UTS is aware of the financial challenges that many students face, and offers various kinds of financial assistance.
This page provides information about Equity Scholarships. For further information please contact the UTS Equity & Diversity Unit. Phone: (02) 9514-1084.
For advice about interest-free loans and other kinds of financial assistance available to UTS students, please consult the UTS Financial Assistance Service. Phone (02) 9514 1177 (City) or (02) 9514 5342 (Kuring-gai).
News on Commonwealth Scholarships and student income support
The proposed changes to student income support legislation, set to take effect in January 2010, were not passed by the Australian Senate on 4 December 2009. This mainly impacts on students in receipt of Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY who are commencing their university study in 2010 and who would have been eligible to receive an annual Relocation and/or a Start-up Scholarship through Centrelink.
The Government advises that the Income Support Bill will be reintroduced to Parliament in February 2010. You can check on the progress of the legislation by visiting the DEEWR website at:
http://www.deewr.gov.au/highereducation/Programs/YouthAllowance/Pages/default.aspx
UTS will provide Diversity Access Scholarships to all eligible students in first semester 2010
On 15 December the Vice Chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney approved a temporary reallocation of university funds to ensure that all students demonstrating financial hardship are not disadvantaged by the failure of the student income support legislation.
A new round of equity scholarship applications (including Diversity Access Scholarship applications) will open on 13 January. Low-income current and prospective UTS students who did not apply in 2009 are invited to submit an application by 19 February 2010 for scholarships valued at between $1,000-$2,000. All eligible applicants are guaranteed a minimum $1,000 UTS Diversity Access Scholarship.
Visit the UAC website from 13 January - 19 February 2010 to submit your application:
http://www.uac.edu.au/equity/
Eligibility for Diversity Access Scholarships
Diversity Access Scholarships, valued from $1000 - $4500 per year, are distributed to UTS students in situations of financial hardship.
To be eligible for a Diversity Access Scholarship, you must:
- be enrolled at UTS as an undergraduate or postgraduate student
- demonstrate financial hardship, either by: providing documents to show that you are receiving a means-tested Commonwealth income support payment (such as Austudy, ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance, Disability Support Pension etc) OR
providing comprehensive information demonstrating financial hardship. - be enrolled at UTS on a full-time basis. Part-time students may apply if they can demonstrate that they are studying part-time because of exceptional circumstances, such as having a disability or significant carers' responsibilities.
- be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or humanitarian visa holders. International students are not eligible to apply for Equity Scholarships, with the exception of students studying at UTS on humanitarian visas.
Particular consideration will be given to students who, in addition to demonstrating financial hardship, also meet one of the following criteria:
- being an Indigenous Australian
- being a sole parent / carer
- having a disability or ongoing illness
- having a non-English speaking background
Indigenous students
UTS will administer the Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships program on behalf of the Commonwealth Government in 2010. All UTS Indigenous students demonstrating low income are guaranteed a minimum $1,000 UTS Diversity Access Scholarship or a higher-valued Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarship.
Visit the UAC website from 13 January - 19 February to submit your application:
http://www.uac.edu.au/equity/
Current Commonwealth Scholarship holders
All existing Commonwealth Scholarship holders will automatically continue to receive payments in 2010, as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria and have not already received the maximum number of 8 payments. There is no need to reapply.
Gap year students
Students who are considering a gap year in 2010 should be aware that the current arrangements for student income support for gap year students could change with the introduction of new legislation. Students can monitor progress on the proposed changes to student income support by visiting Centrelink.
Further information about legislative changes
To monitor progress with the proposed changes or for more information, visit the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
To find out more about the current rules for Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY refer to Studying or Training
