Will Higginbotham - Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Media and Communications and Politics and International Studies)

Tell us a little bit about yourself before you came to The University of Melbourne

I've been at the University for a while now. I'll be finishing it up at the end of this year after completing my Honours. I actually first got involved with the University in Year 12 through the extension program so I feel like I've been rattling around for a while now. Before then I was a student at Strathmore Secondary College and I always knew I wanted to end up at the University of Melbourne.

How did the 110 Scholarship help you with your studies?

The University has been a tremendous support for me. Over 2014-2015 the University helped me financially to study in the United States of America. I certainly could not have stayed overseas for as long as I did without the generosity of the scholarship I received. In 2016 after I'd been back for a while, my personal situation changed which made me eligible for the Faculty of Arts 110 scholarship. I did not expect to get it at all but I'm so glad I did because when it came through it took a great deal of financial pressure off me.

The scholarship was incredibly helpful, allowing me to focus on getting the most out of University in my final year. It really enabled me to achieve that balance in my final year between working, studying, an internship, social life and all of those things that go into making your final year so enjoyable.

What are your ambitions for the future?

After my degree is completed I'm setting my sights on working overseas - in the USA or UK. Last year I was lucky enough to do some work for the BBC in the USA and after that experience I think I would like to continue going down that road.

Studying for my Masters is definitely on the cards but not in the immediate future. I love being at University so I'm confident that my time with higher education is not over yet.

Will received the Faculty of Arts 110 Scholarship in 2016. To help us support students like him you can donate to the scholarship online or contact Monica Hanns for a giving form at monica.hanns@unimelb.edu.au or +61 3 8344 2638.

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