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Financial support
- Overview
- General bursaries
- Interest-free loans
- Advertised bursaries
- Financial support vouchers
Advertised bursaries
Advertised bursaries provide financial support for domestic students who are experiencing financial hardship due to specific challenges or personal circumstances. You may be eligible based on your faculty, your year of study, if you come from a regional/rural area, if you’re registered with Inclusion and Disability, or if you identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student. There are bursaries open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Your academic performance will be considered when you apply for this assistance.
Your application will be recorded against your student record for auditing and compliance purposes only and will be treated confidentially. Any personal or sensitive information submitted as part of your application will be managed carefully by the University as per our Privacy Policy (pdf, 219KB).
While we aim to support as many eligible students as possible, bursary funding is limited. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that you will receive a bursary. When the number of eligible applicants exceeds the funding available, priority will be given to students experiencing the greatest financial need.
Applying
Semester 2 advertised bursary applications will be open from Monday, 17 August and close Sunday, 13 September 2026. Note that the application period has been reduced from six weeks to four weeks to ensure eligible students can receive funds sooner.
To be considered for an advertised bursary, you will need to submit an application in Sydney Student along with the relevant supporting documents.
After applications close, the assessment process takes up to seven weeks. You will be notified of the outcome by Friday, 30 October 2026.
If you are in immediate financial need, you can submit an application for other types of financial support. General bursaries, interest-free loans and financial support vouchers are available all year.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for an advertised bursary if you are:
- a domestic student currently enrolled at the University of Sydney
- studying full time
- currently residing in Australia
- making satisfactory academic progress (generally, a WAM above 50)
- experiencing financial difficulty.
In addition to the above, you must also meet any specific eligibility requirements for each bursary you apply for.
Part-time students
Availability is limited for part-time students. However, you may be eligible if:
- you are studying part-time due to a disability and receive the Disability Support Pension (DSP), you can apply for a bursary if you meet the other eligibility criteria.
- you can’t study full-time due to a disability, but are not receiving the DSP, you may be eligible to apply for the Chancellor's Committee Disability Bursary (Anthony Howson Disability Bursary).
Maintaining eligibility
You must continue to meet the eligibility criteria at the time your application is assessed, and the bursary is awarded. If you graduate, suspend or withdraw from your studies before receiving a bursary, you will no longer be eligible.
How to apply
Supporting documents
When applying for an advertised bursary through Sydney Student, you must provide the following supporting documents:
- all your bank account statements (including everyday spending, savings, credit, investment, mortgage, etc) for the past 30 days
- proof of Centrelink (if relevant)
- any additional supporting documents required for the specific bursary you are applying for.
Your bank statements must include:
- the official header of your financial institution (e.g. bank name, logo)
- your full name
- your address
- the account number.
Screenshots, photos or CSV files of bank statements will not be accepted.
You don’t need to provide your academic transcript.
Before starting your application, make sure you have gathered all required documents. You will need to attach these documents at the end before submitting, and you cannot update your application once it's been submitted. Applications submitted without all the required supporting documents will be assessed as ineligible.
Some advertised bursaries require specific supporting documents, which are listed under the available advertised bursaries section. If you are applying for multiple advertised bursaries at once, make sure you submit all supporting documents required for each bursary.
Protecting your own information
The University takes privacy and the safety of your personal information very seriously. When uploading supporting documents, you should only provide sufficient information to demonstrate your circumstances, and not include any sensitive information beyond what’s requested.
Logging in to apply
You will need to submit your application for an advertised bursary by the due date via Sydney Student.
You can only submit one application, but you may apply for multiple bursaries within that single application.
Once you have submitted your application, you cannot make any updates, so make sure you have included everything required, as listed in the supporting documents section, as well as any additional documents needed for specific bursaries.
Complete your online application and upload your supporting documents to Sydney Student. Go to ‘My finance’, ‘Scholarships, prizes, bursaries and loans’, then ‘Advertised bursary application’.
If you are currently enrolled in two faculties, only bursaries for one of your faculties will display on your application. If you would like to apply for a bursary from the other faculty, use the ‘Personal statement’ area to list the bursary and provide a statement outlining your eligibility. Contact us through the financial support enquiry form, if you need more advice.
Providing false information
We expect all students to provide genuine, truthful evidence of financial hardship. Providing misleading information such as transferring funds to a hidden account is in breach of the Student Charter and will be dealt with accordingly. Such conduct is a very serious matter. It also increases the processing time of applications for all students and may delay the granting of funds to students in genuine need.
What happens next
We will notify you through Sydney Student about the outcome of your application after seven weeks from the closing date.
If successful, follow the prompts in the message to accept your bursary.
Payments will be made to your nominated bank account within 4 to 10 working days. Make sure your bank details are correct in Sydney Student (go to ‘My finance’, ‘Your finances’, then ‘Bank details’).
Advertised bursaries available
Remember to attach the required supporting documents for each bursary when you apply, otherwise your application will be assessed as ineligible.
Burdekin Bursary
Established in 1876 by a gift of £1000 by Mrs Burdekin for the foundation of a bursary.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- a young male, undergraduate student
- an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- from a regional/rural area
- residing in University affiliated accommodation.
Additional supporting documents:
- evidence you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- evidence you are from a regional/rural area (e.g. a photo ID or official document showing your name and family rural/regional address, or an official document from your parents that shows their name and family address with a copy of your birth certificate)
- evidence you are a resident of University affiliated accommodation (for example an invoice or receipt).
