Connected Early Childhood Pathway Scholarship

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  • Applications open
  • Available to:
    Commencing Students; Continuing Students
  • Value: Up to $6,000, with extra support available
  • Duration: Paid in instalments throughout your degree

Get financial and personalised support to succeed in your Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years). Funded by the NSW Department of Education, this scholarship is designed for diploma qualified educators balancing study, work and life.


Who can apply

To be eligible you must:

  1. Hold an approved Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
  2. Be a resident of New South Wales
  3. Have accepted an offer to study or already studying the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years) commencing in:
    - Session 3, 2025, or   
    - Session 1 or 2, 2026
  4. Be studying in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  5. Plan to complete at least 6 subjects per year
  6. Complete the Scholarship Questionaire and provide a Service Recommendation (if applicable)

Priority will be given to:

  • Students residing in regional, rural and remote locations
  • First Nations students

Start application

What support looks like

You'll receive a base rate of $6,000, with extra support available depending on your circumstances:

  • $6,900 for First Nations students
  • $6,600 for rural and regional students
  • $7,200 for remote students

As long as you remain eligible, payments are made in instalments via electronic funds transfer (EFT) directly to your nominated bank account after census date each session until funds are exhausted.

What you need to do

To be able to receive this scholarship, you must:

  • Successfully complete a minimum of 6 subjects per year. This can be completed across sessions 1, 2, and 3 if approved by the Connected Early Childhood Pathway (CECP) team
  • Access exclusive CECP scholarship support throughout the duration of your course. Visit our FAQs to find out what is available to you

Important information to know

  • Late applications will not be accepted, and the scholarship cannot be deferred.
  • The Scholarships Team is responsible for the assessment, allocation and administration of this scholarship.
  • Due to the high volume of applications; meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee a scholarship offer.
  • Charles Sturt University reserves the right to recover scholarship payments if your circumstances change or you withdraw from your course and no longer meet the eligibility criteria.

Terms and Conditions

By submitting a scholarship application you agree to:

  1. fulfil all requirements as set out in these guidelines.
  2. consent to Charles Sturt University accessing your student records for the purposes of assessing and administering the grant.
  3. provide any change of individual circumstances in writing to the Scholarships Office scholarships@csu.edu.au
  4. accept the terms and conditions of this scholarship.

The University reserves the right to undertake audits of individual student’s records to ensure adherence to these guidelines.

Policy

A scholarship recipient who undertakes an approved program of study overseas with another University as a cross-institutional student will be considered for payment of this scholarship during this period. This is conditional on the cross-institutional study being a requirement of the course and all other eligibility criteria being met.

Charles Sturt University will treat any information provided by the applicant within the terms of relevant privacy legislation See Charles Sturt University’s privacy policy for further information.

Due to privacy laws, any discussion of a scholarship application or recipient will only take place with the scholarship applicant/recipient.

The information collected will be used by authorised University Staff to assess eligibility and administer the scholarship program. The information may also be used for assessment purposes for other scholarships, grants and equity programs across the University. Recipient names and email addresses may be made available to departments within the University for marketing and research purposes. No details will be used externally for any reason without the recipient’s consent. Students should be aware that they provide information of their own free will.

Personal and health information provided by the applicant will not be made available to any person within the University or external organisation for any other purpose without the applicant’s consent, except where it may be a legal requirement of the University to provide information.

FAQs

What is the Connected Early Childhood Pathway?

The Connected Early Childhood Pathway is our dedicated scholarship program for diploma qualified early childhood educators. It's your pathway to becoming a university qualified early childhood education teacher. The program provides financial, academic and personal support to help you succeed at university.

Why study with Charles Sturt?

We have more than 25 years of expertise in early childhood education. We're the #1 public university for grads who get jobs.* We also have a strong commitment to regional, rural and First Nations students. As Australia’s most experienced online university, our fully online Connected Early Childhood Pathway is designed for students balancing work, family and life. You’ll get expert advice, dedicated support, and all the resources you need – without having to attend campus.

