National Priority Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarship changes in 2010

In 2010, Commonwealth Scholarships will be replaced by two new scholarships administered through Centrelink:

• Student Start-Up Scholarships ($2254 per annum, in 2010)
• Relocation Scholarships ($4000 in first year, $1000 per year thereafter)

For more information on these new Student Start-Up Scholarships and Relocation Scholarships, see the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) website.

UWA SWANS Scholarships will continue to be awarded by UWA, but it is likely that the eligibility criteria for these scholarships will change, pending details of the new Student Start-Up and Relocation Scholarships.

Commonwealth Scholarships for Indigenous Students will continue to be awarded through UWA.

More information will be posted here when the outcome of legislation has been resolved.

Basic information

The National Priority Scholarship (NPS) assists students enrolling in national priority disciplines, as per the list of eligible undergraduate and postgraduate courses [PDF].

National Priority Scholarships are valued at $2,207 in 2009 and are paid for up to four years.

The scholarship will not be regarded as income by Centrelink in means-tested benefits.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a National Priority Scholarship you must, by the first census date of the scholarship period (where a scholarship period means a six month period from either 1 January to 30 June or 1 July to 31 December), be:

• an Australian citizen or the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa; and
• enrolled in or undertaking a course of study with an eligible scholarship provider as a Commonwealth supported student, as defined in the Act in:
    (i) an undergraduate course of study (as per the specified list); or
    (ii) a post-graduate course of study required for initial registration for the purposes of practicing in the relevant profession (as per the specified list) and
• in receipt of a means tested Commonwealth income support payment (such as Youth Allowance, AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY), or provide a statement demonstrating financial hardship; and
• enrolled as a full-time student (defined as undertaking as least 75% of an equivalent full time student load in a scholarship period) unless there are exceptional circumstances which prevent you from studying full-time;

and you must not already:

• have completed the requirements of a course of study (with any provider) regarded by the scholarship provider to be equivalent to or higher than an Australian bachelor’s award unless the previous award: 
  (i) is a prerequisite to their current undergraduate or post-graduate course of study; or 
  (ii) was not in a priority discipline area as identified in the specified list; and
• have received a Commonwealth Scholarship for the maximum duration of a Commonwealth Scholarship; and
• be in receipt of the same Commonwealth Scholarship, from any provider.