Scholarships
Our scholarships support recipients with Cochlear hearing solutions to undertake university or vocational study and help fulfill their life ambitions.
What you'll find on this page
- Learn about the scholarships available for Cochlear hearing implant recipients
- Who is eligible to apply for a scholarship?
- How to apply
In honour of our innovators, Cochlear is proud to support the academic excellence of our recipients through two scholarships for further study:
- The Graeme Clark Scholarship for Cochlear™ Nucleus® implant recipients.
- The Anders Tjellström Scholarship for Cochlear™ Baha® and Osia® implant recipients.
We take pride in seeing our recipients use their hearing implant system to help them succeed in their studies and reach personal goals.
We award our scholarships based on a demonstrated commitment to the ideals of leadership and humanity, academic achievements, and extracurricular and community involvement.
Find out more about each scholarship below, and please read the full terms and conditions before applying.
Academic scholarships
The Work of Graeme Clark
Professor Graeme Clark was the foundation Professor of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Melbourne. The pioneering work of his University Department led to the first research implant "bionic ear" being "switched on" in 1978 and the first Nucleus® Implant in 1982. Professor Clark's lifelong commitment to finding a solution for the hearing impaired has resulted in a revolution not only for those affected but also their family and friends.
The Graeme Clark Scholarship
The Cochlear Graeme Clark Scholarship is an achievement award open to Cochlear Nucleus Implant recipients looking to further themselves by undertaking university or vocational studies.
Who is eligible for the award?
The Graeme Clark Scholarship is open to recipients who are:
- A recipient of a Cochlear Nucleus system.
- A citizen and resident of the United Kingdom or Ireland.
- Aged 16 years or over at application deadline.
Candidates must also be:
- Currently studying at or accepted onto a full-time university or other tertiary education course.
Cochlear employees or their family members are not eligible to apply. Each winner can only receive the scholarship one time.
When does the scholarship application process start?
- Scholarship applications will open in January of each year.
- Completed applications must be submitted via email by March 31st of each year (incomplete applications will not be considered).
- Completed applications must be emailed to ukawards@cochlear.com, posted applications are not accepted.
What is the value of the scholarship?
The scholarship is worth £6,000 (€7,000) in total and paid directly to the winner in two equal instalments over two years. See terms and conditions for more detail.
How is the winner selected?
- One Graeme Clark Scholarship is awarded per year, on the basis of academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to the ideals of leadership and humanity.
- Consideration is also given to the applicant's extracurricular activities and community involvement.
- Applications go through two reviews by an internal Scholarship Committee and the final winner is selected by a committee of external hearing healthcare professionals.
How will the winner be notified?
We will contact the winner via email within three months of the application deadline date.
Apply for the Graeme Clark scholarship
The Work of Anders Tjellström
Anders Tjellström is an ENT with the Department of Otolaryngology at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Tjellström's doctoral work at the University of Gothenburg brought him into contact with Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark, a pioneer in the field of osseointegration, in 1972. Tjellström and Brånemark collaborated with engineer Bo Håkansson to create the first bone conduction hearing implant. Ever since the first patient was treated with the Baha System, Tjellström has worked tirelessly to restore hearing to thousands of people around the world.
The Anders Tjellström Scholarship
The Cochlear Anders Tjellström Scholarship is an achievement award open to Baha and Osia recipients looking to further themselves by undertaking university or vocational studies. Applicants must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or Ireland.
Who is eligible for the award?
The Anders Tjellström Scholarship is open to recipients who are:
- A recipient of a Cochlear Baha or Osia system.
- A citizen and resident of the United Kingdom or Ireland.
- Aged 16 years or over at application deadline.
Candidates must also be:
- Currently studying at or accepted onto a full-time university or other tertiary education course.
Cochlear employees or their family members are not eligible to apply. Each winner can only receive the scholarship one time.
When does the scholarship application process start?
- Scholarship applications will open in January of each year.
- Completed applications must be submitted via email by March 31st of each year (incomplete applications will not be considered).
- Completed applications must be emailed to ukawards@cochlear.com, posted applications are not accepted.
