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How to write a strong scholarship application

Complete the single scholarship form for commencing domestic undergraduate students

A scholarship application introduces us to who you are and what you have achieved. While all are different, here are some tips for writing your undergraduate scholarship application, using the single scholarship form.

Before you apply

Plan ahead: Don't leave it until the last minute, as you will need to gather information to support your application.
Do your research: Set some time aside to read through the Undergraduate Guide, as well as the course pages on the website. You will need to choose up to three courses you would like to study here at the University of Sydney, and answer questions around why you want to study those courses. Check if there are any scholarship writing workshops at upcoming events and contact us if you have any questions.
Get advice: Ask your parents and teachers to help you with your application and preparing your personal statements.
Get involved: Keep track of or revisit your involvement in school, community and extracurricular activities, so you can include these details in your scholarship application.
Equity scholarships are for students who have or are currently experiencing some type of disadvantage such as financial hardship, moving from a regional or remote area, disability or long-term illness, or educational disruption. If you would like to be considered for equity scholarships, ensure you have also lodged an Educational Access Scheme (EAS) application in UAC prior to the UAC Early Bird deadline. You may need additional supporting documentation about the disadvantage you have experienced to submit an EAS application

Preparing your application

Submit your UAC application: You will need your 9-digit UAC pin to start and submit your scholarship application. Ensure you submit your UAC application as soon as possible.
Have a valid email address: We need to be able to contact you to let you know if you’ve been successful. This might not happen until after you've finished high school, so make sure it’s an email address you have access to in the coming year (i.e., not your school email).
Prepare your documents: You will need provide supporting documents with your application. You will need a copy of your Year 12 half year results (or HSC trials or equivalent), as well as your final year 11 school reports. Ensure grades for all the subjects are listed.
Prepare written responses to the personal statement questions asked. Always write your answers in a word document, do a spell and grammar check, check the word count and save your work. Ask a parent or friend to look over for any errors before you submit your responses.

Writing your application

The single scholarship form requires four written responses in additional to other documents to be submitted. This is where the University can get to know you and understand why you might be a good fit for the university and for the scholarship, why you want to study your chosen courses and what impact you will make after you have finished university.

The four questions that you need to respond to follow these themes:

Academic achievements
Extra-curricular activities
Motivations for your chosen study area/courses
Impact you want to have once you’ve graduated

Tips for writing your scholarship application

Show us who you are: Be authentic in your responses. We want to see your passions and what motivates you.
Write a story, not a CV: As the name suggests, the Personal Statements should be exactly that – personal. We want to read about who you are, not just a list of your achievements.
Keep it strong and simple: Keep your application concise, stick to the word limit, answer questions clearly and pay attention to structure.
Keep it relevant: Make sure your statement directly addresses the questions. Only submit supporting documents where required to back up your statements of accomplishment.
Pay attention to spelling and grammar: Make sure your writing is clear and error-free. Write in full sentences and tell a story. Avoid using dot points.
Think about the bigger picture: To write a truly compelling scholarship application, it’s important to think beyond yourself. How will this scholarship help you make a difference in the world? What can you contribute to your field?

Save and come back

If you start your scholarship application and need a break, you can save your application and come back within 30 days. Upon saving your scholarship application you will be emailed a link you can use to return to your incomplete application. Add a reminder note in your calendar on the day your saved application will expire.

Before you submit

Check, check and check again. Make sure you thoroughly proofread your application, checking for spelling, grammar mistakes and word counts. Get somebody else to proofread your application as well.

Submitting

Once you're ready, submit your application. If you wish to revise it later, don't worry – you can submit a new one. However, no changes can be made after the closing date. You'll receive an email confirmation once you've successfully submitted an application.

What happens next?

Once you submit your scholarship application you can relax and look forward to your university adventure. We'll keep you updated on the progress of your application, so be sure to keep an eye on your email. For any questions, please contact us via our online portal.

Last updated: 3 July 2024

9 August 2019