The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Reserve Bank of Australia have established the Brian Gray Scholarship program in memory of Brian Gray, who died on 24 August 2001 while serving as Executive General Manager of APRA’s Policy, Research and Consulting Division.

The Brian Gray Scholarship program will fund up to four scholarships annually, to the value of $12,500 each.

The scholarship purpose is to support students who intend to focus full time on their studies and research.

As part of the scholarship, students will devote a substantial amount of time to an agreed research topic benefiting, where possible, from access to APRA expertise and data. The research paper may be that which you are preparing for your Honours or Post-graduate Thesis or project. Scholarship holders are also given the option of working with APRA for a period during their final year of study to gain valuable work experience.

Who was Brian Gray?

Previous Brian Gray Scholarship Program winners

The application process

Applications are to be submitted via the on-line application process. This will require you to complete an application form including academic details, work experience, extra-curricular activities, an outline of your proposed research and its relevance to APRA, and two written references. The written references will need to be attached to the application form and so you may need to scan hard copies for this process.

Who can apply?

The Brian Gray Scholarship is open to any Australian/New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, studying a topic of relevance to APRA. The focus will be on 2008 honours year students, although 2008 postgraduate students can apply.

Students who are participating in, or who have in the past participated in, other Scholarship Programs that are funded or partly funded by APRA or the Reserve Bank of Australia are ineligible to apply e.g. Axiss Scholarship, UNSW Co-op Program, Reserve Bank Cadetship Program.

Eligible degrees and academic areas: Topics include the economics of regulation as well as those relating to banking, insurance and superannuation, particularly the prudential supervision and financial soundness of these industries, as well as econometric and statistical studies using APRA’s databases.

Other selection criteria: The two most important selection criteria are:

• The relevance of the proposed research to APRA’s mission, broadly defined; and
• Our assessment of the student’s potential to become a successful scholar and/or practitioner in academic and professional areas relevant to APRA.

Application closing date: Applications for the Brian Gray Scholarship Program 2008 close Friday, 9 May 2008.

Contact: Sheree Brodie on sheree.brodie@apra.gov.au

Click here for a copy of our brochure on current scholarship opportunities.