Connected Early Childhood Pathway Scholarship

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  • Applications open
  • Available to:
    Commencing Students
  • Value: up to $6,000, with extra financial support for First Nations, regional, rural or remote students
  • Duration: 2 x $1,500 installments per year, over two years

Proudly funded by the NSW Government

Charles Sturt University's Connected Early Childhood Pathway is funded by the NSW Department of Education and provides financial support and wraparound services to help you succeed in the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years).


Available to:

Commencing Students

You must hold the following qualification:

  • Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for our scholarship program you must:

  1. Be a resident of New South Wales
  2. Hold an approved Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.
  3. Be commencing in the Bachelor of Education  (Birth to Five Years), in Session 1, 2026
  4. Be studying in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  5. Be studying full-time online,
    (you must undertake a minimum of four subjects in both Session 1 and Session 2 each year, or you must undertake a minimum of three subjects in both Session 1 and Session 2 and two subjects in Session 3 each year, to meet the full-time study load requirement)
  6. Submit a letter of support from your Centre Director (if currently employed).
    (please see Director Recommendation Form at How to Apply)
  7. Complete the scholarship questionnaire
    (please see the Scholarship Questionnaire form at How to Apply)
  8. Commence in the Connected Early Childhood Pathway on 2 March 2026 (Session 1), enrolled in the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years).

Priority will be given to:

  • Students in regional, rural and remote locations
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

To determine your rural, regional or remote status, you can use this Rurality Rating Check. Enter your postcode, and scroll down to the ASGS Remoteness Areas (2021) to confirm your rating.

Charles Sturt has the right to recoup funds paid to a student in any study period, where a student withdraws from their course post-census date.

Guidelines

  1. The Connected Early Childhood Pathway Scholarship is valued at $6,000 at base, $6,900 for First Nations students, $6,600 for Rural & Regional Students, and $7,200 for Remote students. It is paid via EFT to the bank account you have registered with Charles Sturt University.
  2. Payments are made in two instalments of $1,500 - $1,800 each, within 14 days of the census date for Sessions 1 and Sessions 2 of 2026 and 2027, provided recipients meet the eligibility criteria.
  3. Late applications will not be accepted, and the scholarship cannot be deferred.
  4. The Scholarships Team is responsible for the assessment, allocation and administration of this scholarship.
  5. Due to the high volume of applications; meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee a scholarship offer.
  6. The University reserves the right to recover scholarship payments if your circumstances change and you no longer meet the eligibility criteria.

Terms and Conditions

By accepting the scholarship offer 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.

Am I eligible for the Connected Early Childhood Pathway?

To be eligible for our scholarship program you must:

  • Be a New South Wales resident.
  • Hold an approved Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.
  • Be commencing in our Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years) in Session 1, 2026.
  • Study in a Commonwealth supported place.
  • Submit a letter of support from your service (if currently employed).
  • Complete the scholarship questionnaire.
  • Commence in the Connected Early Childhood Pathway on 2 March 2026 (Session 1), enrolled in our Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years).

Priority will be given to students in regional, rural, and remote locations, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Are there any location-based restrictions for participation in this program?

Yes, to be eligible you must be located in New South Wales.

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 support is available?

Our dedicated Connected Early Childhood Pathway Program Lead and Academic Program Support Officer are available to support and mentor you throughout the course.

In addition: ·

  • Academic skills offers free study support services to help you succeed.
  • Free embedded tutors for most subjects.
  • Accessibility and inclusion support ensure equal access to learning. You can work with a liaison officer to create a study access plan, and support is provided for any condition (permanent or temporary) that may impact successful study.
  • First Nations students will be supported with all aspects of their academic journey, including social, cultural, and personal support. Whilst services refer to First Nations students, Charles Sturt University respectfully acknowledges that students identify in a range of ways, such as with one or more Nations or language groups, as Indigenous, as Aboriginal and/or as Torres Strait Islander.
  • Library help and support are available, offering a wide range of accessible learning resources.
  • Wellbeing support is available whenever you need it.

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

If you are successful in receiving the Connected Early Childhood Pathways scholarship, you will be awarded up to $6,000 of financial support. This will be paid in four instalments over the two years.

Additional loading is offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students (15 per cent), regional and rural students (10 per cent) and remote students (20 per cent). If you fall into two categories, we will fund you for whichever one has the highest loading.

Payments will be made after census date each session.

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.

Is the course only available online?

Yes, you will complete all your studies online, except for the professional experience placement requirements. Professional experience placements can 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).

How many subjects can I expect to study full-time?

A standard full-time study load is usually eight subjects per year. However, if you'd like to complete your degree in 18 months, you can expect to study four subjects across four consecutive sessions (which includes the summer session).

Can I work while studying?

Yes, we have designed the program so you can work part-time 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

How often will I need to attend classes?

You will do all of your learning online, however you can choose to come to campus to use any of the facilities if you live near one of our campuses - Albury, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Port Macquarie or Wagga Wagga. Our Libraries have 24 hour access if you have your student card, and some campuses have gyms, cafes and other facilities.

Do online students have to attend lectures/tutorials?

You don't usually have a specific number of lectures/tutorials that you need to attend, and most are recorded for those that can't make it. Some subjects do require you to engage each week (through forum posts, tutorial attendance or similar), however any required commitments will be stipulated in your Subject Outline/s. You can also check with your Subject Coordinator at the beginning of the Session for their expectations.

It's always a good idea to let your Subject Coordinator know if you will be away at all during the semester so you can make a plan to get course work/assessment tasks in earlier or later than expected.

How long do lectures typically last?

This can vary between subjects. Some are 30-minute recorded lecturers, or hour-long interactive workshop-style tutorials.

Placement

Understand the acronyms used for placement subjects.

  • TES - Teacher Education Student (you)
  • WPL - Workplace Learning
  • WIL - Work Integrated Learning
  • InPlace - The program/site you need to access to apply for a placement in EPT subjects.
  • PELO - Professional Experience Liaison Officer is the person who will work on your behalf to source your placement. They read your InPlace application and contact schools to arrange a placement for you. TES do not contact school themselves. TES communicate with PELOs via email and phone calls. Our PELOs are all experienced teachers who are here to help find the most suitable school for you and your placement.
  • ST - Supervising Teacher -a qualified and experienced teacher at your placement school supervising your placement and mentoring you.
  • ULO - University Liaison Officer -an experience teacher working for Charles Sturt University to support both TES and ST throughout the placement period. TES and ULOs communicate via email and phone calls and will be the point of contact with the Charles Sturt whilst you are on placement.

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

Forms and Documents

Download and save any forms you require for your application.

Scholarship Questionnaire

Director Recommendation Form

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 documentation will 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.

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 2025 and will close at 11:59pm 13 Feb 2026

Commencing students - Apply online

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