Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship

Background

This Scholarship is funded by the Australian Government under the Indigenous Student Success Program.

The purpose of the Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships is to widen participation in higher education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Equity programs aim to overcome educational and financial disadvantages and help everyone access their potential.

Details

Value per annum:up to $4,500 (paid pro-rata - $375 per unit)
Payment method: Bank account
Number awarded:Various – Minimum of 20 (dependent on available funding)
Duration:Total value of scholarship capped at $25,000
Study Mode:On campus / Online
Study Load:Full-time / Part-time
Course Type:TRACKS & Pathways Enabling
Undergraduate
Postgraduate (coursework)
School/Discipline:N/A
New/Continuing Students:New and Continuing
Residential requirement:N/A
Application Closing Date 7 June 2024 (for commencement in Trimester 2)

Who can apply?
  1. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: The applicant must identify as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and provide documentation according to the UNE Confirmation of Aboriginality and Torres Strait Islander Identity Rule
  2. Student and Course Requirement: Open to all new and continuing UNE students enrolled in a Enabling, Undergraduate or Postgraduate (Coursework) course
  3. Financial Disadvantage: Applicants must be able to demonstrate financial need. Refer to the Supporting Documentation section below for details.
Selection criteria (in order of importance)

Awarded on the basis of (in order):

Regional and remote location - Preference is given to applicants whose residential address is either regional or remote as defined by the Government Remoteness Tool

Then

Financial disadvantage

Then

Academic merit.

Notes

  1. Preference may be given to applicants not in receipt of another scholarship.
  2. The scholarship shall be awarded on the recommendation of the UNE Indigenous Scholarship Committee and administered by the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team.
  3. By applying for this scholarship, the applicant permits the University to give some personal details contained in their application to the committee, some members of which may not be UNE staff.  All information gathered will be treated with discretion.
  4. The Selection Committee’s decision is final.
  5. The number of scholarships available per academic year is subject to availability of funds.
Supporting documents / Required information

The listed documents are acceptable forms of evidence in each of the following criteria:

1. Financial Need: Income less than $67,000pa, which may be:

  • Independent - A copy of your most recent Centrelink statement; or
  • Independent – A copy of your most recent Pay Slip and a copy of your most recent Income Tax Return; or
  • Dependent – A copy of your parent’s/parents’ most recent Income Tax Return/s.
  • If any of the above are not available, a letter from an authorised person (e.g. community leader, school principal, minister of religion, accountant) may be accepted as proof of financial circumstances. Please note that the letter must contain specific information about the applicant’s financial and/or family circumstances in order to be accepted.
  • NOTE: The financial need criterion is based on the ATO low-income threshold for Regional NSW. Applications for students who are over the financial need threshold may be acceptedwith consideration for personal need and circumstances.

2. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: The applicant must identify as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and provide documentation according to the UNE Confirmation of Aboriginality and Torres Strait Islander Identity Rule

3. Other supporting documents: Disclosure of any other scholarships or awards.

How to apply

Apply online though the Universities Admission Centre (UAC). Only one application is required to be considered for one or more of these Commonwealth Equity Scholarships.

Conditions
  1. Scholarship recipients may not hold more than one Commonwealth funded scholarship for the same purpose.
  2. The scholarship is payable into the recipient’s bank account in up to three instalments within 30 days of Trimester 1, 2 and/or 3 census dates. The value of the scholarship that recipients will receive will be on a pro rata basis of $375 per 6 credit point unit in the enrolled degree/course at the time of the scholarship payment. Should a student be required to repeat any unit, a scholarship payment will not be made for this unit.
  3. Continuation of the scholarship, if applicable, is subject to:
    1. Financial disadvantage can still be demonstrated annually. Evidence of financial disadvantage will be requested in Trimester 1 each year.
    2. The student continuing to maintain eligibility in relation to their enrolment status as stipulated by the Scholarship terms. Students unsure about this should contact the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team to discuss their situation.
  4. The scholarship will not be paid to complete a single unit more than one occasion.
  5. Any request to vary the conditions of the scholarship must be made in writing and will be determined at the discretion of the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team (or other relevant committee).
  6. A student will be permitted to take a leave of absence for up to two trimesters during the course of the Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship period. Any request to take a leave of absence must be made in writing and will be determined at the discretion of the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team (or other relevant committee).
  7. Some scholarships may affect other government payments (e.g. Centrelink). It is the recipient’s responsibility to seek advice from the relevant government agency.
  8. From time to time minor changes may be required to the administrative conditions of this scholarship. If this occurs recipients will be given advanced notice in writing.
  9. Failure to meet the conditions of your scholarship may result in withdrawal of the scholarship.
Acceptance

In accepting the Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship, the recipient acknowledges that they have read, understand and accept the terms and conditions outlined above.

If you are successful of an offer of a Commonwealth Scholarship through UAC, UNE will then send you an offer letter to your UNE email address to complete and return along with your most current income support payment documentation a short time after UAC release the offers.

By accepting the offer of a Commonwealth Scholarship the recipient may:

  • be required to inform any of the following persons of the receipt of the scholarship, depending on his or her personal circumstances:
    • an employee of the Human Services Department;
    • an employee of the Department administered by the Minister administering section 258 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004; and
    • an employee of the Department administered by the Minister administering the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986;
  • not qualify for certain other forms of Commonwealth assistance.

Please read the information on Start-Up Loans on the Australian Government Department of Human Services website before accepting the Commonwealth Scholarship offered to you.