Global UNE Links:

Sub sections:

• Scholarships
• - Undergraduate
  • Residential Scholarships
  • Commonwealth Scholarships
  • Scholarships for Continuing Students
  • School Leaver Scholarships
  • Non School Leavers
  • Sporting Scholarships
  • Other Industry Scholarships
• Postgraduate
• Policies and Guidelines
• Prizes
• AskUNE (FAQ's)

Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship

Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction

Commonwealth Scholarships were established to increase higher education participation by students from low socio-economic backgrounds and from rural and regional areas.

The Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (CECS) is intended to assist with general education costs. These Terms and Conditions are for Continuing Students who hold a Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship.

2. Details

Value: $2,377 per annum indexed
Duration: Maximum 4 years
Study Mode: Full-time, on-campus or off-campus

3. Conditions

• The applicant must be a Commonwealth supported student as defined in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
• The applicant must meet the full-time student requirements, or provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing full-time study (e.g. providing proof of disability or significant carer responsibilities).
• The applicant must meet the low socio-economic status criteria either:
  • Through being in receipt of a means-tested Commonwealth income support payment (e.g. Austudy, ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance etc) or
  • Providing proof of financial hardship on the basis of a comprehensive assessment.
• The applicant must not have already completed requirements equivalent to or higher than an Australian Bachelor’s award, unless the course of study is a prerequisite to their course at UNE or is a graduate diploma in an area of National Priority area and there is no alternative pathway into that course at UNE.

• Scholarship recipients may not hold a Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship and a Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship concurrently.
  
• The scholarship is payable directly to the recipient's bank account in two instalments after the census date for each semester (at the end of April and September).
• The scholarship shall be administered by the Undergraduate Scholarships Officer.
• There will be no commitment by the University to employ the recipient.
• Continuation of the scholarship is subject to satisfactory academic progress:
  • The scholarship shall comprise a cash payment of two thousand two hundred and fifty four dollars ($2,254) indexed annually for a maximum of four years, conditional upon the recipient maintaining at least a Pass average or equivalent GPA.
• Any request to vary the conditions of the scholarship must be made in writing and will be determined at the discretion of the Undergraduate Scholarships Committee.
• The recipient will be required to meet the eligibility requirements on the census date every semester and annually confirm ongoing low socio-economic status. 
• Students may apply for suspension (leave of absence) for up to 12 months.

• Failure to meet the requirements of these terms and conditions may lead to the termination of the scholarship.