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Scholarship for rural/isolated studentsScholarship for new studentsScholarship for indigenous studentsScholarship for economically disadvantaged studentsScholarship for continuing studentsCommonwealth Scholarships

(Scholarships and Grants are subject to change and are awarded based on conditions current at the time of award)

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In 2004, the Federal Government established the Commonwealth Scholarships (CS) program (previously named Commonwealth Learning Scholarship).  The program aims to facilitate choice in higher education and to increase higher education participation by students from low socio-economic backgrounds, particularly indigenous students and students from rural and regional areas. The CS program consisted of two types of scholarships

 A student of the University of South Australia may be awarded a CECS and a CAS concurrently.

In 2008, an additional five new scholarships are being offered:

The information below provides details of the Commonwealth Scholarships program, including eligibility requirements and administration procedures.

 

Basic eligibility requirements:

To be eligible for a CS in 2008, students are required to:

In addition to the basic eligibility requirements each scholarship type has its own specific eligibility requirements detailed as follows:

Students are not eligible if they:

Application process

UniSA has a new Scholarships Management System which students can access by logging into the myUniSA student portal and clicking on My Studies. This will display a 'my Scholarships' link (on the right hand side of the page) which will take you to the my Scholarships home page. You can apply for CS scholarships listed on the home page under ‘Scholarship groups I may apply for’. For more information visit Frequently Asked Questions.

2008 Mid-year Online applications (Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships and Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships only) will open from 14 July 2008 and closes 5pm 08 August 2008. Students will be notified of the application opening via their myUniSA student portal announcements.

To apply, students must meet the eligibility requirements and be able to provide evidence that they are financially and educationally disadvantaged. One of the ways that you can verify financial disadvantage is by showing that you are in receipt of a means tested Centrelink Benefit (e.g. Youth Allowance, Austudy, Abstudy etc), and/or a Health Care Card. Not all Centrelink benefits are means tested (opens new window).

Specific details of the required supporting documentation will be communicated to each applicant via their student email account, after their application form has been submitted.

Selection process

Applicants are ranked against the CS eligibility criteria and UniSA equity considerations.

  1. Selection will be made on the basis of financial need and equity considerations.
  2. Special consideration will be given to Indigenous students as a percentage of applications.
  3. Applicants will be ranked according to a total score derived from a set of weighted financial need, equity and educational disadvantage indicators.
  4. The weightings may be adjusted to ensure that members of the University’s equity priority areas are represented in the ranking.
  5. In the case of a tied score, applicants will be separated on the basis of the University’s equity priorities for the current year.  Otherwise, applicants will be separated on the basis of academic merit.

Offer

Value of scholarships

The value of a CS in 2008 is as follows:

Payments

Payments are made directly to the student by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), are subject to the satisfaction of ongoing eligibility requirements for each scholarship period, and are made as follows:

Ongoing eligibility requirements

In order to maintain ongoing eligibility for a CS, the scholarship holder:

It is the scholarship holder’s responsibility to advise Student and Academic Services of any changes to their circumstances which would make them ineligible for the Scholarship: SAS-scholarships@unisa.edu.au

The University will undertake a process to review and verify the scholarship holder’s ongoing eligibility for the CS each scholarship period (twice a year – at the beginning and middle of the calendar year).

Duration of scholarships

The maximum duration a student may receive a Commonwealth Scholarship is:

This excludes periods of approved leave.

Leave

The scholarship holder may take periods of leave in accordance with University Policy A - 48.0 Enrolment.  Scholarship payments will be deferred for such periods of leave.

Transfer of scholarships

  1. Commonwealth Scholarship holders who transfer from another Higher Education Provider to the University of South Australia will not automatically have their previously awarded scholarship honoured.
  2. University of South Australia students who hold a scholarship from other Higher Education Providers may apply to the University of South Australia and will be assessed for a CS according to the University’s selection criteria.
  3. The University may award a CS for the remainder of the student’s CS duration. Students who have received part of a CS at another institution must declare any previous CS support they have received.
  4. Commonwealth Scholarship holders who transfer from University of South Australia to another Higher Education Provider will not be able transfer their CS.

Termination

The scholarship holder’s CS will be terminated:

Provision of false information

If the University of South Australia knows or has reason to believe that a student in receipt of a CS has provided false or misleading information, the University is required to re-assess the student’s entitlement to the CS and notify DEST of the suspected offence and provide DEST with a copy of the student’s application and any other relevant information requested by DEST.

Confidentiality

Grievance procedures

Grievances will be resolved in accordance with University policy C17.2, Policy and Procedures for the Resolution of Student Grievances and must be submitted within twenty (20) working days of receiving notification of the outcome of the selection process.

 

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