Top Student Earns Top Award to Study Economics in Queensland, Australia

Musaeus College student from Thalawathugoda has earned the University of Queensland ( UQ) Centenary Scholarship for undergraduate studies in economics – just one a year is being offered to an international student.

Tharani Ransimala Weerasooriya (Ransi) chose economics as her field of study after obtaining 3A* s and 2As in her Advanced Level examinations (UK GCE Edexcel), including an A* for Economics and a World top mark in Accounting.

Inspired through self-study and wide reading, Ransi chose economics because “economics is not merely an academic discipline, but – for anybody who understands it profoundly – a way of life.”

“The School of Economics at the University of Queensland gives me access to a wide range of disciplines, … which subsequently leads to a more holistic understanding of social sciences” says Ransi. Her ultimate goal is to pursue development economics.

She has displayed a wide range of interests from scrabble, debating, quizzing, and compèring to learning Spanish during her schooling years.

“I view University of Queensland as a very attractive choice due to the multiplicity of opportunities it provides to learn languages and pursue courses on a variety of fields,” Ransi said in her scholarship application.

Ransi’s preparation has included a Research Internship at LIRNEasia, an ICT policy think tank active across the AsiaPacific, where she has learnt valuable skills that will help in her studies at UQ.

“My internship was my first insight into academic life and helped put in context many things I learnt in economics. My experiences at LIRNEasia kindled an interest in me to pursue environmental economics and behavioural economics at the University”.

Ransi said that she “was thrilled and honored to realise that I was the Centenary Scholar for 2015. I am extremely thankful to the School of Economics for its generosity in sponsoring me and the relief to me and my parents is beyond description.”

Prof Rodney Strachan, Head of the School of Economics said, “Ransi was an outstanding candidate for the Centenary Economics Scholarship. Economics is a growing field with huge job potential. It plays a critical role in providing solutions to some of socie- ty’s biggest challenges such as climate change, choices around energy sources and ensuring the future prosperity for all of the world’s people.”

“We were very impressed by Ransi’s academic record and her clear motivation to study economics. Her internship experience, wide reading in the subject and range of extra curricula interests also made her a stand out candidate. We look forward to welcoming Ransi to the School.”

The Centenary Scholarship is a full fee scholarship and living allowance to study a Bachelor of Economics at the School of Economics, University of Queensland. The Scholarship is awarded once a year in October to the most outstanding international candidate who has studied A levels or an International Baccalaureate.

My internship was my first insight into academic life and helped put in context many things I learnt in economics. My experiences at LIRNEasia kindled an interest in me to pursue environmental economics and behavioural economics at the University