Commonwealth Indigenous Scholarships
There are two forms of Commonwealth Indigenous Scholarships
- Commonwealth Indigenous Accommodation Scholarships
- Commonwealth Indigenous Education Costs Scholarships
These scholarships are funded through the Indigenous Student Success Program. Program that is provided federally by the Commonwealth of Australia (Canberra). If you will be receiving support from other sources you should check with that authority before applying for a Commonwealth Indigenous Scholarship from Southern Cross University. You are only permitted to receive one education cost scholarship and one accommodation scholarship at any one time (January to June / July to December). If you have concerns please contact the Scholarships office to discuss further.
Application process
Complete the online application.
- Term 1, 2023 applications close 7 March 2023
- Term 3, 2023applications not currently open
Number available
- Commonwealth Indigenous Accommodation Scholarships (CIAS) = 5
- Commonwealth Indigenous Education Costs Scholarships (CIECS) = 7
Value
- Studying a minimum of 96 credit points in a calendar year – value will be pro-rata for enrolments of lesser value. A minimum annual enrolment applies of 48 credit points.
- Scholarships commencing after July will only receive half the annual value in 2023 and must enrol in a minimum of 24 credit points in 2023.
- Commonwealth Indigenous Accommodation Scholarships Annual Full Time Value = $8,000
- Commonwealth Indigenous Education Costs Scholarships Annual Full Time Value = $4,000
See Information for recipients for details about general conditions and payments.
Course of study
- Any degree or course. Note preference will be shown to commencing undergraduate students.
- Accommodation scholarships will preference On Campus students.
- Studying a minimum of 96 credit points in a calendar year for the full value of the scholarship – value will be pro-rata for enrolments of lesser value. A minimum annual enrolment applies of 48 credit points (24 credit points if commencing after June)
- Preference will be shown to scholarship applicants enrolled or intending to enrol in a Commonwealth Supported Place
Selection criteria
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status
For the purposes of the assessment of Indigenous Commonwealth scholarship, a person will be considered to be an Indigenous person where:
- Is of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and
- 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.
Citizenship
Applicants must be an Australian Citizen
Low socio-economic status
Applicants must meet the criteria for low socio-economic status by demonstrating one of the following:
- Receiving or expecting to receive a Centrelink means-tested income support payment (such as ABSTUDY, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment Single, Carer Payment etc.)
- Provide evidence of exceptional financial hardship
- Dependent students aged between 16–20 years whose parent/guardian was in receipt of Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A at the maximum rate in the year before commencing studies at SCU.
Non-eligibility
You are not eligible for consideration if you:
- Already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher-level award, unless the award you hold is a prerequisite to the course you are enrolled in (or will be enrolled in).
- In the case of CIAS you must not receive this scholarship at the same time as being paid:
- a Relocation Scholarship from Centrelink
- Residential Costs Option (RCO) under the ABSTUDY scheme from Centrelink
- Or any other Scholarship Type B — Accommodation Scholarship funded through Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP) with any other institution, organisation or government department.
- In the case of CIECS you must not receive this scholarship at the same time as being paid:
- a Student Start-up Scholarship from Centrelink
- Or any other Scholarship Type A — Education Cost Scholarship funded through Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP) with any other institution, organisation or government department.