Forty‑five outstanding international students from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan studying at universities across Australia have been selected for the 2026 Stephen FitzGerald Scholars Program. This year’s cohort will gain rare, inside access to the institutions that shape Australia’s political, legal and cultural life.
The fourth annual intake of the Program will travel to Canberra in late November, coinciding with the final parliamentary sittings of the year. Over several days, scholars will participate in a curated schedule of institutional visits, hosted tours and expert briefings designed to deepen their understanding of Australia’s democratic foundations and national identity.
Following two successful pilot years, the ANU Australian Studies Institute (AuSI) secured a four‑year, $1 million grant from the National Foundation for Australia–China Relations (NFACR) to continue delivering this flagship initiative.
Provided by AuSI, the program of events grants unparalleled access to cornerstone institutions including Parliament House, the High Court of Australia, the National Press Club, and major national cultural institutions.
The Program is named in honour of Dr Stephen FitzGerald AO, Australia’s first ambassador to the People’s Republic of China and an alumnus of ANU.
Yingle Li, who is completing a Master of Information Systems at The University of Melbourne, says she is eager to broaden her perspective on Australia’s civic institutions and the forces that shape its national identity.
“I am motivated to deepen my understanding of Australia’s government and diplomatic processes, and to use these insights to contextualise the unique experience of being Chinese in Australia.”
Zhenxi Wang, who is completing a Bachelor of Clinical Sciences/Doctor of Medicine at Flinders University, says he is keen to expand his understanding of leadership and public service and to connect with scholars from across Australia.
“I’m very much looking forward to taking part in the Stephen FitzGerald Scholars Program 2026 and to learning from people with diverse experiences and perspectives. I’m particularly excited by the opportunity to engage with ideas beyond my usual field, broaden my understanding of leadership and public service, and connect with the other scholars across Australia.”
Academic Convenor, Professor Mark Kenny, said students stand to gain a much richer sense of why Australia is the country it is.
“Australia and China share so much history and geography yet we also have profound differences in history, language, political systems, and of course in population size.
“Frictions have arisen from time to time but a multi-dimensional relationship built on trust, understanding and deep friendships at the people-to-people level, endures.
“The Stephen FitzGerald Scholars Program, which I am so honoured to convene, is designed to further these goals. Through it, we seek to strengthen a kind of cross-cultural literacy in Australia’s foundational institutions of state and culture: courts, media, parliament, science and the arts.
“Many nations provide cultural tours and exchanges for journalists and politicians but this is unique. It enriches the overseas student experience for those already in this country in order to give them a fuller picture of this ancient-modern nation.
“We look forward to welcoming the 2026 intake the Australian Capital who, we expect, will be every bit as inquisitive as the outstanding scholars of previous years.”
NFACR CEO Nancy Gordon said the Foundation was pleased to support the Stephen FitzGerald Scholars Program.
“The Foundation is proud to support the Stephen FitzGerald Scholars Program, which gives talented Chinese international students a unique opportunity to engage with Australia’s institutions, leaders and ideas. These experiences help build understanding, lasting connections and future opportunities for collaboration between our countries.”
Twenty-two Australian universities are represented in the 2026 intake of the program. Congratulations to the 2026 Stephen FitzGerald Scholars:
- Wai Kiu Chan, University of Southern Queensland
- Ying Lun Chan, Murdoch University
- Keke Chen, Charles Darwin University
- Yanqi Chen, University of Wollongong
- Yixuan Chen, Monash University
- Alfonso Miguel Do Rego, Western Sydney University
- Yu Fang, The University of Melbourne
- Siyong Feng, Macquarie University
- Lijun Gao, Griffith University
- Xinyang Guo, The University of Western Australia
- Xiaoyu He, The Australian National University
- Wing Tung Ho, Queensland University of Technology
- Chi Ho Walter Hon, Murdoch University
- Kangwei Jin, University of Southern Queensland
- Ka Yun Lau, The University of Melbourne
- Sabrina Lerskiatiphanich, The University of Queensland
- Kin Cheung Leung, CQUniversity
- Shing Chun Leung, The University of Sydney
- Hanshuo Li, University of Tasmania
- Xin Li, Adelaide University
- Yingle Li, The University of Melbourne
- Jingwen Liu, Adelaide University
- Qian Liu, The University of Notre Dame
- Xiaoli Liu, The University of Western Australia
- Wen-Hsuan Lu, Flinders University
- Cheuk Hei Ng, Griffith University
- Shuk Yee Ng, CQUniversity
- Jingna Qian, University of Tasmania
- Guanrong Ren, Adelaide University
- Yining Tang, The Australian National University
- Jiatong Tian, University of Canberra
- Xinyueran Tong, Monash University
- Xiulin Wang, Macquarie University
- Zhenxi Wang, Flinders University
- Cheng Kai Weng, University of Southern Queensland
- Hong Wu, University of New England
- Tianmu Wu, The University of Sydney
- Xilin Xie, UNSW Sydney
- Jingmin Xu, The University of Queensland
- Ruyu Yan, Charles Darwin University
- Xinyi Yao, UNSW Sydney
- Di Zhang, The University of Western Australia
- Huning Zhang, UNSW Sydney
- Jiahui Zhang, University of New England
- Yu-Yong Zhou, Charles Darwin University
The Stephen FitzGerald Scholars Program is supported by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations. The ANU Australian Studies Institute is proud to be a National Foundation for Australia-China Relations grant recipient.
More information on the 2026 Stephen FitzGerald Scholars can be found here: Stephen FitzGerald Scholars Program | Australian Studies Institute