What is the value of the scholarship?
The scholarship is worth £6,000 (€7,000) in total and paid directly to the winner in two equal instalments over two years. See terms and conditions for more detail.
How is the winner selected?
- One Anders Tjellström Scholarship is awarded per year, on the basis of academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to the ideals of leadership and humanity.
- Consideration is also given to the applicant's extracurricular activities and community involvement.
- Applications go through two reviews by an internal scholarship committee and the final winner is selected by a committee of external hearing healthcare professionals.
How will the winner be notified?
We will contact the winner via email within three months of the application deadline date.
Apply for the Anders Tjellström scholarship
Scholarship terms and conditions
Cochlear Europe Limited (“Cochlear”) offers two Scholarships for recipients of Cochlear™ Nucleus®, Baha® or Osia® systems, the Graeme Clark and Anders Tjellström Scholarships for students who are or will be (after secondary school or college) pursuing either (i) a bachelor’s or graduate degree at a qualified college or university or (ii) a vocational or technical certification at a qualified vocational or technical school (“Graeme Clark Academic Scholarship,” “Andres Tjellström Academic Scholarship,” or, collectively, the “Scholarships”) and who meet the criteria described below (the “Eligibility Criteria”). All Scholarship winners agree to these terms and conditions.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Winners of the Scholarships must meet the following Eligibility Criteria:
- Reside within and are citizens of either the United Kingdom or Ireland.
- Must be either accepted onto or currently undertaking a full-time university degree or other tertiary education course at a qualified college or university. A copy of study acceptance letter must be submitted with written acceptance of the Scholarship.
- Are at least 18 years of age, or if under 18, have the written consent of their legal parent or guardian.
- Are not the child of an employee of Cochlear (“children” include natural, adopted, stepchildren and legal wards).
- Are a Cochlear Nucleus recipient (for the Graeme Clark Scholarship) or a Cochlear Baha or Osia recipient (for the Andres Tjellström Scholarship).
- Are not a previous winner of the Graeme Clark or Anders Tjellström Scholarship.
- Awards to applicants will be made based on an academic year and not on a calendar year. Each applicant is only eligible for one Scholarship. If, under the prescribed course in which a Scholarship recipient is enrolled in a qualified post-secondary institution, the student attends a college or university outside the United Kingdom or Ireland and retains their student status at an educational institution within the United Kingdom or Ireland, the Scholarship may be retained by the student.
APPLICATION SUBMISSION
- Submission. Scholarship applicants must apply by completing the application form on the Cochlear website at www.cochlear.com. Applications must be submitted via email to ukawards@cochlear.com, in the designated file formats. No other means of delivery will be accepted.
- Deadlines. Applications must be submitted by 11.59pm BST on March 31st of each year.
BASIS OF SELECTION
The pool of applicants for each of the Cochlear Scholarships will be evaluated, and the finalists will be selected, based on the following process.
- First Review. The initial pool of applicants for the Scholarships will be reviewed by a team of at least 3 Cochlear employees and narrowed down to no more than twenty applicants in total (10 Graeme Clark applicants, 10 Anders Tjellström applicants) based on the following scoring criteria:
- Achieved or predicted GCSE and/or A-Level grades (1-5 points)
- Additional academic achievements (1-5 points)
- Extracurricular/Volunteer/Community Experience (1-5 points)
- Personal Statement (1-5 points)
- Reference (1-5 points)
Those with the highest total number of points combined from each Cochlear judge are selected as the finalists. These finalist applications are sent to the Clinical Selection Committee.
- Clinical Selection Committee. The Selection Committee is a group of independent clinicians who are an Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor, an Audiologist, an Auditory Verbal Therapist, a Speech Pathologist, or other professional involved in the care of hearing loss. Each judge on the Selection Committee is given a scoring form to evaluate each applicant based on the following scoring criteria:
- Achieved or predicted GCSE and/or A-Level grades (1-5 points)
- Additional academic achievements (1-5 points)
- Extracurricular/Volunteer/Community Experience (1-5 points)
- Personal Statement (1-5 points)
- References (1-5 points)
The applicants with the top scores will be selected for the applicable Cochlear Scholarship. In the event of a tie the external judges will make a second review of the tied applications and make a final decision based on the criteria stated above. Each year, Cochlear will award two Scholarships in total (1 Graeme Clark Scholarship, 1 Anders Tjellström Scholarship).
