Student Management Services Undergraduate Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships for
Current Students

Commonwealth Scholarships aim to assist students from low socio-economic backgrounds, particularly those from rural and regional areas. Special consideration is given to Indigenous students.

Number
Benefits
Eligibility
Commonwealth Accomodation Scholarships
Commonwealth Indigneous Access Scholarships
Selection
Application Process
Timeline
Outcome
Deferring
More information

Number

The number of scholarships available is decided by the Commonwealth Government in November each year. In 2008, approximately 350 new Commonwealth Scholarships were awarded.

Benefits

The exact figure for Commonwealth Scholarship benefits is determined by the Government towards the end of each year. The amounts shown are approximate with 2008 payments below. All Commonwealth Scholarships are paid in two, biannual instalments and are indexed each year.

Scholarship Annual Payment Maximum duration
Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships $2000

(in 2008, $2162)
4 years
Commonwealth Associate Degree Education Costs Scholarships $2000

(in 2008, $2162)

2 years
Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships

$4000

(in 2008, $4324)

4 years
Commonwealth Associate Degree Accommodation Scholarships

$4000

(in 2008, $4324)

2 years

 

Eligibility

To be eligible for any Commonwealth Scholarship applicants must:

Citizenship

Means-tested Commonwealth Income

Cut off for Proof of Means-tested Commonwealth Income

Qualifications

Type of course place

Honours

Other Scholarships

*National Priority Areas

Students enrolled in an area of 'National Priority' such as a Graduate Diploma in Nursing or Education which is 'required for initial registration' are eligible to apply. Students enrolled in Graduate Entry Medicine are not eligible to apply.

Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS)

In addition to the eligibility requirements defined above, Commonwealth Accomodation Scholarship applicants must:

(a) within the four years immediately preceding the commencement of your current course of study;

(i) have lived in a regional or remote area of Australia for a total of at least three years; or

(ii) have completed the final two years of schooling in a high school or college in a regional or remote area; or

(iii)need to have lived away from your regional or remote home to complete the whole or the majority of your secondary schooling at a high school or college in a major city; or

(iv) have lived in a regional or remote area of Australia for a total of at least two years, and have relocated from the regional or remote area of Australia to undertake vocational education and training (eg TAFE) for a maximum of two years duration immediately preceding the commencement of your undergraduate course; and 

(b) need to move from the regional or remote area in order to undertake higher education study; and

(c) as a result of (b), incur additional accommodation costs; and

(d) be enrolled as an internal student in units of study that form part of the course of study you are undertaking.

 

Commonwealth Indigenous Access Scholarships:

In addition to the eligibility requirements defined above, Commonwealth Indigenous Access Scholarship applicants must:

(a) be an Australian citizen; and

(b) be an Indigenous person. A person will be considered to be an Indigenous person for the purpose of a CS where the person:

(i) is of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; and

(ii) identifies as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; and

(iii) is accepted as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in the community in which he/she lives or has lived. A student’s declaration of their Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander status will be verified by the University's Centre for Indigenous Education.

(c) be a commencing student enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place in an undergraduate course of study; and

(d) meet the low socio-economic status requirements; and

(e) meet, or intend to meet, the full-time student requirements; and

(f) not already have completed the requirements of a course of study (with any provider) which is equivalent to or higher than an Australian bachelor’s award; and

(g) in exceptional circumstances, if a continuing student, be required, as part of your course, to undertake study in a location distant from your previous place of study.

Selection

Selection is based on the eligibility criteria and academic merit, taking into account ENTER or equivalent for first-year students, or, academic achievement in tertiary studies. If you have transferred from another tertiary institution, you must submit a transcript of your results to the Melbourne Scholarships Office.

Application process

Applicants apply online in March. A link will be posted here when applications open in February.

Outcome

Applicants are notified of the outcome by email in April. Successsful candidates are mailed an offer pack.

Timeline

March - applications open. Ensure you are in receipt of Centrelink benfits by the closing date.
April - successful applicants are notified of the outcome.

Payments are made each semester in the first pay period which follows the Census dates of 31 March and 31 August.

In 2008 successful candidates receive their:

Deferring your scholarship

Commonwealth Scholarships and Melbourne Access
Scholarships linked to a Commonwealth Scholarship
cannot be deferred.


For further information

If you have any questions, please send an email from: www.undergradschols.unimelb.edu.au/query

 

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