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).
Vice-Chancellor's Academic Excellence Scholarship
Applications open mid-September 2026 and close 5pm Wednesday 16 December 2026.
Annually awarded to 26 undergraduate students whose exceptional academic achievements and extracurricular activities truly set them apart.
Value
- 100% of your tuition fees.
- 100% of your Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF).
- A cash payment of $5000 per year ($625 per credit point).
- Entry into the Vice-Chancellor's Professional Excellence Program – an exclusive opportunity for professional and personal growth.
Duration
- Awarded for the normal full-time duration of the course.
- The Vice-Chancellor's Professional Excellence Program runs for the duration of the scholarship.
Am I eligible?
Ensure you meet all criteria before submitting an application. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be:
- a domestic student
- commencing at Deakin University in an undergraduate bachelor degree in Trimester/Semester 1, 2027
- enrolled full time unless there are individual circumstances preventing full-time study
- enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP).
You must be able to demonstrate academic achievement in one of the following:
- an ATAR of at least 95 or International Baccalaureate equivalent
- dux of your high school.
Consideration will be given to:
- your extracurricular activities and achievements, for example in the areas of leadership, community service, the arts, volunteering or sport.
- students experiencing personal or financial hardship.
Maintaining this scholarship
To retain this scholarship you must:
- maintain a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 70
- participate in the Vice-Chancellor's Professional Excellence Program.
Offer rounds
Scholarship offers will commence from 10 December 2026, in line with the release of VCE results and ATARs. Further offers will be made progressively from 23 December 2026 until all 26 have been awarded and taken up.
All offers for this scholarship will be made within six weeks of the Re-offer round closing date. If you're successful, you'll be notified via email. Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.
Early round
To be considered for an early round scholarship offer, you must submit your scholarship application and all supporting documents by 5pm on Thursday 3 December 2026, and ensure Deakin is listed in your VTAC course preferences.
Round one
To be considered for a round one scholarship offer, you must submit your scholarship application and all supporting documents by 5pm on Wednesday 16 December 2026. You must also already have a course offer for a bachelor degree at Deakin in 2027, or receive an offer in the December course offer round (23 December 2026).
We will be aiming for full allocation of available scholarships in this round.
Re-offer round
To be considered for any remaining scholarships, you must submit your scholarship application and all supporting documents by 5pm on Wednesday 20 January 2027, and have received an offer to study a bachelor degree at Deakin in 2027.
Applications opening soon
Once applications open, register and log in to Deakin's Scholarship Application Portal, then select 'Undergraduate Scholarship Application Tri/Sem 1 2027'. If eligible, your application will be considered for this scholarship and any others you’re eligible for.
Numbers of this scholarship are limited; not all eligible applicants will receive one. If you're successful, you'll be notified via email; usually within six weeks of the application closing date. Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.
Supporting documents
As part of the application process you're required to upload supporting documentation by the various round closing dates listed above. These should be current, relevant and concise.
Supporting documentation required for this scholarship includes:
- evidence of your leadership activities or community service achievement
- evidence of your sporting or other achievements.
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?
The next offer period for this scholarship will be:
- Trimester/Semester 1, 2028 (early September 2027 to early January 2028)
Application dates provided are indicative only. Please check closer to the application period for specific opening and closing dates.
