If you have any questions about this scholarship, please email our team or call +61 3 9244 6333.
Need more information? Download the Deakin Scholarships Guide (PDF, 590KB).
NAB Foundation First Nations Futures Scholarship
Applications open Monday 8 September 2025 and close 5pm Wednesday 28 January 2026.
Awarded to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, this scholarship provides financial support to help you succeed in Deakin’s Faculty of Business and Law.
Value
- Student contributions and cash payments of up to $30,000 per year for three years or $22,500 per year for four years. Total scholarship value of $90,000.
Duration
- This scholarship is awarded for 3 or 4 years, depending on the normal full-time duration of your course.
Am I eligible?
Ensure you meet all criteria before submitting an application. If you've already submitted an equity schemes (SEAS) and scholarships application through VTAC, you'll automatically be considered for this scholarship – there's no need to reapply for this scholarship direct to Deakin.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be:
- an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
- commencing an undergraduate bachelor degree within Deakin's Faculty of Business and Law in Trimester/Semester 1, 2026
- be enrolled full-time, unless there are individual circumstances preventing full-time study.
Selection criteria
Preference will be given to students who can demonstrate the benefit this scholarship would have on their educational goals and career plan, or students enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce.
Maintaining this scholarship
To retain this scholarship, you’ll need to:
- provide an introductory statement about your goals and what it means to receive the scholarship
- be open to attending a meet and greet with the donor and industry leaders
- not hold another scholarship concurrently
- submit a completion statement at the end of your degree.
Interview
If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview. We will aim to provide you with one week's notice of the interview date and time.
Ready to apply?
If you've already submitted an equity schemes (SEAS) and scholarships application through VTAC, you'll automatically be considered for this scholarship – there's no need to reapply direct to Deakin.
Alternatively, register and log in to Deakin's Scholarship Application Portal, then select 'Undergraduate Scholarship Application Tri/Sem 1 2026'.
Numbers of this scholarship are limited; not all eligible applicants will receive one. If your application has been shortlisted, you will be notified via email. Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.
Supporting documents
If your application is shortlisted, you will be asked to provide documentation confirming you are of Aboriginal descent from Australia or a descendant of an Indigenous inhabitant of the Torres Strait Islands. You will be required to provide one of the following documents:
- Confirmation of Aboriginality
- Local Aboriginal Land Council letter
- Parents' Certificate of Aboriginality (COA) with birth certificate
- Letter from a local Indigenous cooperative
How to write a successful application
Applying for a scholarship isn't just about meeting the eligibility criteria. It’s your opportunity to stand out and be recognised for where you’ve come from and where you want to go.
Missed the application deadline?
This scholarship is yet to be confirmed for any future offerings. Please check back for updates.
