Commonwealth Scholarships

From April 2010, Centrelink will pay two new scholarships to students in higher education to assist with the costs of studying and living away from home. You don’t need to apply for these scholarships. They will be paid automatically to eligible students.

If you are a Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY (Living Allowance) or Austudy recipient, not already in receipt of a Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship or National Priority Scholarship, and undertaking a qualifying higher education course, you will receive the Student Start-up Scholarship. In 2010, the Student Start-up Scholarship will be $650 for each 6 months of eligible study. This amount will then increase to $1,064 for each 6 months of eligible study in 2011 and will be indexed each year. You will receive these instalments at the beginning of each semester (trimesters 1 and 2 at Deakin) to help with the up-front costs of studying, such as textbooks and specialised equipment. The scholarship will be paid in full even if you're not on the maximum payment rate.

The new Relocation Scholarship will be paid to eligible dependent Youth Allowance (living away from home rate) and ABSTUDY (Living Allowance) customers, not already in receipt of a Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship or National Accommodation Scholarship, who need to live away from home to undertake full-time higher education. Some independent students may also be eligible. The Relocation Scholarship provides students with a lump-sum payment of $4 000 (indexed) when they first move away from home to commence study and another $1 000 (indexed) in each year of study after that. These payments will help with the costs of setting up a new place to live.

Refer to Youth Allowance for more information or call Centrelink on 132 490.