Student Equity
Equity Scholarships - FAQs
The Commonwealth and CSU Equity Scholarships Program aims to assist students from low socio-economic backgrounds, particularly those from rural and regional areas and Indigenous students, with costs associated with higher education. On behalf of the Australian Government, the allocation of all NEW non-Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships will be administered by Centrelink from 2010. For further information on the new Commonwealth Scholarships (Relocation Scholarship and Start-Up Scholarship) scheme refer to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) website.
Charles Sturt University will continue to administer current continuing Commonwealth Scholarship recipients under the Commonwealth Government's 'grandfathering' agreement.
- What are the different types of scholarships available?
- How do I apply for an the different Equity Scholarships, which include the Indigenous Access Scholarship, Indigenous-CECS, Indigenous-CAS & CSU Equity Scholarship or a CSU Masters Equity Scholarship?
- How often do applications open?
- When is the Equity Scholarships closing date?
- How and when do I know if I was successful or unsuccessful?
- Am I eligible?
- Are there any Equity Scholarships for postgraduate students?
- I already have an Equity Scholarship, do I need to reapply each year?
- I applied last year and was unsuccessful, can I apply again?
- Equity Scholarships are only for students studying full time. What if I am studying part time?
- When and how do I get paid?
- Will my Equity Scholarship affect my CentreLink payment?
- What happens if I defer my study?
- I received a payment last semester, what do I need to do now to keep getting my scholarship?
- What happens if I no longer meet the eligibilty criteria?
- I am finishing my studies this year - do I need to notify someone about my scholarship?
- How do I know if my home address is rural or not?
What are the different types of Equity Scholarships available at CSU?
- Indigenous Access Scholarships (IAS) previous called the Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship-Indigenous Payment (CAS-I) through a once-only scholarship payment, to assist Indigenous students to undertake either an eligible enabling course or an undergraduate course. In 2009 the CAS-I provided $4,166 and in 2010 provided $4253. The IAS is for one year only. Each provider awarding an IAS to a student must provide the student with an on-going Indigneous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (Indigneous-CECS), (valued at $2,254 p.a.) and, where eligible, an Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (Indigenous-CAS) (valued at $4,508 p.a.).
- CSU Equity Scholarships (CSUES) as a one year payment for general education costs. These provide $2,000 for one year only.
- CSU Masters Equity Scholarship (CSUMES) as a one year payment for general education costs. These provide $2,000 for one year only and are only available to Masters (coursework) HECS-HELP oncampus fulltime students.
- CSU Rural Learning Partnership Scholarship as a one year payment for general education costs. These provide $2,000 for one year only.
How do I apply for an IAS, Indigenous-CECS, Indigenous-CAS and CSU Equity Scholarship (CSUES) or a CSU Masters Equity Scholarship?
Applications for an IAS, Indigenous-CECS, Indigenous-CAS or a CSUES can be made through the Universities Admissions Centre of NSW (UAC) and the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). Visit the websites UAC or VTAC to apply online, view or print the Equity Scholarships Information Booklet. Complete all relevant sections of the online form, and forward the required supporting documentation by the due date as advised by UAC or VTAC. Scholarship applicants need only submit one application form and apply through only one Admissions Centre.
To apply for a CSU Masters Equity Scholarship you should apply direct to CSU only via this CSUMES Application Form (the link to the CSUMES Application form will be made active in October 2009 for the 2010 intake) and refer to the CSUMES Guidelines for further Eligibility Criteria.
How often do applications open?
- Applications for the Commonwealth and Equity Scholarships normally open only once a year in August. At times where scholarship numbers allow, there may also be mid year application process.
- Applications for the CSU Masters Equity Scholarship (CSUMES) will open Monday 19 October 2009 and will close Monday 4 January 2010 for 2010 CSUMES allocation.
When is the Equity Scholarships closing date?
- VTAC 2010 Commonwealth Equity Scholarship Applications close late October 2009.
- CSU Masters Equity Scholarship Applications will open Monday 19 October 2009 and will close Monday 4 January 2010 for 2010 CSUMES allocation. These applications are through CSU only, not VTAC or UAC.
- UAC 2010 Commonwealth Equity Scholarship Applications OPEN early September 2009 and CLOSE Monday 30 November 2009.
How and when do I know if I was successful or unsuccessful?
VTAC will advise of your application outcome with a Provisional Offer late December 2009 or early January 2010 or an unsuccessful letter. For new students to CSU in 2010, your Scholarship offer will be confirmed by CSU once you accept your course offer and enrol with CSU. For current CSU students who receive a provisional offer through VTAC, CSU will confirm your offer in writing shortly after and no later than end of January 2010.
