The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students who have experienced ongoing difficulties during their school years with the opportunity to undertake tertiary education.
To further this aim, the University introduced the Access Melbourne combined special entry and scholarship scheme. The scheme provides prospective students with the opportunity to explain the ongoing circumstances that affected their chance of gaining a place at the University. To support access for talented students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, at least 20 per cent of Commonwealth supported places in all new Melbourne Model undergraduate courses are reserved for eligible Access Melbourne applicants.
There are currently more than 670 Access Scholarship recipients and over 800 students receiving a Commonwealth Scholarship.
Benefits
- We will provide an allowance of $2000 per annum and contribute up to $4000 towards your HECS fees each year for up to four years. Our upfront contribution will attract the 20% discount so effectively reduce your HECS bill by up to $5000 per annum.
Number
- Up to 200 scholarships are available.
Eligibility
To be considered for a scholarship you must belong to one or more of the following equity categories:
- Recognition as an Indigenous Australian
- Difficult family circumstances
- Hardship caused by socio-economic circumstances
- Disability or long-term medical condition
- Non-English speaking background
- From an under-represented school
- Completed school in a rural or isolated area
In addition:
- you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa; and
- you must not have been awarded results in a degree course at a tertiary institution in Australia. This does not include bridging schemes or extension studies undertaken as part of a Year 12 program, or TAFE, or the University's Community Access Program.
- you must meet the criteria for entry to the University in 2009 and enrol full-time in your course.
If exceptional circumstances such as a disability prevent you from enrolling full-time, your eligibility to be considered for a scholarship will be determined based on documentary evidence.
Selection
- Selection is based on academic merit and the documented disadvantage associated with one or more of the seven equity categories.
- Selection is made based on information provided by VTAC at the time of selection. The Selection Committee will not have access to change of course preference information.
- The University reserves the right to distinguish between applicants of equal merit using information on the academic record provided by VTAC and through material provided with the application.
- It also reserves the right not to offer all the scholarships available and to set a maximum limit on scholarships available for any one course or in any one faculty through the use of quotas.
Application
- Applications close in October 2008 for entry in 2009. You apply by lodging a Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS) application with VTAC. Go to www.vtac.edu.au to apply online. Tick the box stating that you wish to be considered for an Access Scholarship at the University of Melbourne.
- Applications, together with all relevant supporting documentation and statements of support, must be submitted to VTAC by the deadline.
Offers
- Successful applicants will be mailed an offer letter in December 2008 and January 2009.
- Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.
Deferring your scholarship
- If you want to defer your scholarship, you must first check with your faculty regarding their course place deferral policy.
- You will only be permitted to defer your scholarship if you are permitted to defer your course place. Go to www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/courses/deferpolicy for up-to-date information.
- If you are approved by your faculty to defer your course place, you must first accept the scholarship offer before you submit a request to defer the start date of your scholarship for one year.
