If you would like more information or have any questions about this scholarship, please email the Deakin Scholarships team.
Deakin Sanctuary Scholarships
Applications open Wednesday 10 June and close 5pm Wednesday 8 July 2026.
Supporting students from asylum-seeking or refugee backgrounds residing in Australia to access higher education and succeed at Deakin.
Value
- 100% of your total tuition fees.
- $6000 cash payment per year ($750 per credit point).
- English language course at Deakin University English Language Institute (based on need).
- Pre-orientation transition program.
- Case management with supported referrals.
- Academic mentoring.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Potential for casual paid work at Deakin.
Duration
- This scholarship is available for the normal duration of your course.
Am I eligible?
Ensure you meet all criteria before submitting an application. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be:
- be an international student who holds one of the following visas:
- Temporary Protection visa (Subclass 785)
- Safe Haven Enterprise visa (Subclass 790)
- Temporary Humanitarian Stay visa (Subclass 449)
- Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (Subclass 786)
- Bridging visa A (Subclass 010) or Bridging visa E (Subclass 050 or 051)
- meet the entry requirements for an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree at Deakin
- commence full-time study in Trimester/Semester 2, 2026
- not be a current or past recipient of the Deakin Sanctuary Scholarship.
Preference will be given to students who study on campus.
Conditions of eligibility
Special conditions apply for this scholarship:
- You must apply for a course before we can assess your scholarship application, and any offer will depend on you receiving a course offer, accepting it and enrolling in Trimester/Semester 2, 2026.
- This scholarship is only for undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degrees.
- You must attend an orientation program with academic support.
- The scholarship can’t be deferred.
- You’ll need to keep up satisfactory academic results to continue receiving payments.
- If your visa status changes, you must let us know right away.
- If you’re applying for postgraduate study, you might be invited to an interview.
- A limited number of scholarships are available – meeting the criteria doesn’t guarantee you’ll get one.
Ready to apply?
Register and log in to Deakin's Scholarship Application Portal, then select ‘Deakin Sanctuary Scholarship (Asylum Seekers and Refugees)’. If you're successful, you'll be notified via email; usually within four weeks of the application closing date. Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.
Numbers are limited; not all eligible applicants will receive one.
Supporting documents
To complete your application, you’ll need to submit:
- a copy of your visa
- a copy of your ImmiCard or your passport showing your nationality and passport number
- a statement of recommendation from a school or community leader (not a family member)
- any additional referee statements to support your application.
Make sure you select the correct document type – ‘Deakin Sanctuary Scholarship only – all supporting documentation’ – when uploading your files. If uploaded incorrectly, your documents may not be considered.
Supporting documents should be current, relevant and concise. Aim for quality, not quantity.
English language requirements
To be eligible for a Deakin scholarship, you must meet the minimum language requirements for your course. You can find these in the Entry requirements section of each course page.