The value of the bursary is up to $1000 and is a one-off payment.
Gladys H Marks Memorial Bursary
Established in 1971 from contributions following an appeal launched by the NSW Association of University Women Graduates, to honour the memory of Miss Gladys Marks, a co-founder of the Association to assist mature women students showing financial need at the University of Sydney.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- an undergraduate or postgraduate student
- a mature age female.
The value of the bursary is up to $600 and is a one-off payment.
Marie Bashir Chancellor’s Committee Postgraduate Merit Award
Established in 2012 with funding provided by The University of Sydney Chancellors Committee to support further postgraduate coursework (Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters by coursework) study by students who come from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- a student who has completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney
- enrolled in a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters by coursework.
Preference will be given to students who were in receipt of a University of Sydney Access Scholarship, while undertaking their undergraduate studies.
Academic merit will be a factor in the assessment of award.
The value of the bursary is up to $5000 and is a one-off payment.
The George and Margaret Shirbin Bursary
Established in 1922 by a bequest of £2000 from Mrs MA Dalley.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- an undergraduate or postgraduate student
- a descendant of a soldier who served in the Australian Imperial Forces in the First World War.
If there is no applicant with financial need, the bursary will be awarded to an eligible soldier or descendent of an eligible soldier. Preference will be given to descendants of a soldier who lost his life on Active Service in War.
Additional supporting documents:
- evidence you are eligible for the bursary, such as a statutory declaration that gives the name and details of the soldier and your line of descent
- other relevant evidence, such as full name and service from Australia War Museum website, medals, awards, newspaper etc.
The value of the bursary is up to $1000 and is a one-off payment.
Remember to attach the required supporting documents when you apply, otherwise your application will be assessed as ineligible.
You'll also need to provide documents as outlined in the Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy (pdf, 81KB) to establish that you are an Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander person. If you need assistance with this, please submit a financial support enquiry.
Chancellor's Committee Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students Bursary
Established in 1999 by the Chancellor's Committee of the University of Sydney to provide financial assistance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are an:
- undergraduate or undergraduate diploma student
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student.
The value of the bursary is up to $3000 and is a one-off payment.
Poppy Harris Bursary
Established in 2005 by a bequest from the late Ms Poppy Harris to provide assistance to Aboriginal Students.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are an:
- undergraduate or postgraduate student
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student.
The value of the bursary is up to $1,000 and is a one-off payment.
Remember to attach the required supporting documents when you apply, otherwise your application will be assessed as ineligible.
Anthony Howson Disability Bursary
Established in 2014, and renamed in 2018, in honour of the late Anthony Howson. The Anthony Howson Disability Bursary is funded by the Chancellor’s Committee to support eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- registered with Inclusion and Disability Services at the University of Sydney
- studying part time or full time.
The value of the bursary is up to $3000 and is a one-off payment.
There are no advertised bursaries available specifically for students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences this semester. Students experiencing financial hardship may be eligible to apply for a general bursary.
There are no advertised bursaries available specifically for students in the Business School this semester. Students experiencing financial hardship may be eligible to apply for a general bursary.
Remember to attach the required supporting documents when you apply, otherwise your application will be assessed as ineligible.
J N Ellis Bursary
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- an undergraduate or postgraduate student
- enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
The value of the bursary is up to $500 and is a one off payment.
Remember to attach the required supporting documents when you apply, otherwise your application will be assessed as ineligible.
Sydney Dental School
John Spencer Nolan Bursary
Established in 1983 by an endowment from Miss Edna Spencer-Nolan to establish bursaries in the Faculty of Dentistry in memory of her father, John Spencer Nolan, who practised dentistry in New South Wales from about 1890 until the early 1930s.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- an undergraduate or postgraduate student
- enrolled in the Sydney Dental School.
The value of the bursary is up to $500 and is a one-off payment.
Sydney Medical School
Esma May Harris Scholarship
Established in 1989 by a bequest from Albert Langmead Harris in memory of his wife, Esma May Harris.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- an undergraduate or postgraduate student
- enrolled in the Sydney Medical School.
Assessment to determine the successful applicant will be conducted jointly between the Financial Support Service and the Sydney Medical School.
The value of the bursary is up to $1000 and is a one-off payment.
Babak Shahidi Memorial Scholarship
Established in 2009 by an annual donation of $5000, from the family of Babak Shahidi, in his honour.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- an undergraduate or postgraduate student
- enrolled in the Sydney Medical School.
The value of the bursary is up to $5000 and is a one-off payment.
Struth Bursary
Established in 1883 by a gift of £1000 from John Struth.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- an undergraduate and postgraduate student
- enrolled in the Sydney Medical School.
The value of the bursary is up to $1000 and is a one-off payment.
Remember to attach the required supporting documents when you apply, otherwise your application will be assessed as ineligible.
Sydney School of Veterinary Science
Dr Don Lamond Fund
Established in 1979 in memory of the late Dr. D. R. Lamond, a graduate of the Faculty of Veterinary Science.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- an undergraduate student
- enrolled in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, other than first year students.
Preference will be given to students in second and third years.
The value of the bursary is up to $400 and is a one-off payment.
Tomas Julius Szigethy Bursary
Established in 1995 by a bequest from Miklos Tamas Szigethy to establish a bursary in memory of his late brother Tomas Julius Szigethy.
You're eligible to apply if you meet our general criteria plus all of the following criteria. You are:
- an undergraduate student
- enrolled in the Sydney School of Veterinary Science.
The value of the bursary is up to $1000 and is a one-off payment.