Sydney International Equity Scholarship

1. Background

a. The Sydney International Equity Scholarship was established in 2024 to support international students to study a postgraduate coursework degree at the University of Sydney.

b. The scholarship is delivered with University of Sydney key global partners to students from a low-socio economic background in countries defined as developing by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. For a full list of global partners contact international.recruitment@sydney.edu.au.  

c. These terms and conditions must be read in conjunction with the agreement between the relevant global partner and the recipient. Key global partners may have their own requirements for the recipients they select, including on the maximum duration of the degree and requirements for returning to their country of selection post-graduation. This will be covered in the key partners agreement with the recipients. For more information and requirements contact the relevant key global partners.

2. Eligibility

a. Applicants must have applied for but not yet commenced a postgraduate coursework degree at the University of Sydney at the time of award.

b. Applicants must enrol in their eligible degree full-time.

c. Applicants must be an international student as defined in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

d. Applicants must be recommended as a preferred candidate by a key global partner organisation. Any applications received that are not recommended by a key global partner are not eligible to be considered.

e. Applicants must meet all requirements set by the relevant key global partner organisation.

f. Applicants must hold citizenship of a country where the relevant key global partner currently operates.

g. Applicants must be an active member of the communities where the relevant key global partners currently operates.

h. Applicants commencing a second degree at the University of Sydney are not eligible to apply.

3. Selection Criteria

a. The Scholarship will be awarded on the basis of the applicant’s application for admission to the relevant postgraduate coursework degree at the University of Sydney. This will include assessment of the applicant’s:

I. academic merit,
II. financial need, and
III. a personal statement (if applicable).

b. The University of Sydney will consult with each key global partner to identify potential candidates.

c. The number of recipients of scholarships awarded by a key global partner will vary each year. In some cases, a key global partner may not receive a scholarship in a year. 

d. The scholarship will be awarded by the Director, International or their nominated delegate on nomination of the key global partners in consultation with the University of Sydney.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide the below benefits for the published full-time duration of the recipient’s degree up to a maximum total duration of 2 years full-time study or part-time equivalent.

I. 100% tuition fees,
II. Single overseas health cover,
III. Student Services Amenities Fee,
IV. $12,000 per annum living allowance,
V. Return flight ticket to Australia to commence the relevant degree and to return to their home country at the completion of the relevant degree. This will have a maximum value of $4,000,
VI. $1,000 per year for textbooks,
VII. On campus accommodation,
VIII. $3,000 per year for ancillary costs associated with their degree, and
IX. Visa application fee.

b. The return flight ticket (Clause 4.a.V) is only valid for the recipient to access at the end of their degree. These funds can not be accessed by the recipient if they do not return to their home country at the end of their degree and student visa. 

c. All flight tickets (Clause 4.a.V), textbooks (Clause 4.a.VI) and ancillary costs (Clause 4.a.IX) will be reimbursed by the University of Sydney on submission of the Reimbursement Form and receipts.

d. Visa application fee will be paid by the key global partner and reimbursed by the University of Sydney. 

e. The living allowance payment (Clause 4.a.IV) will be paid into the recipients Australian bank account in the following instalments:

I. $6,000 within 7 days of arriving in Australia. Applicants must contact scholarships.office@sydney.edu.au upon arrival to receive payment.
II. $6,000 in the students second, third and fourth semester. These payments will be paid after the census date of each relevant semester.

f. Deferral and suspension of the scholarship is not permitted. 

g. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funds.

h. No other amount is payable.

5. Ongoing eligibility

a. To continue receipt of the Scholarship, the recipient must:

I. maintain a minimum Semester Average Mark (SAM) of 65 each semester,
II. have no outstanding fees.

b. Recipients undertaking an exchange during the tenure of this Scholarship are required to have achieved a Satisfied Requirements grade (SR) to receive their next payment. Any costs related to Study Abroad or exchange will not be covered by this scholarship.

6. Transfer of major or degree

a. The scholarship may be transferred to another major or degree if approved by the Director, International.

b. If a student is approved to transfer their scholarship to a new degree, the scholarship duration will be the duration of the recipients new degree minus any time the student has previously held the scholarship.

7. Other Requirements

a. Recipients may be required to do the following:

I. promote the scholarship,
II. promote the degree in which they are enrolled, and
III. represent the University at student events, marketing events and corporate networking events.

8. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient:

I. withdraws from an eligible course or fails to enrol,
II. becomes a domestic student, 
III. obtains Australian Permanent Residency,
IV. changes citizenship to a non-eligible country and is unable to satisfy Clause 2.f,
V. commences part-time enrolment without satisfying Clause 6.a,
VI. does not maintain satisfactory academic performance, 
VII. is determined by the University to be guilty of serious misconduct, including, but not limited to, having provided false or misleading information as part of their Scholarship application, or
VIII. does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave.

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

c. Where a student is found guilty of serious misconduct or the Scholarship is terminated under any instance in the Termination Clause of these terms and conditions, the University reserves the right to request that any Scholarship funds paid to the Scholarship recipient be reimbursed.