU Direct
complete Year 12 full-time in 2025 at a school located in Australia
be 17–19 years old on 17 February 2026 (date range specified in the guide)
be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or hold an Australian humanitarian visa, and have the required documents by the Stage 2 closing date listed in the guide
be predicted to achieve ATAR 95+ (or 90+ with EAS consideration, as described)
have studied at least one semester of English and one semester of Maths in Year 11 or 12
Candidacy requirement: scholars must commence an undergraduate program at ANU in Semester 1, 2026.
How to apply for a ANU Tuckwell scholarship
For most students, the anu tuckwell scholarship application becomes easier once you treat it like two linked applications.
Step 1: Submit your ANU Direct Application first
The 2026 guide says you must complete your ANU Direct Application before you can begin your Tuckwell application. After you submit and select that you want to apply for the scholarship, you’ll be emailed a unique Stage 1 link within 3–5 business days.
Step 2: Stage 1
Stage 1 asks for personal details and academic/extracurricular information, and the guide advises allocating about two hours to complete it. You’ll need:
your ANU Direct application completed
a school referee (Head of Year / Head Teacher) details
academic transcripts/results (Year 10, 11, 12 subjects completed)
uploaded school reports as a PDF
If you progress, the program may seek extra info from your Head of Year (the guide describes this as part of the process).
Step 3: Stage 2
Stage 2 includes longer questions to show how you think and how you demonstrate the tuckwell scholarship attributes. It also includes a school principal reference (with instructions in the guide on what happens if your principal can’t complete it).
Step 4: Stage 3 interview weekend
For the 2026 intake process, the guide describes an in-person interview weekend in Canberra, and says travel arrangements (within Australia), accommodation, and meals for candidates are arranged and paid for by the program.
Selection criteria
ANU says eligible applicants are considered against four criteria:
academic potential and achievements
other significant achievements
demonstration of the Tuckwell attributes
connection and commitment to Australia
Tuckwell scholarship attributes
The 2026 Application Guide lists a range of qualities the program measures applicants against (they don’t expect you to show every single one). Examples include:
smart, creative thinking
self-discipline
willingness to challenge yourself
resilience
humility
emotional intelligence
being reliable and open with people
PickMyUni take: your application reads strongest when each “quality” is backed by one clear story: what you did, what changed for someone else, what you learned.
Tuckwell scholarship interview questions
ANU doesn’t publish a fixed list of tuckwell scholarship interview questions, but it does explain the interview’s purpose: the panel wants to know you and how you demonstrate the attributes and your connection/commitment to Australia.
Here are example question styles that match those published criteria (use these as practice prompts, not predictions):
“Tell us about a time you changed your mind after learning something new. What did you do next?”
“What’s one problem in your community you’d like to work on during uni, and why you?”
“Describe a setback. What did you learn, and what would you do differently now?”
“What do you do when you’re the most capable person in the room… and when you’re not?”
“How do you want to contribute at ANU beyond your grades?”
PickMyUni prep trick: record yourself answering in 90 seconds. If you can’t land the point fast, your written answers probably need tightening too.
Tuckwell scholarship medicine
The tuckwell scholarship is for undergraduate study at ANU (3–5 years).So it’s not a direct “med school scholarship” on its own. Where it can help is funding and supporting your undergraduate years if you’re building a health or medicine-related pathway (example: medical science-style study, research, health policy, allied health interests). For medicine entry rules, always check ANU’s official degree and entry pages because requirements can change.
Contact details
ANU lists these contact options:
current scholars: tuckwell@anu.edu.au
prospective students: future.student@anu.edu.au
The 2026 Application Guide also lists tuckwell.applications@anu.edu.au for help with the application form.
How PickMyUni can help
If you’re weighing ANU vs another university, or picking degrees to match your strengths (and your scholarship story), PickMyUni can help you compare options and map a plan that makes sense for your goals.
If you’ve applied before (or you’re a current student), leave a review on PickMyUni — it’s one of the quickest ways to help the next Year 12 student make a smarter call.
