Commonwealth Scholarships for
Future 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 2009, $2207) |
4 years |
| Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships | $4000 |
4 years |
| Indigenous Access Scholarship | $4000 (in 2009, $4166) |
4 years |
Eligibility
To be eligible for any Commonwealth Scholarship applicants must:
Citizenship
- be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent humanitarian visa. Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are not eligible.
Means-tested Commonwealth Income
- demonstrate financial need by, for example, being in receipt of or eligible to receive a means-tested Commonwealth income support payment such as Abstudy, Austudy or
Youth Allowance.
For the purpose of the CAS-Indigenous Payment, when assessing for low socio-economic status, we will have regard to the range of disadvantages which may affect the immediate financial status of Indigenous students accessing higher education, including geographical isolation, stability of financial status, and family circumstances, such as illness or bereavement which affect the level of family financial support.
Qualifications
- not already have a bachelor degree or higher level award unless that award is a prerequisite for your current undergraduate course and there is no alternative pathway into that course at this institution.
Type of course place
- be enrolled full-time in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in an eligible course.
If exceptional circumstances such as a disability prevent you from enrolling full-time, your eligibility for a scholarship will be determined based on the documentary evidence you provide to us.
Other Scholarships
- not hold another University of Melbourne scholarship which provides a cash allowance such as a National Scholarship. Melbourne Access applicants can apply to upgrade the allowance component of the scholarship.
*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.
Commowealth Accomodations 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.
Determining Eligibility
In determining your eligibility for a CAS, we will be guided by the ASGC Remoteness Areas classification as described in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2004 publication, ‘Rural, Regional and Remote Health: A Guide to Remoteness Classifications’.
The classifications are:
- Major Cities of Australia (MC)
- Inner Regional Australia (IR)
- Outer Regional Australia (OR)
- Remote Australia (R) , and
- Very Remote Australia (VR)
All postcodes other than Major Cities are eligible.
Check your postcode.
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, 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
Submit an application for Commonwealth Scholarships online at VTAC from 4 August 2008. In addition to submitting an application for Scholarships you may also be required to supply documentary evidence to support your application.
*Note: a second round of applications takes place in February/March each year for current students enrolled at the University of Melbourne.
Timeline
Scholarships applications close on 10 October 2008.
Outcome
Successful applicants will be notified of the outcome by mail in December 2008 or January 2009. Unsuccesssful applicants will not be contacted.
Payment
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
- A Commonwealth Scholarship cannot be deferred unless it is linked to a Melbourne Access Scholarship.
For further information
If you have any questions, please send an email from: www.undergradschols.unimelb.edu.au/query