*Good Universities Guide 2024/25

What exclusive support can I get through the Connected Early Childhood Pathway Scholarship and Program?

Our dedicated Connected Early Childhood Pathway Program Lead and Academic Program Support Officer are available to give exclusive support and mentorship throughout your course. Access to this support will be provided on your Brightspace learning page once you begin your course.

From health and wellbeing to study and careers, Charles Sturt can connect all students with personalised support. Check out our support services and library resources available to you.

How will the $6,000 in financial support be paid?

This will be paid in EFT instalments over the duration of your degree, typically after census date for each session, into your nominated bank account.

You can use the funds in a way that best supports your study and circumstances.

What are the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years)?

For entry to the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years), you'll need an approved Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care qualification. Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements apply.

You'll need to accept your offer into the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Fice Years) course before applying for the Connected Early Childhood Pathway Scholarship.

Is the course only available online?

Yes, you will complete all your studies online, except for the professional experience placement requirements. Professional experience placements may be secured in your local area, and in some cases, your current workplace.

Each subject you undertake will usually have a lecture and/or tutorial that you will need to attend online. However, most are recorded. Some subjects require you to engage in weekly tasks (through forum posts, tutorial attendance or similar). Check your subject outline for full requirements.

Even though you will study online, you are welcome to come to any Charles Sturt campus to use any of our facilities at any time: Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Port Macquarie, or Wagga Wagga. The libraries offer 24-hour access, and some campuses feature gyms, cafes and other facilities.

Do I need to complete placements?

Yes, you will be required to undertake placement for the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five). The 80-day practical component of the degree is an ACECQA accreditation program requirement. The placement days are completed across the degree as a combination of in-workplace and out-of-workplace experiences. You may be eligible for a 20-day reduction based on relevant experience.

Will I receive credit for previous study?

If you have an approved Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, you'll be granted credit of 128 points (16 subjects) in recognition of prior study. This means you'll have only two years of remaining study (full-time equivalent).

Can I work while studying?

Yes, we have designed the program so you can work whilst studying.

What if I have additional questions?

We're here to help with any questions you may have. Please contact us at CECP@csu.edu.au or direct your scholarship questions to scholarships@csu.edu.au

