CSU Equity Scholarship

Am I Eligible?

To apply, you must:

1. be an Australian citizen, permanent Australian resident or the holder of a permanent Humanitarian visa 
2. be enrolled full time in your first undergraduate degree
   (if you are studying part-time you may be eligible if you have extenuating circumstances preventing fulltime enrollment)  
3. be a Commonwealth supported student (ie. HECS or HECS-HELP)
4. not be in receipt of any other scholarship greater then the value of $7,500 per annum
5. provide proof of low income:

• a copy of your statement of income of a means tested Commonwealth Support Payment (eg, Youth Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY, Parenting Payment, Disability Support Pension)
  OR
• long term low income and demonstrated proof of this by being able to provide ATO Notice of Assessment and Pay Slips.

Preference will be given to if you relocate to attend University from regional, rural or remote area of Australia

Further information on eligibility for this scholarship can be found in the guidelines.

Ongoing Eligibility

To continue to receive the first and subsequent scholarship payments, you must continue to meet the enrollment criteria and low income eligibility, plus for the 2nd payment, have obtained a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 and above

Guidelines

Download the 2014 Equity Scholarship Guidelines [PDF]

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the VTAC application deadline is earlier than UAC's?

The VTAC applications do close approximately 6 weeks earlier than UAC due to different administrative structures.

Applicants, who thought they would apply via VTAC for the scholarship and missed the deadline are also eligible to apply via UAC.

How and when do I know if I was successful or unsuccessful?

Applying through UAC?
UAC will advise your application outcome mid to late January with a Scholarship offer or unsuccessful letter.

Applying through VTAC?

VTAC will advise of your application outcome in late December or early January with a Provisional Offer or an unsuccessful letter. Your Scholarship offer will be confirmed by CSU once you accept your course offer and enrol with CSU.

I applied last year and was unsuccessful, can I apply again?

Yes, as long as you meet the eligiblity criteria you should apply again.

What if I am studying part time?

• A full time student is one who is enrolled to undertake an amount of study of at least three quarters (or 75%) of an equivalent full-time study load (EFTSL). This equates to three (8 point) subjects or more or 24 subject points or more per semester.
• Students who are enrolled to undertake less than this amount of study are not eligible unless there are exceptional circumstances that prevent the student from studying full-time.
• CSU will take into account factors such as disability, long term illness, indigenous community responsibilities and significant carer responsibilities in determining your inability to study full-time.

How do I accept my Scholarship offer?

• The UAC Scholarship Offer letter will have an insert provided by the University and will explain how to accept online with the University
• The VTAC Outcome Notice will advise you have Provisional Offer that you do not need to accept at that time but when the University sends the Confirmation Offer, this will have instructions of how to accept the scholarship offer online.

When and how do I get paid?

Scholarship payments are made in two equal payments of the per annum value and are made within 3 - 4 weeks of each session's Census date.

Will my Equity Scholarship affect my CentreLink payment?

The CSU Equity Scholarship is considered as income under the Social Securities Act and recipients should seek independent advice from Centrelink and the Australian Taxation Office regarding the affects this scholarship will have on your income tax and/or Centrelink Benefits.

How do I know if my home address is rural or not?

Check your home postcode listing

How to Apply

Applications for the CSU Equity Scholarship are submitted via the Universities Admissions Centre of NSW (UAC) or the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).