UAC will advise your application outcome mid to late January 2010 with a Scholarship offer or unsuccessful letter.
For the CSU Masters Equity Scholarships, the application outcome will be advised in writing to students on 22 January 2010 by the CSU Equity Scholarship Officer. These applications are direct to CSU only.
Am I eligible?
Visit our eligibility page to find out if you are eligible for an Equity Scholarship..
Are there any Equity Scholarships for Honours or postgraduate students?
- The Commonwealth Scholarships, which are the CAS, CECS and IAS are only available to undergraduate students for their first degree (including Honours) except for students enrolled in post graduate courses defined as a National Priority area (determined by the Australian Government). At CSU this includes the Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Teaching (4th year or Graduate Entry) and Masters of Teaching (Primary) or other postgraduate courses in the National Priority area that are completed to allow initial professional registration in the chosen profession. In 2010 the Commonwealth Government will only offer an IAS, Indignous-CECS and Indigenous-CAS through University's and the 'Relocation' and 'Start Up' Scholarships that replace the CAS-Ordinary and CECS-Ordinary will be administered by Centrelink.
- The CSUES (CSU Equity Scholarship) is available to all undergraduate students and students enrolled in post graduate courses defined as a National Priority area (determined by the Australian Government). At CSU this includes the Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Teaching (4th year or Graduate Entry) and Masters of Teaching (Primary) or other postgraduate courses in the National Priority area that are completed to allow initial professional registration in the chosen profession.
- The CSU Masters Equity Scholarship is available to Masters (coursework) students (all disciplines) who are enrolled in a Commonwealth Supporting place (HECS-HELP) as a fulltime oncampus (Internal) mode student.
- The Indigenous Access Scholarship, previously known as the Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship-Indigenous Payment (CAS-I), the Indigenous CECS and the Indigenous CAS are only available to undergraduate students for their first degree (including Honours) except for students enrolled in post graduate courses defined as a National Priority area (determined by the Australian Government). At CSU this includes the Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Teaching (4th year or Graduate Entry) and Masters of Teaching (Primary).
I already have an Equity Scholarship, do I need to reapply each year?
If you have a CAS, CAS-S, Indigneous-CAS, CECS, Indigenous-CECS or a CECS-P you do not need to reapply, however you must continue to meet the eligibility criteria (see FAQ What is the ongoing eligibility to keep my Equity Scholarship? below). If you have a CSU Equity Scholarship or a CSU Masters Equity Scholarship, these are for one year only. You will need to reapply each year.
I applied last year and was unsuccessful, can I apply again?
Yes, as long as you meet the eligiblity criteria you should apply again.
Equity Scholarships are only for students studying full time. 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 for an Equity Scholarship 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 a student's inability to study full-time. Students must complete the relevant sections in the Equity Scholarships form or the ongoing eligibilty form.
When and how do I get paid?
You will be paid half the Scholarship per annum amount twice a year, approximately six weeks from each census date. Census dates are 26 March (Session 1, 2010) and 6 August (Session 2, 2010). Payments are deposited directly into your account. Make sure your account details are up to date by visiting my.csu, personal info, personal detail, maintain your personal details, enter your password, then under 'edit my details' choose 'check bank details'. Your bank account details will be shown here. If you need to update them, click 'change' and update.
Will my Equity Scholarship affect my CentreLink payment?
Commonwealth Scholarships (CAS, CAS-S, Indigenous-CAS, IAS, CECS-P, Indigenous-CECS and CECS ) are not considered as income under the Social Securities Act and will not affect your Centrelink payments. CSU Equity Scholarships (CSUES) and CSU Masters Equity Scholarships (CSUMES) are classified as income. All CSUES and CSUMES payments need to be declared to the Centrelink office.
What happens if I defer my study?
An IAS, Indigenous-CECS, Indigenous-CAS, CSUES or a CSUMES recipient deferring their offer to study with CSU will forfeit their Scholarship.
This is different to a current scholarship recipient who may be taking an Approved Leave of Absence (LOA) within their course with CSU. These students should apply for Suspension of their Scholarship while they are on the LOA. Refer to the Ongoing Eligibility information on this website.
I received a payment last semester, what do I need to do now to keep getting my scholarship?
Ongoing eligibility information can be found by clicking on this link..
What happens if I no longer meet the eligibility criteria?
Your scholarship will be cancelled.
I am finishing my studies this year - do I need to notify someone about my scholarship?
Returning the ongoing eligibility form indicating your change in circumstances is sufficient.
How do I know if my home address is rural or not?
You can check your home postcode listing with this Remote Lookup Spreadsheet.