Sydney Access Scholarship

The purpose of the Sydney Access Scholarship is to address the educational disadvantage experienced by people living in regional or remote areas or those affected by socio-economic or financial disadvantage, by facilitating and supporting their participation in University of Sydney courses.

1. Eligibility criteria

Applicant who:

a. is a domestic applicant for an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney as defined in the Coursework Policy 2021.

b. has applied for an undergraduate degree admission through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

c. does not hold a current enrolment in an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney.

d. was not enrolled in an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney in the preceding year of their current admission application via UAC.

e. Is not eligible to receive a MySydney Entry and Scholarship.

f. meets one or more of the following criteria:

i. resides in a regional or remote area,*

ii. is a recent school leaver who attended a regional or remote school based on the details they provide to UAC,*

iii. is facing financial hardship, as demonstrated through the UAC Educational Access Scheme (EAS),

iv. resides in an area listed in the bottom 25 percent of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD),**based on the address they provide to UAC.

*Classified as meeting one of the following Australian Statistical Geography Standards (ASGS): Remoteness Area Values must be ASGSI = Inner Regional, ASGSO = Outer Regional, ASGSR = Remote, or, ASGSV = Very Remote. The ASGS utilises geocoding technology to assign each school and individual street address an Australian Statistical Geography Standard Remoteness Area 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) SA1, with the SES value derived from the ABSs' Socio Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Relative Socio-Economic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD) for SA1 areas. This address is geocoded to the appropriate SA1. SA1s in the bottom 25% of the population are classified as low SES.

2. Selection criteria

a. The scholarship is offered to students who meet the eligibility criteria and receive an unconditional admission offer to the University of Sydney through UAC.

b. Preference will be given:

i. to students who meet a combination of Clause 1.f.i or Clause 1.f.ii and Clause 1.f.iii or Clause 1.f.iv, and then

ii. to students University Admissions Centre (UAC) assessed Educational Access Scheme (EAS) outcomes.

3. Value

a. The scholarship provides a cash payment of AUD$8,500 per year and is tenable for the published full-time duration of the recipient’s undergraduate (single or combined) degree up to a maximum total duration of 5 years full-time study or part-time equivalent.

b. The annual amount will be paid in two equal instalments of $4,250 within 30 days after the census dates of first semester and second semester.

c. The scholarship does not cover appended Honours degrees.

d. 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.

4. Ongoing eligibility

To continue receipt of the scholarship, the recipient must:

a. continue to meet the progression requirements for their course in each relevant teaching period;

b. remain enrolled in an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney after relevant census dates in each relevant teaching period; and

c. if undertaking an exchange program during the tenure of the Scholarship, achieve a ‘Satisfied Requirements’ (SR) grade.

5. Part-time study

a. The scholarship can be held whilst studying part time, subject to meeting ongoing requirements of the recipient’s course.

b. Recipients will receive 50% of the full-time payment of the scholarship if they enrol part-time (less than 18 credit points) in a semester.

6. Deferral and suspension

a. Deferral of the scholarship is permitted for up to two semesters provided the recipient obtains approval from the University to defer their degree.

b. Suspension of the scholarship is permitted for up to two semesters provided the recipient is permitted to, or obtains approval to, suspend their degree.

c. Requests for deferral or suspension of the scholarship for more than two semesters will be considered, and if appropriate approved, on a case-by-case basis by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or their nominee.

d. The recipient must contact the Scholarships Office at least two months before the end of their deferral or suspension period to request reinstatement of the scholarship. Failing to do so may result in the scholarship being terminated.

7. Transfer of degree

a. The scholarship is transferable to another undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney, provided the recipient obtains approval from the University to transfer.

8. Privacy

a. Personal information about recipients collected by the University will be managed in accordance with the University’s privacy obligations. See our Privacy webpage for more information.

b. Scholarship recipients who do not meet or are identified as being at risk of not meeting academic progression requirements may be contacted by the University to offer academic and other student support services.

9. Termination

a. The scholarship may be terminated if a recipient:

i. withdraws from an eligible award course or fails to enrol,

ii. does not meet the eligibility or ongoing eligibility criteria for the scholarship,

iii. unless approval is granted by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or their nominee, is a holder of an alternative scholarship administered by the University valued at $8,500 or more per year, excluding accommodation, tuition fee offset or exchange scholarships,

iv. fails to enrol at the end of permitted or approved deferral or suspension,

v. exceeds the maximum total duration of study supported by the Scholarship, or

vi. is found guilty of misconduct.

b. Once the scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to administrative error.