Scholarships and Financial Assistance
University of Sydney Scholarships
The University of Sydney has over 700 scholarships schemes on offer and thousands of recipients! Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, extracurricular activities, differing eligibility criteria, financial or other hardship or a combination of these. There are also essay and literary competitions. Each year the University of Sydney gives out over $65 million in scholarships; and this is not taking into consideration prizes or College and Sporting Scholarships! Further details on University of Sydney scholarships can be found on the Scholarships Office website. Below is a list of just some of the scholarships and financial support available.
Undergraduate
| Scholarship/Financial Support | Who can apply? | More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Ian A Cameron Travel Grant | Local and International Students |
The Ian A. Cameron Travel Grant provides assistance for one or more Honours or postgraduate research students from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Sydney College of the Arts or the Sydney Conservatorium of Music to undertake research in either France or Scotland as part of their degree. Please contact for more information. |
| Scholarships for Outstanding Achievement | Local students with an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) of 99.95 | You do not need to apply for this scholarship, although you must have a University of Sydney preference on your UAC application for university admission to be eligible. You will be contacted after the ATARs are released, if you meet the criteria. The University will contact you by mail if you get an ATAR of 99.95. For further information click here. |
| The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences First Year Bursary | Local First Year Students | This scholarship is offered to eligible first year students to help with establishment costs at university. You will be eligible to apply if you are enrolled full-time, are in receipt of Youth Allowance, Austudy or any other Centrelink Benefit, and can demonstrate financial need due to one or more of the following reasons: low socio-economic status, rural or isolated background, living away from home or a disability. For further information click here. |
| University of Sydney Merit and Entry Scholarship | Local Students - IB and International Students applying through UAC | These scholarships are awarded on a combination of school examination results, Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), and other achievements, such as leadership, creativity, self-motivation, and communication skills. We want to know what makes you special, so don’t be afraid to tell us in your personal statement! For further information click here. |
| University of Sydney Access Scholarships | Local Students | We know that students who overcome disadvantage can achieve excellent results at university, especially with support from the University. Access Scholarships assist academically gifted students in challenging circumstances. If you are financially disadvantaged (if you are receiving Youth Allowance or any other means-tested Commonwealth benefit), are from a rural or regional area of Australia, or have a disability or long-term medical condition, we recommend you apply through UAC’s Equity Scholarships application. These scholarships are available for any undergraduate degree, and you can apply at any stage during your degree. For further information click here. |
| Walter Reid Memorial Prize | Local and International Students (Application not required) |
The Walter Reid Memorial Prize was originally established in 1948 from the estate of Mr Walter Edward Reid, barrister-at-law and Secretary to the Bar Association of NSW. The prize shall be awarded annually without application to students enrolled in any undergraduate degree course in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or the Faculty of Law (including Honours, or any undergraduate degree course combined with Arts or Law) on the basis of academic merit in the previous year. For further information please refer to the Scholarships Office Website |
| Marion Macaulay Bequest Scholarships | Local and International Students |
Miss Marion Macaulay was a graduate of the University of Sydney in both Arts and Education & Social Work who spent many years in the teaching profession and was closely associated with women's and educational professional associations. She bequeathed her estate to the University of Sydney to be applied in the area of Humanities. Students enrolled in either the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or Faculty of Education & Social Work, who will be undertaking studies or professional experience overseas, are eligible to apply. The proposed studies or professional experience must be approved by the Faculty concerned and count towards the applicant's degree. For further information please refer to the Scholarships Office Website |
| Sydney Achievers International Scholarship (UG) | International Students |
The University of Sydney takes great pleasure in announcing the Sydney Achievers International Scholarships for new international students. |
Postgraduate - Coursework
| Scholarship/Financial Support | Who can apply? | More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences International Postgraduate Coursework Scholarships (IPCS) |
International Students |
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers scholarships to outstanding international students undertaking a postgraduate coursework program in the Fauclty of Arts at the University of Sydney. These scholarships cover the tuition fees for the whole degree program in which the applicant is enrolled. Scholarship Deadline |
| Marion Macaulay Bequest Scholarships | Local and International Students |
Miss Marion Macaulay was a graduate of the University of Sydney in both Arts and Education & Social Work who spent many years in the teaching profession and was closely associated with women's and educational professional associations. She bequeathed her estate to the University of Sydney to be applied in the area of Humanities. Students enrolled in either the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or Faculty of Education & Social Work, who will be undertaking studies or professional experience overseas, are eligible to apply. The proposed studies or professional experience must be approved by the Faculty concerned and count towards the applicant's degree. For further information please refer to the Scholarships Office Website |
| Postgraduate Coursework Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) | Local Students |
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers a limited number of merit-based Commonwealth supported places (CSP) in postgraduate coursework programs for students commencing their first postgraduate coursework degree. Places are granted according to academic merit and awarded to the most highly ranked applicants who have been granted a firm offer. While there is no formal application process to be considered for a CSP place, applicants who can demonstrate long-term educational disadvantage due to circumstances beyond their control or choosing may be eligible for special consideration on equity grounds. Further information regarding equity assessment can be accessed here. |
| Sydney Achievers International Scholarship (PG) | International Students |
The University of Sydney takes great pleasure in announcing the Sydney Achievers International Scholarships for new international students. |
Postgraduate - Research
