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WA's top secondary education student for 2012, Katie Dyer, has chosen to undertake The University of Western Australia's flagship course, a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours).

Katie (17) says it was the flexibility the degree offered that swung her decision.

"I have quite a few different interests," She said.  "I enjoy science, chemistry, maths and physics but also languages.  I did French through school but I thought I would also like to take up Mandarin and, from what I've read and hear about this course, it looks like it is really well coordinated, it looks like my kind of thing.  I'm interested in so many areas both in sciences and humanities so this is a perfect fit for me."

Katie's top results have assured her a pathway in medicine but the Claremont teen says it's just one option she'll be considering.

"It's all a bit up in the air at the moment.  I'll have to try out a few different things.  I have an assured pathway to medicine, so that's something I have to think about, but I also enjoy maths and physics so I might look at that," Katie said.

The four-year BPhil (Hons) is a challenging and prestigious research-oriented degree for high-achieving students.  Katie says she's not daunted by the hard work ahead of her.

"I'm always up for a bit of challenge.  Hard work would never put me off, that's what I learned from year 11 and 12, so I know I am up for it," she said.

Katie is the second Beazley medallist to decide to undertake the UWA BPhil after 2011 Beazley medallist, Calum Braham, who was part of last year's inaugural cohort.

"We are delighted that the new degree is attracting the best young minds from the state," Chair of the BPhil Board, Winthrop Professor Krishna Sen said.  "It is pleasing to see that the BPhil had attracted WA's Beazley medallist two years in a row."

Katie Dyer achieved the highest level of Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (99.95) in last year's WA Certificate of Education exams.  As a result she will receive the UWA Fogarty Foundation Beazley Medallist Scholarship and is also the recipient of a Vice-Chancellor's Award of Distinction.

Katie is the 23rd out of 30 Beazley Medallists to choose to study at UWA.

Media references

Associate Professor Jenna Mead (UWA Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) Coordinator  (+61 8)  6488 1869
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783