MySydney Scholarship
An undergraduate scholarship
$8,500 scholarship per annum to support every new undergraduate student residing in an eligible area of socio-economic disadvantage and starting in 2023.
Highlights
| Value | Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|---|---|---|---|
| $8,500 p.a. |
|
UAC round annually |
How to apply
Any student offered a place under the MySydney scheme is eligible for the MySydney Scholarship. No additional application is required.
Scholarship offers will be made to correspond with relevant UAC offer rounds.
Benefits
The MySydney Scholarship provides a cash stipend valued at AUD 8,500 per annum for the duration of the undergraduate degree, including combined undergraduate degrees.
In addition, recipients will receive:
- Support through the transition from school to university through the University of Sydney Preparation for Sydney Uni program.
- Annual payment of University of Sydney Union (USU) Rewards Membership for the duration of the MySydney Scholarship.
- Access to the Vice Chancellor’s Global Mobility Award, valued up to AUD 5,000 for eligible exchange programs.
- Eligibility to apply for additional accommodation scholarships.
- Access to the alumni and industry mentoring program in the final year of study.
Who's eligible
You must:
- be a domestic student
- residing in a low socio-economic area*
- be applying as a new University of Sydney student for an undergraduate degree through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC)
Please note: Some students who receive an offer through our E12 Early Offer and Scholarship Scheme may also be eligible for our MySydney Scholarship. Students who are eligible for both scholarships, are not able to receive both scholarships. The E12 scholarship component will be terminated in favour of MySydney which is of higher value.
*The low socioeconomic status (low SES) is based on assigning students' address, as they have entered it into UAC to an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2016 SA1, with the SES value derived from the ABSs' SocioEconomic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Education and Occupation (IEO) for SA1 areas. This address is geocoded to the appropriate SA1. SA1s in the bottom 25% of the population are classified as low SES.
Background
Since our founding as Australia's first university, we have been committed to education for all, and supporting students from every background to achieve their potential. As part of the University's ongoing commitment to equity and diversity, and increasing access to under-represented cohorts, we have made significant investment to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed. This scholarship aims to help alleviate the financial burden of education, and open the door for many more students to pursue and reach their aspirations.
The MySydney Scholarship supports students from low-socio economic areas commencing an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney.
1. Eligibility
a. Domestic applicant for an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney as defined in the Coursework Policy 2021.
b. Application made through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
c. Applicant resides in an area listed in the bottom 25 percent of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Education and Occupation (IEO), based on the address they provide to UAC.
d. Applicant is not enrolled at the University of Sydney at the time of applying via UAC.
e. Applicant was not enrolled in a bachelor's degree at the University of Sydney in the year prior to the year in which they are applying via UAC.
f. Declining this or any equity-focused award will not affect admission to the University.
g. Students are eligible to apply for other awards at the University.
h. Students are eligible to apply for awards from other organisations, such as UAC, subject to any applicable terms and conditions of those organisations and awards.
2. Ongoing eligibility
a. To continue receipt of a MySydney Scholarship award, the recipient must:
- continue to meet the progression requirements for their course in each relevant teaching period,
- remain enrolled as a domestic student post-census date each semester in the original award course to which they were admitted. The scholarship may be transferred to an alternative award course if approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or their nominee under clause 7.
b. Recipients undertaking an exchange during the tenure of an award must achieve a ‘Satisfied Requirements’ (SR) grade from their host institution to receive the next scholarship payment.
3. Selection criteria
The Scholarship is automatically offered to new students who meet the eligibility criteria and receive an unconditional admission offer to The University of Sydney through UAC.
4. Value
a. The Scholarship provides a cash stipend of AUD 8,500 per year and is tenable for the published full-time duration of the recipient’s original undergraduate degree or combined undergraduate degree. A student will be deemed ‘full-time’ when they maintain an enrolment of 75 percent or more of the expected full-time load in any teaching period.
b. The total annual payable amount for the purposes of this scholarship may be indexed against the maximum tax-free threshold set by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and, should the maximum tax-free threshold increase, the award amount may be increased to reflect those changes.
c. The annual payment will be paid in three instalments during the first year. An initial payment will be made at the start of Welcome Week to the value of AUD 1,000, the second payment will be made post Semester 1 census date to the value of AUD 3,250, the third payment will be made post Semester 2 census date to the value of AUD 4,250.
d. In the subsequent enrolment years, the annual payment will be made in two equal installments of AUD 4,250 post-census dates. Census dates are currently 31 March and 31 August respectively.
e. Where part-time study is approved under part 5, payments will be 50 percent of the total value for the equivalent full-time study.
f. The Scholarship does not cover appended Honours.
g. The Scholarship does not cover any postgraduate studies, such as a Master of Nursing or Doctor of Medicine, even if taken as part of a vertically integrated combined degree.
h. Unless otherwise advised by a student, where an E12 award has already been offered and accepted, it will be terminated in favour of the MySydney Scholarship award, which is of greater monetary value.
5. Part-time study
a. Award recipients are expected to enroll full-time in the award course to which they have been admitted for the duration of their degree.
b. Recipients may hold an award part-time due to extenuating circumstances, subject to approval by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or their nominee.
c. Applications for part-time study must be submitted to the Scholarships Office for consideration.
6. Deferral and suspension
a. Deferral of a MySydney Scholarship award is not permitted without prior permission of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or their nominee.
b. Recipients may request to suspend or defer an award due to extenuating or exceptional circumstances by applying through the Scholarships Office. This is in addition to any request to the relevant faculty or University school for suspension of study.
c. Requests for deferral or suspension will be approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or their nominee on a case-by-case basis.
d. If a student holds a paid Industry Placement Scholarship, their MySydney scholarship may be suspended for the duration of the placement. The MySydney scholarship will resume once the paid Industry Placement has ended.
7. Transfer of degree
a. A Scholarship holder may apply to transfer their scholarship from one undergraduate degree to another at the University of Sydney. Applications will be assessed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or their nominee on a case-by-case basis.
b. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or their nominee will determine the terms on which any such transfer is approved.
c. Recipients may request approval to transfer by applying through the Scholarships Office.
8. Termination
A scholarship may be terminated if a recipient:
a. Withdraws from an eligible award course.
b. Enrolls in an alternative award course without applying for approval.
c. Fails to enroll without applying for deferral or suspension of studies.
d. Commences study at another higher education provider prior to accepting an offer for a MySydney Scholarship.
e. Commences part-time study without prior approval.
f. Does not meet the performance requirements for their course.
g. Is awarded an alternative equity-focused award by the University valued at more than AUD 8,500 per year, as a MySydney Scholarship award is of lesser value.
h. Does not resume study at the end of a period of approved suspension or deferral.
i. Does not meet the eligibility criteria.
j. Is found guilty of misconduct.
If a scholarship is terminated the student may apply for a review of that decision by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or their nominee. The outcome of the review will be final.