Definitions

  1. Active Student:  A student who is enrolled in subject/s in the current/commencing session. This excludes students on approved Leave of Absence.
  2. Carer: For Charles Sturt University’s purposes, a carer is defined as a person of any age, who without being paid (excluding Centrelink), cares for another person who needs ongoing support because of a long-term medical condition, a mental illness, a disability, frailty or the need for palliative care. A carer may or may not be a family member and may or may not live with the person. Volunteers under the auspices of a voluntary organisation are not included. Scholarship recipients may be in receipt of a Centrelink Carer Allowance or Carer Payment.
  3. Census Date: The date at which you can withdraw from a subject or course without financial penalty.
  4. Commencing Student: A student enrolled in and undertaking subjects in their first session of study.
  5. Commonwealth Supported Place:  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a subsidised higher education enrolment. The Australian Government subsidises a CSP by paying part of the fees for the place directly to the University.
  6. Commonwealth Supported Student:  A student enrolled in a CSP is referred to as a ‘Commonwealth supported student’. Students only pay the ‘student contribution’ amount, set by the university, for their units of study. (As defined in the Higher Education Support Act 2003).
  7. Conditional Offer: An offer of a scholarship which is made based on you continuing to meet the eligibility requirements as at session Census Date.
  8. Continuing Student: A student enrolled in, and undertaking, subjects in their second and subsequent sessions of study.
  9. Domestic Student (Student): Means a student with a permanent home address in Australia who is:
    1. An Australian citizen
    2. A New Zealand citizen
    3. A diplomatic or consular representative of New Zealand, a member of the staff of such a representative or the spouse or dependent relative of such a representative; or
    4. A student with an Australian permanent visa.
  10. Financial Need: A person is considered to be in financial need if they are in receipt of an eligible means-tested Centrelink benefit or in financial hardship. Refer to Eligible benefits in these guidelines.
  11. Financial Hardship: A person is considered to be in financial hardship when they find it difficult to provide for themselves, their family or dependents basic necessities such as food, accommodation, clothing, medical treatment and education.
  12. Full Fee paying: If you're a domestic student in a full-fee-paying place, it means your place receives no financial contribution from the government and you are required to pay the full cost of the course.
  13. Full-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). At Charles Sturt University, this equates to being enrolled in three or more (8 point) subjects, or 24 subject points or more per session.
  14. Grade Point Average: A grade point is the numerical value assigned to a final grade to allow calculation of a Grade Point Average (GPA). GPA is the average of all final grades obtained by a student for courses within an academic program.
  15. Indigenous: for the purposes of these Guidelines, means a person who is of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; identifies as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; and is accepted as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in the community in which he/she lives or has lived.
  16. Integrated Program: Students are co-enrolled and study at both TAFE and Charles Sturt University.  Under this type of arrangement, specific courses are identified and a formal agreement is signed.
  17. Internal Student:  An internal student is a student that is studying the majority of subjects for any given session of the course as an on campus student.  For example, if a student is enrolled in four subjects for a session, then three or more subjects must be studied internally (on campus).  If a student is enrolled in three subjects for a session, then two or more subjects must be studied internally (on campus). The status as an internal student can change for each session of study.
  18. Leave of Absence: Official approval to be absent from your study, whilst still maintaining the status of enrolled student.
  19. Online Student:  A student enrolled in 75% or more of subjects in a given session studying online.
  20. Part-time:  A part-time student is one who is enrolled in one or two (8 point) subjects per session, which equates to 8 or 16 subject points per session.
  21. Postgraduate: A person who has obtained a degree from a university and is pursuing studies for a more advanced qualification.
  22. Pro Rata: a proportional distribution of the total amount to ensure equal allocation.
  23. Regional, Remote or Very Remote Area:The Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) is a geographical system developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to classify different living zones in Australia.  Classifications are postcode based and are identified as ‘Remote’, ‘Very Remote’, ‘Major Cities’, ‘Inner Regional’ and ‘Outer Regional’. To find your classification, you can view the following map.
  24. Special Circumstances: Circumstances which are beyond the student’s control and which a reasonable person would consider is not due to the student’s action or inaction, either direct or indirect, and for which the student is not responsible. This situation must be unusual, uncommon or abnormal.
  25. Undergraduate: Undergraduate students who are enrolled and are studying for approved undergraduate qualifications at eligible higher education providers. Approved undergraduate qualifications include Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma and Diploma courses of study. Enabling courses do not qualify.

How to Apply

The Connected Early Childhood Pathwyas Scholarship has been extended for a second intake, with applications open until 13 July 2026 and there are still spots available. Recent changes to eligibility criteria means more students may now be eligible!

If you've been thinking about applying, now it the perfect time. We encourage you to submit your application and take advantage of this opportunity!

Forms and Documents

Download and save any applicable forms to submit with your application.

Scholarship Questionnaire

Service Recommendation Form

A copy of your Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Application

  • Complete an online application form.
  • Applications will be assessed in accordance with the eligibility criteria and supporting documentation.
  • Applications with incorrect or no supporting documents may be deemed ineligible.
  • You may be assessed as eligible but not receive an offer due to quota restrictions.
  • There are no interviews required.

Outcome

  • All applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome of their application.
  • You will receive an outcome once applications have closed and all applications have been assessed.
  • You should expect to hear an outcome around census date.

Acceptance

  • Successful applicants are required to accept their grant/scholarship offer.
  • Offers not accepted by the offer expiry date will be withdrawn.

Apply online

Applications are OPEN for 2026 and will close at 11:59pm 13 Jul 2026

Continuing students - Apply online

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Commencing students - Apply online

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