SCHOLARSHIP TERMS
- Amount and Duration. The amount of each Scholarship award shall be £6,000 (€7,000) paid in two instalments over two consecutive years.
- Interruption. Normally a one-year interruption of the student’s prescribed course is permitted for military service, serious illness, extreme family or financial hardship, or other valid reasons. The Cochlear Scholarship Committee retains the right of discretion in all cases and will consider only written documented requests for Scholarship interruption.
- School Transfer. The student may retain the Scholarship upon transfer to a similar post-secondary institution (“transfer institution”) as long as the transfer institution meets the applicable Eligibility Criteria above.
- Termination of Scholarship. If the student does not complete the academic year and submit proof of Good Standing (as set forth below), Cochlear will terminate the Scholarship.
- Renewal Process. Renewal of the Scholarship funds to students continuing to meet the Eligibility Criteria is permitted for up to two years including the initial year for an Scholarship.
- Timetable. To receive the Scholarship funds in the consecutive year, the student must submit proof of passing that year’s exams to ukawards@cochlear.com by August 30th. Such proof, consistent with Subsection 5(b) below, shall constitute “proof of Good Standing” for the Scholarship.
- Basis of Renewal. When determining whether to renew a student’s Scholarship, the Scholarship Committee shall consider the student’s satisfactory progress as shown by the student’s exam results and other appropriate information, and the student’s continued display of the judging criteria noted above, to the extent such information is available. At a minimum, a student must remain in Good Standing with their institution, meaning, as applicable, the student passes their exams for that academic year. If a student does not remain in Good Standing, the Scholarship Committee will deny renewal of such student’s Scholarship, unless the student petitions the Scholarship Committee and presents evidence of severe hardship or extenuating circumstances and explains how such circumstances affected his or her exam results. The Scholarship Committee may, in its discretion, consider whether such circumstances justify renewal of the student’s Scholarship, despite the fact that the student has not remained in Good Standing.
- Payment. Payment of the Scholarship fund will be made at the start of the academic year, after the student has submitted their applicable proof as described above. Upon confirmation of Good Standing, Cochlear shall pay the remaining Scholarship fund directly to the student.
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS
The Cochlear Scholarship program shall be administered according to the following timetable:
- Application by Students. All applications must be submitted via email to ukawards@cochlear.com, including all required supporting materials, no later than 11:59pm March 31st each year.
- Selection and Notification of Scholarship Recipients. Scholarship winners will be selected according to the process described above. Winners and non-winners will be notified that they have been selected or not via email to the email address indicated in the application, no later than June 30th of the same year.
- Acceptance of Scholarship by Student. No later than 14 days after notification, each Scholarship winner must accept the Scholarship by replying to Cochlear at ukawards@cochlear.com. A student must notify Cochlear via email to ukawards@cochlear.com of any change in their contact information or choice of educational institution.
ADDITIONAL TERMS
- Media Appearance and Release. All Scholarship winners agree to participate in media activities requested by Cochlear in connection with the Scholarships, including without limitation being featured in Cochlear’s social media, and participating in events if requested. All winners are required to sign a media release form provided by Cochlear after written acceptance of the Scholarship.
- General. Please see Cochlear’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more information. No purchase or payment is required to apply for any Cochlear Scholarship. Cochlear shall not be liable for any lost, delayed, or damaged applications or materials, any faulty transmission or technology, security or other issues on the Cochlear website, or any acts, omissions, or negligence of anyone participating in the judging or selection of Scholarship recipients. Cochlear reserves the right to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the application process, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures, or any other factor impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the process, as determined by Cochlear in its sole discretion, and Cochlear disclaims any liability for such events.
Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.
Views expressed are those of the individual. Consult your health professional to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology.
For a full list of Cochlear’s trademarks, please visit our Terms of Use page.