Frequently Asked Questions

We help you graduate with much more than just a degree. We show you how to think differently and unleash your creativity. See things from multiple perspectives. Become a leader through academic rigour, professional and personal development, and community engagement.
Gain access to mentors, internships, and real-world experience through events, projects and international partnerships. Grow the skills you need to stand out – from your peers and, most importantly, to potential employers.

When you complete the program you will graduate with The Academy Citizen Scholar Award noted on your AHEGS (Graduation Statement)

As an Academy member, you will achieve your potential by interacting with innovative education, working and learning in interdisciplinary environments, and engaging with local and international communities to grow as a leader who is a true changemaker.

To join, you must apply for membership.   

The criteria to join is:

• 20 hours of Community Participation
• An ATAR of 80+ (including bonus points) for future students, or a GPA of 5.0 or above for current Western students
• An impact statement  

Please note that students with a GPA of 6.0 or above are not required to meet the criteria of 20 hours of Community Participation but we encourage you complete this section to strengthen your application. The application portal is linked on The Academy website.

Academy members are working toward attaining the Citizen Scholar Award and accumulate points through engaging with events and activities, and completing community participation hours. There is no set time limit to do this. You might complete it in 2 years, or in 4 years. The pace is set by you.

We have a weekly e-newsletter called 'Inside the A' which is sent to members fortnightly. There’s also our public Facebook page for announcements, and our members-only Facebook page for chats, discussions and more information. We use CareerHub and have a page on the uni teaching website called vUWS.

The Academy offers the flexibility to choose the activities and programs you want to be involved in so that you can embrace your passions and engage with richer academic, community, personal or professional development. You accumulate points as you complete activities.
 
Students are required to complete 20 hours of community participation whilst in the program.

No. Our program is designed to complement your base program of study.

Yes. If you meet the above criteria and you accept the invitation to join, you’re in.

The Citizen Scholar Award is what you graduate with when you complete the program. This will be included in your AHEGS (Graduation Certificate) when you graduate.

The Bachelor of Creative Leadership is a bolt-on degree program that is available to all students, not just Academy members.  

The Bachelor of Creative Leadership (BCL) focuses on the essential skills that employers are looking for beyond your disciplinary knowledge. This interdisciplinary degree enables you to leverage your employability by developing skills in leadership and ethics, critical and systems thinking, creativity and innovation, logic and argumentation, independent learning and the creation of knowledge.  

With innovation in its DNA, teaching involves guest talks from high-profile speakers and essays are replaced by practical assessments such as inaugural speeches, green and white papers, and elevator pitches. The subjects are delivered in intensive workshops that are scheduled outside the conventional timetable to comfortably accommodate your base degree.  

This concurrent degree of eight subjects can be combined with any degree at Western and you can graduate with two degrees instead of one.   

The BCL isn’t just a degree — it’s a lifelong asset. Equip yourself with skills that transcend the workplace and enrich every aspect of your life. 

This program is available to high-achieving students only. To be eligible, you need a minimum ATAR of 85.

No.