UNE Scholarships

A gift to scholarships at UNE can change lives

Currently over 110 UNE students benefit from privately philanthropically supported scholarships, but the need is greater.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics show that the participation rate of rural and regional youth in tertiary education is fewer than 20 percent. Of those who do secure university places, 15 percent defer their commencement and 30 percent of these never actually take up their studies. Regional students cite financial hardship as the reason for their forced deferral.

A QUT study shows that rural students in first year university studies had an attrition rate of 15.85 percent, but for rural students on scholarships this rate reduced to 7.56 percent. Again, the primary reason for students dropping out was economic hardship.

Your gift to support students in this way will greatly assist with the cost of tuition fees, textbooks or living expenses, alleviating the anxiety that many students experience in having to manage both study and part-time work and thereby enabling them to give increased focus on their studies.

I would thank (my donors) for giving me the tools I needed to do this and let them know they have truly had a positive impact on my experience at university. I have been able to fully immerse myself in my study and am beyond grateful for these opportunities. None of this would have been possible without your generosity to grant me this scholarship so thank you.

Abigail Nolan, Tamex Transport Scholarship

I would like to express how grateful I am to have this opportunity and to let (my donors) know that with this scholarship, they've made it possible for me to make the most out of university.

Henry Doering, D.L. McMaster Endowed Housing Scholarship

Donor-funded Scholarships include the following:

Cec Spence Memorial UNE Country Scholarship

Established in 2016 through the estate of alumnus and long term donor to UNE, Cecil Thomas Spence, to support rural and regional students especially from the New England and North West regions of NSW.


The Carole and Stan Droder Scholarship

Established in 2016 through a bequest from the Droder family, the Carole and Stan Droder Scholarships assist financially disadvantaged students to obtain university degrees and to experience life as residential undergraduates.


Betty J Fyffe Scholarships

The family of Betty J Fyffe (née Cahill) were pharmacists and chemist shop owners in Tamworth and Armidale over many years. In her Will, Betty established the Elizabeth Cahill Fyffe Trust to distribute funds to support students who are training in the medical fields with the expectation that they will hopefully carry out their profession in country areas when they finish their studies.

Currently 50 Joint Medical Program Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine students are supported each year for years 1 to 3 of their degree.


Max Schroder Scholarships

First awarded in 2008 the Max Schroder scholarships now comprise a suite of residential, sporting, and mentoring scholarships all supporting indigenous students.


Gilchrist  Foundation UNE Sport Scholarship

Gilchrist Foundation’s mission is to identify eligible student sportspeople and assist them to further their education or skills through financial assistance together with active engagement and mentoring.

This new scholarship will provide financial support to an elite athlete studying at UNE for up to 4 years full-time (8 years part-time).


Bernard Coffey UNE Country Scholarship

Established by a group of Bernard's UNE friends and family to honour his memory in 2007, the Bernard Coffey UNE Country Scholarship supports a regional student with high academic achievement for the duration of their degree.


Duncan Family Scholarships

The Duncan family established a scholarship to support a new or continuing student studying Pharmacy in 2009 and now support a second scholarship in Early Childhood Education since 2013.


Mary Dolan Travelling Scholarship

With a family connection to UNE going back to 1959, the Dolan family established the Mary Dolan Travelling Scholarship scholarship to encourage a UNE student of History to travel to undertake an archaeological dig as part of their studies.


Support Fund for Students with a Disability

In 1981 two teams of UNE Robb College students supported by Rotary International ran from 'Cape to Cape' (Cape York to Wilsons Prominitory) raising $80,000 to support disabled students. Funds are awarded from this endowment annually to support full or part time, both on and off campus students with a disability in their studies at UNE.


Tamex UNE Country Scholarship

Established in 2012 by Tamex Transport to support academically qualified, financially disadvantaged students undertaking undergraduate studies in the Schools of Business or Law at UNE.


Scholarship enquiries

If you have a question about applying for scholarships, your current scholarship, or how to donate please contact:

Future Students - School Leaver & Non-School Leaver Scholarship Enquiries

Contact the UNE Future Student Team online or call 1800 818 865.

Current Students Scholarship Enquiries

Contact Student Experience via AskUNE or phone 02 6773 2000

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship Enquiries

Contact Oorala Aboriginal Centre on 02 6773 3034

Higher Degree Research Scholarship Enquiries

Contact HDR Scholarships via AskUNE or phone 02 6773 3745

Donor Enquiries

Email advance@une.edu.au or phone 02 6773 2431