Equity Scholarships for Current Students
Currently enrolled students are eligible to apply for University of Sydney Access Scholarships and Commonwealth Scholarships (including students studying their Honours year).
To be eligible for Equity Scholarships, you must be an Australian Citizen or the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa.
University of Sydney selection process for equity scholarships
Equity scholarship applications are assessed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), which provides a scored list of applicants to the University of Sydney. This scoring reflects the applicant's degree of disadvantage as assessed by the UAC based on the information provided in the application process.
The University of Sydney awards the scholarships according to eligibility and scoring information provided by the UAC. Eligibility will be determined according to the current Ministerial Guidelines for Commonwealth Scholarships, pursuant to the Higher Education Support Act (2003).
If applicants on the same equity ranking need to be distinguished, this may be done by either academic merit or by duration of receipt of eligible means-tested Commonwealth benefits, as determined by the University of Sydney. The same criteria will apply to all applicants in any one round.
Special consideration will be given to Indigenous students applying directly for a Commonwealth Scholarship, who are not awarded a CAS-Indigenous Payment, to ensure a fair proportion of the Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded to Indigenous students.
Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria as at the HECS census date for the first scholarship period following offer of scholarship. If a student is not eligible at this point, or if the student is not awarded a scholarship in that round, he or she may re-apply in any subsequent application round throughout the course of their eligible degree.
Further assistance can also be found through Equity Support Services.
Access Scholarships assist students who have been disadvantaged in some way. They are available to students who have a competitive UAI and current or predicted financial disadvantage. Assessment may also be made on other types of disadvantage, such as disability or long term medical condition or having to relocate from a rural/remote area.
For: Students with a good academic record who have been disadvantaged financially or have a disability or have relocated from a rural area
Value: $5,000 p.a.
Duration: Duration of degree
Application Due: End September
How to Apply: Application forms are available from the UAC Website from the end of July in each scholarship round. Apply on the Equity Scholarships form (same as for the CS)
All available Access scholarships are awarded in the main round (applications open end July - end September). There is no mid year application round for these awards
When these scholarships are open for application, an announcement will appear on the Current Scholarship Opportunities page of this website.
The Commonwealth Scholarships Programme is a Commonwealth funded scheme open to new and continuing undergraduate students at the University of Sydney (including Honours students). The scheme is aimed at students from low socio-economic backgrounds, particularly Indigenous students and students from rural and regional areas.
Applicants in postgraduate degrees in National Priority areas are also eligible to apply. The relevant degrees at the University of Sydney are the Master of Teaching and Master of Nursing degrees only.
There are three types of Commonwealth Scholarships:
- Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (CECS), which help with general education costs ($2,207* in 2009), and
- Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS) to help students from rural and remote areas with accommodation costs ($4,415* in 2009).
- Commonwealth Indigenous Access Scholarships (IAS) to help Indigenous students with educational costs ($4,166* in 2009)
* CS payments are indexed and will change on an annual basis
For: Students from low socio-economic backgrounds, particularly indigenous students and students from rural and regional areas
Value: $2,207 (CECS) or $4,415 (CAS) per annum in 2009. $4,166 (IAS) in 2009.
Duration: up to a maximum of four years for CECS and CAS. Students receiving an IAS are only eligible to receive this scholarship once in their lifetime.
How to Apply: Application forms are available from the UAC Website in each scholarship round. Apply on the Equity Scholarships form.
When these scholarships are open for application, an announcement will appear on the Current Scholarship Opportunities page of this website.
Application Due: In 2009 there are two application rounds for Commonwealth Scholarships. The main round (for scholarships commencing in semester one of the following year) opens at the end of July and closes at the end of September.
Please keep your eye on this website for details of future mid year rounds (applications open approximately April/May). Mid-year scholarship offers are for commencement in semester two of the same year.
To find out whether your area is classed as regional or remote, you can use this tool as an initial guide for your postcode.
In 2008 the University awarded over 500 Commonwealth Scholarships.
Applications are available from the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) website
Equity Support Services, located within Student Administration and Services, brings together a number of student support services that provide practical assistance and information to support students in meeting their academic and personal goals while at University.
These Services include the Accommodation Service, Casual Employment Service, Childcare Information Officer, Disability Services and Financial Assistance Office.
For more information please see the Equity Support Services website.