Supporting asylum seeking undergraduate and postgraduate students in financial need with tuition fees and tertiary education costs

Accessing higher education is critical for many people seeking asylum as a means to living a meaningful life and most continue to face barriers in doing so. The USC Asylum Seeker Scholarship aims to support those people seeking asylum in Australia by assisting with the costs of tuition in addition to study support payments, coupled with other supportive measures offered by USC.

The University (USC) will fund two (2) scholarships per annum and an additional three (3) scholarships will be available from semester 2, 2022. Each scholarship will fully cover the international student tuition fees for any undergraduate or postgraduate program that a recipient is eligible to enter at USC plus include a stipend of $4,000 per year (pro-rata for part-time study) plus $1,000 one-off upfront payment in year 1.

Available to students on specific Australian visas and awarded based on financial and personal need, the USC Asylum Seeker Scholarship will depend on the degree duration of each recipient and the program of study undertaken.

Each scholarship will fully cover the international student tuition fees for any undergraduate or postgraduate program that a recipient is eligible to enter at USC plus include a stipend of $4,000 per year (pro-rata for part-time study) plus $1,000 one-off upfront payment in year 1. The stipend component of the scholarship will be paid in eight fortnightly instalments of $250 [A$2,000 per semester] for the normal duration of the program and continued enrolment will be confirmed at census date in each semester.

Please be aware that by enrolling at University (full-time or part-time), you may lose any government income support you currently receive (depending on your Australian visa type).

Eligibility

• A commencing undergraduate or postgraduate student undertaking study at USC;
• Must be a holder of one of the following Australian visas:
  • Bridging Visa E (subclass 050)
  • Temporary Protection Visa (subclass 785)
  • Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (subclass 790)
  • Temporary Humanitarian Stay Visa (subclass 449)
  • Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visa (subclass 786)
• Financial need

Selection criteria

• Financial need
• Other equity considerations and circumstances
• Personal statement

Eligible programs

All undergraduate or postgraduate programs

Number available

4 in semester 2, 2022

Value

Tuition fees + A$4,000 per annum + A$1,000 one-off upfront in Year 1