Scholarships & Grants

The University of Melbourne offers scholarships based on financial need, academic achievement and other criteria such as relocation from a rural area or if you are the first person in your family to study at university.

There are range of different scholarships and grants that are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying at the University. You are automatically considered for some scholarships and these may be awarded with your offer letter. Other scholarships require an additional application once you enrol.

Similarly, for scholarships specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, there may also be additional criteria that you must satisfy in order to be eligible. This includes providing us with documents to confirm your eligibility. You can read more about this on our confirming your eligibility page.

You can explore all available scholarships and grants at the University of Melbourne on the scholarship webpage.

Undergraduate scholarships

Read about scholarships that may be available to you whilst studying at the University.

The Melbourne Chancellor’s Scholarship is guaranteed for eligible high-achieving students.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, you:

  • must have applied to go to university while you were in Year 12
  • did not previously undertake any tertiary studies (extension studies completed as part of a Year 12 program are allowed)
  • must have applied for a University of Melbourne undergraduate course through VTAC starting in the year after you complete Year 12 or International Baccalaureate
  • must satisfy course prerequisites
  • are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
  • must have achieved an ATAR of at least 90.00.

Benefits

  • HECS Student Contribution Exemption. This means you will not accumulate a HECS debt.
  • Living allowance for up to three years:
    • $5,000 per year for students who completed Year 12 in Victoria.
    • $10,000 per year for students who completed Year 12 outside Victoria.
  • Melbourne Global Scholars Award of up to $2,500 for an approved period of overseas study as an exchange or study abroad student.
  • Guaranteed Commonwealth Supported Place in a graduate course for students who meet the course prerequisites and entry requirements for the relevant degree.

How to apply

You don’t need to complete an application form to receive this scholarship. The University will consider eligible students when they apply to the university .

You can defer this scholarship. You can hold it at the same time as other scholarships.

The Melbourne Access Scholarship is for undergraduate students experiencing difficult circumstances and/or come from a disadvantaged background.

This scholarship is open to all undergraduate students, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • have applied to go to university while you were in Year 12
  • be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen
  • be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
  • have completed Year 12 or International Baccalaureate in Australia
  • not have undertaken any tertiary studies before
  • have applied for an undergraduate degree through VTAC to commence in the year after you complete Year 12 or International Baccalaureate
  • meet the Access Melbourne entry requirements for the nominated course.

Benefits

  • $5,000 per year for 3 years for eligible students
  • $7,500 per year for 3 years for eligible students from regional or remote areas in Australia.

How to apply

You don’t need to complete an application form to receive this scholarship. The University automatically considers students who submitted a SEAS application through VTAC.

You can defer this scholarship. You can hold it at the same time as other scholarships.

This scholarship is available to talented students of Australian Indigenous descent. You are automatically considered for the Indigenous Merit Scholarship if you have applied for a graduate coursework program. This scholarship awards you with:

  • a living allowance of $6,000 per year (paid in two instalments in April and September) for up to three years
  • a full fee remission for students enrolled in an Australian Full Fee Place for the duration of the course, or a HECS Student Contribution exemption for students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place for the duration of the course.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • be of Australian Indigenous descent
  • have applied for a University of Melbourne graduate coursework degree.

How to apply?

You will be automatically considered for this scholarship when you apply to the University.

The Melbourne Graduate Access Bursary is available to graduate coursework students who have experienced difficult circumstances that impacted on their tertiary studies. This scholarship provides an allowance of $5,000 paid in two instalments in April and September.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen
  • have applied for admission  and received an offer for a graduate course under Graduate Access Melbourne.

Selection criteria

This scholarship is offered to students with the highest overall level of disadvantage within one or more Graduate Access Melbourne equity categories.

How to apply?

Eligible Graduate Access Melbourne applicants are automatically considered for a Graduate Access Bursary.

Graduate and research scholarships

Commonwealth scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships are Australian Government payments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (ICECS) assists with education, teaching and training costs.

ICECS provides an allowance of either:

  • $3,000 per year for four years for recent school leavers
  • $7,000 per year for four years for non-school leavers.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
  • be an Australian citizen
  • have applied for a University of Melbourne undergraduate degree through the VTAC SEAS or graduate or research degree through Graduate Access Melbourne
  • satisfy course prerequisites.

You cannot be awarded an Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarship if you receive other forms of Commonwealth assistance given for the same purpose.

For example, you cannot receive the ABSTUDY Residential Costs Option and the Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship because they are both forms of government housing assistance.

How to apply?

You will be automatically considered for this scholarship when you apply to study at the University of Melbourne. You can defer this scholarship. You can al also hold it at the same time as other scholarships.

The Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (ICAS) assists with relocation and/or accommodation costs.

ICAS provides an allowance of either:

  • $2,000 per year for 4 years for students who relocate to Melbourne from within Victoria
  • $4,000 per year for 4 years for student who relocate to Melbourne from outside Victoria.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
  • be an Australian citizen
  • have applied for a University of Melbourne undergraduate degree through the VTAC SEAS or graduate or research degree through Graduate Access Melbourne
  • satisfy course prerequisites.

You cannot be awarded an Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarship if you receive other forms of Commonwealth assistance given for the same purpose. For example, you cannot receive the ABSTUDY Residential Costs Option and the Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship because they are both forms of government housing assistance.

How to apply?

You will be automatically considered for this scholarship when you apply to study at the University of Melbourne. You can defer this scholarship. You can al also hold it at the same time as other scholarships.