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, 685.9KB).
PSA Insurance Rural Doctor Scholarship
Applications open 14 September 2026 and close 5pm Thursday 12 November 2026.
Awarded to commencing Doctor of Medicine students enrolled through the Rural Training Stream who are experiencing financial hardship, this scholarship provides financial support to help you succeed at Deakin.
Value
- Cash payments of up to $9000 per year, to the maximum value of $36,000.
Duration
- This scholarship is awarded for four years.
Am I eligible?
Ensure you meet all criteria before submitting an application. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be:
- an Australian citizen or holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa
- commencing the Doctor of Medicine (H911) in Semester 1, 2027
- enrolled full-time through the Rural Training Stream
- able to demonstrate financial hardship through the receipt of a Centrelink benefit or have a personal or family taxable income below the threshold determined by the University.
Selection criteria
Preference given to students that live in a Victorian rural or regional home location with genuine rural connections and are committed to training in a Rural Clinical School.
Deakin alumni discount
If you are successful in receiving an offer for this scholarship and you are eligible for the Deakin alumni discount, you can only hold one. You will be asked to nominate which arrangement you would like to hold. If you do not make a nomination, the Deakin alumni discount will automatically be withdrawn.
Maintaining this scholarship
As a scholarship recipient, you:
- will be required to write an introduction statement about your goals for study and what it means to receive the scholarship
- must complete an annual impact statement for the duration of the scholarship
- must provide a completion statement at the conclusion of your studies
- must be open to meeting the donor (VMIAL) at least once over the duration of the Scholarship and discuss their university experience and educational learning
- must agree to the donor sharing your photo and stories regarding your experience in the Rural Training Stream in donor marketing publications
- must successfully complete all enrolled units
- must be enrolled full-time and cannot intermit your course
- cannot hold this scholarship concurrently with any other scholarship, or scholarships, with a combined value of $5000 per year.
About the scholarship donor
Victorian Medical Insurance Agency Limited (VMIAL) was incorporated in April 1926 and is the name behind PSA Insurance. Its charter is to promote a suite of insurance products and services specifically tailored to the needs of medical and dental practitioners and reinvest in these professions by way of financial support to organisations that are affiliated with medicine and dentistry. VMIAL have been illustrious generous donors to Deakin’s School of Medicine since 2016. VMIAL will strengthen their support to the School of Medicine through this scholarship program that transforms opportunities for doctors to change lives across rural Victoria and Australia.
Ready to apply?
Register and log in to Deakin's Scholarship Application Portal, then select 'Postgraduate Scholarship Application Tri/Sem 1 2027'. If eligible, your application will be considered for this scholarship and any others you may be eligible for.
Numbers are limited; not all eligible applicants will receive one. Successful applicants will be notified usually within four weeks. Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.
Supporting documents
As part of the application process you're required to upload supporting documentation by the specified closing date. These should be current, relevant and concise.
Evidence of your financial hardship is required for this scholarship.
Make sure you choose the correct document type when you upload your documents – it will make a difference. If your documents are uploaded as the incorrect type they will not be considered when assessing your application. Remember, it's quality, not quantity, you need to provide.
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.
