The University of Wollongong will host the Ramsay Centre’s Western civilisation degree.

The university will get more than $50 million to house the three-year degree and the first 30 scholars will kick off their studies in 2020.

Students will need to achieve an ATAR of 95 or more to be admitted.

The degree has some up in arms, with the Australian National University rejecting the course earlier in the year.

One visiting fellow has even resigned over the University of Wollongong’s recent call.

Ramsey Centre CEO Simon Haines tells Michael McLaren he doesn’t understand the immense backlash.

“It mystifies me,” he says.

“To me what we’re offering here is so uncontroversial and so exciting for young people.”

He says the Arts degree aims to “develop the future leaders of the country”.

“One thing these future leaders will learn is an appreciation for the incredibly rich Western tradition that they are a part of.”

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