| Scholarship/Financial Support | Who can apply? | More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) | Local Students | APA scholarships are awarded to students of exceptional research potential to undertake a higher degree by research at an Australian University. The scholarships are provided to assist with general living costs. Competition for the APA is high and successful applications must hold a first class Honours undergraduate degree or equivalent, or have completed a degree with an outstanding record of professional and/or research achievements since graduation. For further information click here. |
| University of Sydney Postgraduate Awards (UPA) |
Local Students | The University of Sydney Postgraduate Awards (UPA), are similar to APA in terms of tenure and benefits. However, the award is funded by The University of Sydney and is not transferable to other institutions. Eligible APA applicants are automatically considered for these awards, and a separate application is not required. For further information click here. |
| Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) |
International Students |
The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) scheme is funded by the Australian Government and provides tuition fees to top quality international postgraduate students who wish to enrol in a research degree at Australian universities.Applications are assessed on academic merit and research potential. In addition to the IPRS, the University of Sydney awards an International Postgraduate Award (IPA) to IPRS holders. The IPA provides a stipend/living allowance to all IPRS recipients. For further information click here. |
| Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS) |
Local and International Students |
The PRSS is a scheme that provides direct support for currently enrolled postgraduate research students. Under the scheme, funds are allocated to Schools within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences based on their higher degree research enrolment figures in the previous year. The funds are not allocated directly to the students but are awarded by Schools to eligible applicants on a competitive basis according to the University's general guidelines. Information about the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme is available on the Scholarships Office website. At least one application round will be held every year. Please contact your individual School office for information on application closing dates and to obtain copies of application forms and guidelines. |
| Research Training Scheme (RTS) | Local Students (Application not required) |
The Research Training Scheme (RTS) provides Commonwealth-funded Higher Degree Research students with an "entitlement" to HECS exemption for the duration of an accredited HDR course of study, up to a maximum period of 4 years' full time equivalent study for a Doctorate by research and 2 years' full time equivalent study for a Master's degree by research. For further information click here. |
| PhD Research Travel Grant Scheme | Local and International Students |
This scheme is for full time PhD candidates only and covers expenses incurred for research undertaken outside Sydney. Applicants must be undertaking essential research during the specified period that cannot be completed without significant travel outside Sydney. Six (6) copies of the application should be submitted in person to the Student Counter at the Fauclty of Arts and Social Sciences, or via post to the address specified on the Application Form. Applications for 2012 have closed. |
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences International Postgraduate Coursework Scholarships (IPCS)
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers a limited number of scholarships to outstanding international students undertaking a postgraduate coursework Master degree in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. These scholarships cover the tuition fees for the duration of the course.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- have received an unconditional offer of admission to a Master degree in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. This means that applicants must have met the Faculty's English language requirements, as well as academic admission requirements. For information on English language requirements, please visit the International Office website.
- have a minimum of 7.0 IELTS (overall) or equivalent if they are from a non-English speaking background
- be commencing postgraduate study at the University for the first time
- be a citizen of a country other than Australia or New Zealand, and may not hold permanent residency in Australia
- NOT be in receipt of any other tuition fee scholarship
Selection
There is strong competition for these scholarships. Selection is based on academic merit, including excellent results in the applicant's English language test. Applicants should provide a statement regarding why they want to undertake their chosen program and what they hope to achieve following graduation. Please note: It is very important that applicants make clear the degree for which they are applying.
Scholarship Benefits
These scholarships exempt students from the international student tuition fees for the duration of the course.
Items NOT covered by the IPCS include:
- a living allowance
- travel or relocation costs
- accommodation
- overseas fieldwork costs
- visa application fees
- tuition fees for any units beyond those required for the completion of the degree
- text books
- overseas student health cover (OSHC)
- other forms of insurance
Commencement Date
Scholarships are awarded on the basis that the student will commence study in the academic year for which it is offered, and for the program in which a place has been offered in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. A scholarship holder may defer commencement of the program of study, and of the award of a scholarship, for only one semester only.
Duration
The scholarship is limited to the standard duration of the course.
Leave
Scholarship holders may in special circumstances take leave of absence from their scholarship for a maximum of one semester. Students must check their visa conditions before applying for leave; and they must apply for permission in advance of taking such leave.
Transferring Scholarships
These scholarships cannot be transferred from one institution to another, nor from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to another faculty in the University of Sydney.
Termination of Scholarships
Scholarships will be terminated:
- if the student fails to meet the eligibility requirements
- if the student fails to make satisfactory progress in the program
- when the student ceases to be enrolled as a full-time postgraduate coursework student, or discontinues their study
- if the University determines that the student is guilty of serious misconduct, including, but not limited to, having provided false or misleading information
- if the student does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave
- if the student is granted permanent residency in Australia. Students must immediately advise the International Office and the Faculty Office about any changes to their visa status
How to Apply
There is no application form for these scholarships. If you wish to apply, please submit a personal statement with your application for admission to the International Office. This personal statement should set out your academic and extra-curricular or professional achievements, and outline why you want to undertake your chosen course and what you hope to achieve following graduation.
For further information about applications for admission to a postgraduate coursework degree, please see the International Office website.