Students say no one knew that financial help given to prime minister's daughter was available from Whitehouse Institute

Current and former students at the Whitehouse Institute of Design have reacted angrily to the revelation that prime minister Tony Abbott’s daughter Frances received an undisclosed scholarship of $60,000 to cover her tuition fees.

Four students – two of whom were classmates of Abbott’s – all said they did not know that the scholarship existed and raised questions over its fairness. Frances was only the second student to receive the award in its 25 year history.



On Wednesday, Guardian Australia revealed that Frances had received a chairman’s scholarship from the institution, with Les Taylor, chairman of the board of governors, later saying he had recommended her personally for the award. Taylor said he had no say in the selection process.



One former Whitehouse student who was in the same class as Frances for three years told Guardian Australia: “It just seems like a free ride and not a scholarship.”



The graduate, who did not want to be named, continued: “When it comes down to it everyone got in off their portfolio. Nobody else was offered a scholarship in any way, shape or form.”



Another former classmate said “There was absolutely no discussion of the scholarship between me or any of the other students while at Whitehouse.



“I don’t think it’s fair. What I think would have been fair is that if that scholarship was available for everybody to apply for it.”

A current student told Guardian Australia that their family had to take out loans to help pay her fees and the news about the scholarship made them “almost embarrassed to be associated with the school”.



“I’ve never been made aware of any scholarship,” the student said, “I live eight hours away from Sydney. I picked up my entire life and moved to the other side of the state to be a part of this institute. I’ve asked about scholarships to make it easier on myself and my family financially but every time I’ve been told there are none available.”



Another current student told Guardian Australia: “We’re constantly commenting on the fact that we’re paying so much money. There’s not been a person that we knew of, up until now, that’s been getting even a discount let alone $60,000 waived completely.



“That’s why we’re so upset because we were told there are no scholarships, there’s no other way around this, you have to pay to have Whitehouse on your resume.”



Ian Tudor, chief executive of the institute, has not responded to detailed questions from Guardian Australia relating to the processes by which the scholarship was awarded. He told news.com that the scholarship was “a discretionary award made and funded by Leanne Whitehouse”.



He said the award was “originally called the MD’s scholarship and subsequently the chair’s scholarship”.



Tudor said the institute has given “various types of scholarships” during his 10-year career there and told news.com that it awarded “20 or more each year”.



The institute’s website states that the bachelor of design degree, which Abbott completed, “does not currently offer scholarships to gain a place into the Bachelor of Design” but that scholarships for “further study may be offered during the academic year”.



New Matilda reported that the institute courted Frances for the scholarship before she was offered it. Documents obtained by the independent news provider purportedly show that Abbott was offered the scholarship during her first and only interview before commencing the degree.



A spokeswoman for the prime minister’s office said the students’ comments were “a matter for Whitehouse”.



She reiterated that the scholarship was “not a gift, it is an award based on merit and disclosure is not required” in the prime minister’s register of pecuniary interests.



“The clerk of the house has further advised that there are no obvious provisions in the members’ interests that would require the declaration of such a scholarship; nor is there any reference in the more detailed notes provided to members for their guidance in making declarations that such scholarships need to be declared,” the spokeswoman said.

