Rhodes scholarship success for UNSW

13 December 2004

UNSW has two new Rhodes Scholars - science/law graduate David Winterton and arts honours graduate Jeni Whalan.

Both were recently awarded the prestigious scholarship in the Australia At Large category. A total of 11 Rhodes scholarships were awarded for study at the University of Oxford in 2005.

As part of his scholarship, David will undertake a coursework masters degree in law (BCL) followed by a one-year research thesis (MPhil). "I am particularly interested in private law, and one of the areas I'd like to examine as part of my thesis is ways that private law can be used to deal with public wrongs," he says. "I am looking forward to an amazing intellectual challenge as well as taking advantage of all the sporting and cultural opportunities at Oxford."

Jeni, who received first class honours in politics and international relations in 2003, will use her scholarship to study for a doctorate (DPhil) in international relations, examining peace diplomacy and human security.

"I am thrilled to win a Rhodes," she says. "I'm passionate about the area that I will be researching in - finding new ways of responding to humanitarian crises and ethnic conflicts we are seeing around the world. To be able to do it at Oxford is an amazing opportunity."

Rhodes scholarships are awarded on four criteria: leadership, community service, academic and sporting achievements.