Scholarships

The recipient of the Robert Poate Scholarship is someone who is determined to use their outstanding ability and natural talent to realise their full potential. In so doing you will endeavour to make a difference in the world.

This Scholarship is awarded in recognition of the values that were upheld by Robert Poate in his time at Canberra Grammar School and in his career in the Australian Army.

The attributes of a Robert Poate Scholar:

Willing to take on a challenge – you are not one who will sit back and let an opportunity be missed. You will get in there and take on the challenges that come your way

Prepared to take the lead – you are prepared to step up to take the lead when this is required. You will not sit back and just let others ‘carry you’

Operate as part of a team – you understand the importance and strength of a team and work well in this environment where success is determined by the strength of the team

Self-motivated – your drive comes from within and you strive to achieve at your highest in all that you do

Outward looking – your focus is not merely on your school life but it goes beyond this where you are engaging with the broader community; and

Resilient – you understand that there will be setbacks but you are prepared to persevere even when the situation you are in is difficult.

The Robert Poate Scholarship will provide:

– Funding to cover 25% of the cost of tuition fees for Years 11 & 12 at Canberra Grammar School

– An opportunity to meet and mentor the younger scholars of the school to help them realise their potential; and

– To achieve a high grade point average in their studies each and every semester.

Canberra Grammar School is pleased to offer the Terry Snow Scholarship for Global Studies for a student wishing to take the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. In recognition of CGS Alumni, Terry Snow, and the contribution he has made to the School over many years, the Scholarship will be for a student who demonstrates excellent academic potential and a commitment to a global outlook.

The attributes of a Terry Snow Scholar:

Intellectually curious – you have high academic aspirations and are motivated by a desire to understand the world from multiple perspectives, building on the knowledge and skills acquired in a broad range of subjects and experiences

Effective communicator – you understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in multiple languages. You work successfully and willingly in partnership with others

Principled – You act with integrity and honesty. You have a strong sense of social justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, group and communities, either local or international; and

Accepting and broad-minded – You are committed to understanding your own cultures and you are equally open to the perspectives, values and traditions of others.

The Terry Snow Scholarship will provide:

-Funding to cover 25% of the cost of tuition fees for Years 11 & 12 at Canberra Grammar School

-An opportunity to meet and mentor the younger scholars of the school to help them realise their potential; and

-To achieve a high grade point average in their studies each and every semester.

The recipient of the Paul McKeown Academic Scholarship is someone who has a demonstrably outstanding academic ability. The Scholarship is to be awarded in recognition of the contribution and achievements of former Headmaster, Paul McKeown and his belief in and support for academic pursuit.

Up to two scholarships for students studying in Years 11 and 12 will be offered, at least one of which will be awarded to an external applicant.

The attributes of a Paul McKeown Scholar:

Problem Solver and Thinker – you have excellent problem-solving skills and the ability for sequential and logical thinker

Willing to take on a challenge – you are not one who will sit back and let an opportunity be missed. You will get in there and take on the challenges that come your way

Self-motivated – your drive comes from within and you strive to achieve at your highest in all that you do

Outward looking – your focus is not merely on your school life but it goes beyond this where you are engaging with the broader community and how you can contribute to this; and

Resilient – you understand that there will be setbacks but you are prepared to persevere even when the situation you are in is difficult.

The Paul McKeown Scholarship will provide:

-Funding to cover 25% of the cost of tuition fees for Years 11 & 12 at CGS.

The recipient of the Hazlehurst Scholarship for Science and Technology is someone who has a demonstrably outstanding talent for ICT or Science. Applicants will have excellent logical and problem solving skills and be aspiring to a career in Science, Technology or related fields.

The Scholarship is to be awarded in recognition of the contribution and achievements of CGS Alumni, Peter Hazlehurst. It will be offered to a student with a keen interest in, or outstanding talent for, either ICT or Science and Technology which can be demonstrated by a wish to study Software Design and Development or Science and Technology in Years 11 and 12.

The attributes of a Hazlehurst Scholar:

Problem Solver and Thinker – you have excellent problem solving skills, a high level of mathematical skill, and the ability for sequential and logical thinker

Willing to take on a challenge – you are not one who will sit back and let an opportunity be missed. You will get in there and take on the challenges that come your way in the areas of Science and/or Technology

Self-motivated – your drive comes from within and you strive to achieve at your highest in all that you do

Outward looking – your focus is not merely on your school life but it goes beyond this where you are engaging with the broader community and how you can contribute to this; and

Resilient – you understand that there will be set backs but you are prepared to persevere even when the situation you are in is difficult.

The Hazlehurst Scholarship will provide:

-Funding to cover 25% of the cost of tuition fees for Years 11 & 12 at CGS.

The recipient of the Tim Murray Music Scholarship is someone who has a demonstrably outstanding musical ability. The Scholarship is to be awarded in recognition of the contribution and passion for music of former Headmaster, Tim Murray and his belief in and support for the performing arts.

