Melbourne Access Scholarships
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students who have experienced ongoing difficulties during their school years with the opportunity to undertake tertiary education.
To further this aim, the University introduced the Access Melbourne combined special entry and scholarship scheme. The scheme provides prospective students with the opportunity to explain the ongoing circumstances that affected their chance of gaining a place at the University. To support access for talented students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, at least 20 per cent of Commonwealth supported places in all new Melbourne Model undergrduate courses are reserved for eligible Access Melbourne applicants. There are currently more than 670 Access Scholarship recipients and over 800 students receiving a Commonwealth Scholarship.
Number
Benefits
Eligibility
Selection
Application Process
Timelines
Outcome
Deferring
More information
Number
At least 150 scholarships are available.
Benefits
Annual Allowance |
Duration |
$6000 |
the normal duration of an undergraduate degree. |
Eligibility
To be considered for a scholarship you must belong to one or more of the following Access Melbourne categories:
- Recognition as an Indigenous Australian
- Difficult family circumstances
- Hardship caused by socio-economic circumstances
- Disability or long-term medical condition
- Non-English speaking background
- From an under-represented school
- Completed school in a rural or isolated area
- Refugee Status
- Mature age
In addition, applicants must:
- not have been awarded results in a degree course at a tertiary institution in Australia. This does not include bridging schemes or extension studies undertaken as part of a Year 12 program, or TAFE, or the University's Community Access Program.
- meet the criteria for entry to the University in 2009 and enrol full-time in your course, unless documentary evidence for reasons why you cannot enrol full time, such as disability, is provided.
Selection
- Selection is based on academic merit and the documented disadvantage associated with one or more of the seven equity categories.
- Selection is made based on information provided by VTAC at the time of selection. The Selection Committee will not have access to change of course preference information.
Application process
Submit applications for SEAS and Access Scholarships online at VTAC from 4 August.
Timeline
SEAS and scholarships applications close on 10 October.
Outcome
Successful applicants will be mailed an offer letter in December or January. Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.
Payment
$1000 on enrolment in February followed by two payments of $2500, one in each semester.
For successful applicants: payments are made each semester in the first pay period which follows the University Census dates of 31 March and 31 August.
Deferring your scholarship
- You will only be permitted to defer your scholarship if you are permitted to defer your course place. Go to www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/courses/deferpolicy for up-to-date information.
- Students who are permitted to defer commencement of their course will automatically be permitted to defer commencement of their scholarship for one year.
For further information
Students awarded an Access Scholarship should refer to the scholarship conditions for further details.
If you have any questions after you have read the terms and conditions, please send an email from: www.undergradschols.unimelb.edu.au/query