Equal Access Scholarship (Institution Equity Scholarship)

UTS offers the Equal Access Scholarship program to assist students from low socio-economic backgrounds who may also be experiencing other forms of educational disadvantage which make it difficult to achieve their educational goals.This scholarship is available to undergraduate, postgraduate and research students.Please read the Conditions of Award for full details of the Scholarship.

Applicants must:

• Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or the holder of an Australian permanent resident visa or permanent humanitarian visa; or the holder of a Temporary Protection Visa [1]; and
• In the session of award be offered or admitted into one of the following UTS qualifications:
  • an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree, or
  • the Jumbunna UNISTART program, or
  • a postgraduate research degree; and
• Apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for an Equity Scholarship and therein demonstrate financial disadvantage:
  • Through receiving a means-tested Commonwealth income support payment (such as Parenting Payment Single, Disability Support Pension, Carers Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance), or by providing comprehensive information demonstrating exceptional financial hardship; OR

  • Students may make an appointment for an alternative financial assessment with the UTS Financial Assistance Service in the Student Services Unit in order to evidence financial disadvantage. This is only available in cases when an applicant has been deemed ineligible on the basis of not meeting the financial hardship criteria as specified above and as outlined in the UAC application, or has been unable to submit an Equity Scholarship  

    
    

    [1] Applicants that are holders of a Temporary Protection Visa should identify themselves to the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion at the time they make their application for an Equity Scholarship.

Selection is determined on a relative needs basis, prioritising applicants who are able to demonstrate one or more educational disadvantages in addition to financial hardship via the UAC Equity Scholarship application. The criteria include the following educational disadvantages:

• Regional or remote background
• Sole parent responsibilities
• Carer responsibilities
• Long-term medical condition / disability or ongoing effect of abuse
• Indigenous Australian
• Refugee status

In the event that funding is available the Selection Committee may award additional Scholarship allocations where the Recipient/s is considered to have demonstrated Financial disadvantage ONLY.

Please apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for an Equity Scholarship.

UTS Scholarships
Email: [email protected]

If you have not completed an UAC Equity Scholarship application for 2024 and would like to be considered for a Equal Access Scholarship you will need fill in an UAC Equity Scholarship application once it opens on 03 April 2024.  You can find out more about the UAC Equity Scholarship here.

Financial Assistance Service  

The Financial Assistance Service can provide assistance with loans and grants, advice on Youth Allowance, tax returns and budgeting, advice for financial hardship and Free food bars.

If you are experiencing severe financial hardship, you can make an appointment to have your financial situation assessed by the Financial Assistance Service who can make a recommendation to the Scholarships Office in terms of your scholarship eligibility. To book an appointment with the Financial Services Team call +61 2 9514 1177 or email: [email protected] . Appointments are offered from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm via telephone or Zoom.

Student Start-Up Loan

If you are in receipt of a Student Support payment you may also be eligible for Student Start-Up Loan through Centrelink. The Student Start-up Loan is a voluntary $1,132 loan for eligible students who get Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY Living Allowance. For more information visit – Student Start-Up Loan.