The application criteria for the Tim Murray scholarship are:

-A minimum instrumental standard of 7th Grade AMEB or the equivalent at the time of application

-Must be enrolled in either HSC or IB academic music for years 11 & 12

-Must be prepared to contribute to the co-curricular music life of the School; and

-An audition and interview.

One scholarship for Years 11 and 12 is offered and is open to new or current students seeking to enter Year 11.

The attributes of a Tim Murray Music Scholar:

Music is your passion – Showing evidence of outstanding musical potential and a desire to fully commit to the musical life of CGS

Commitment – To achieving individual musical excellence and encouraging excellence in others

Leadership and Enthusiasm – An excellent role model, willing to share your musical skills with other students across the whole school; and

The Future – Demonstrate a desire to pursue tertiary music study.

The Tim Murray Music Scholarship will provide:

-Funding to cover 25% of the cost of tuition fees for Years 11 & 12 at CGS.

The Old Boys’ Association Scholarship is for a student – boy or girl – who through their achievement shows the promise of making a distinctive contribution either to the academic, or the co-curricular, or the pastoral, social or spiritual life of the School.  The Old Boys’ Association Scholarship was created in memory of the legacy left by the Old Boys’ Association to the CGS Foundation.

The application criteria for the Old Boys’ Association Scholarship are:

-The Old Boys’ Association Scholarship is open for applicants from within the School (Year 10) or those outside and seeking to join Year 11.

The attributes of an Old Boys’ Scholar:

Contributes to the life of the School – you have a desire for distinctive achievements and/or show promise of making a distinctive contribution to the academic, co-curricular, pastoral, social or spiritual life of the School

The Old Boys’ Association Scholarship will provide:

-Funding to cover 25% of the cost of tuition fees for Years 11 & 12 at CGS

Year 7 CGS Foundation Scholarships

Applications for the 2027 Year 7 CGS Foundation Scholarships for Academic Excellence and the CGS Foundation Scholarship for Musical Excellence are now open.

For information and to apply, click here.

Applications for remote and overseas students close on Sunday, 9 November 2025.

Applications for all students (except remote and overseas students) close on Sunday, 16 November 2025.

All CGS Foundation Scholarship applicants will sit an examination on Thursday, 20 November 2025, at Canberra Grammar School – Senior School Campus.

Applicants who are not awarded a Year 7 CGS Foundation Scholarship but whose academic examination performance ranks them in the top 25% of external applicants will be given priority enrolment to Year 7 upon application to the School. This priority is not transferrable to other years of entry and is subject to satisfying the entry criteria and application procedures outlined in the School’s Admissions Policy.

Canberra Grammar School engages an external company, Academic Assessment Services (AAS), to facilitate all scholarship examinations to ensure transparency and fairness. CGS Scholarships may not be awarded entirely at the School’s discretion if no suitable applicant is identified.

If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions Office here.

The Year 7 CGS Foundation Scholarship for Academic Excellence

Canberra Grammar School awards up to four CGS Foundation Scholarships for Academic Excellence to prospective or current CGS students entering Year 7. At least two Scholarships for Academic Excellence may be awarded to external applicants.

The CGS Foundation Scholarship for Academic Excellence is awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding academic merit in the Scholarship Examination.

The Year 7 CGS Foundation Scholarship for Musical Excellence

Canberra Grammar School awards one CGS Foundation Scholarship for Musical Excellence to a prospective or current CGS student entering Year 7.

The CGS Foundation Scholarship for Musical Excellence is awarded to a student who demonstrates an outstanding musical ability.

Through the generous donations from a member of the Canberra community, we are delighted to offer the following Organ Scholarships open to applicants entering Years 6 to 10.

Applications are open throughout the month of February, one year prior to the first year of Scholarship (i.e. February 2023 for 2024 Scholarship).

The Ann Jory Music Scholarship
This is a rare and exceptional opportunity for ongoing piano students to extend their keyboard abilities and master a new instrument: the organ. The Ann Jory Scholarship is awarded to the successful candidate for a three-year period, subject to annual review. This Scholarship supports the cost of organ tuition with the school’s organ tutor up to a value of $2,500 per annum. The full cost of annual tuition (45-minute, weekly lessons) is $3,250; the parents/guardians of the scholar are required to pay the balance ($750).

CGS Organ Scholarships
Up to three CGS Organ Scholarships may be awarded each year, for one year only with the possibility of renewal. A Scholarship supports the cost of organ tuition with the school’s organ tutor up to a value of $2,500 per annum. The full cost of annual tuition (45-minute, weekly lessons) is $3,250; the parents of the scholarship recipients are required to pay the balance ($750).

Kerry Allen OAM was a dedicated Canberra Grammar School educator from 1978 to 2013 who had a passion for all things music and singing. The Kerry Allen OAM  Vocal Scholarship will be established to carry on Kerry’s legacy and to extend opportunities to young students who share her passion and gift for music and singing.

The Kerry Allen OAM Vocal Scholarship is designed to provide primary-aged students with financial support to explore and extend their gift in singing, with priority given to students with a financial disadvantage.

The Scholarship is awarded to the successful candidate for a three-year period, subject to annual review.