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Financial support
- Overview
- General bursaries
- Interest-free loans
- Advertised bursaries
- Financial support vouchers
Financial support vouchers
Please note that the last day to apply for a financial support voucher before the University’s financial shutdown is Wednesday 18 December 2024.
The provision of financial support vouchers will resume from Wednesday 8 January 2025. A reminder that students applying in 2025 for financial support will need to be enrolled in a 2025 study period in order to be assessed.
If you have any questions, or need assistance submitting an application, please contact us by submitting a Financial Support enquiry.
We understand that you may be experiencing financial difficulties over the holiday season. If you need urgent help with money during this time we recommend that you view the government Money Smart webpage.
If you are a domestic or international student located in Australia who's experiencing financial hardship you may be able to receive a voucher worth $250 for food or essential items (e.g. medical items).
This support scheme is dependent on available funding and is being reviewed on an ongoing basis.
It is only available to students currently enrolled at the University of Sydney.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for a voucher if you:
- are a domestic or international student currently enrolled at the University of Sydney
- are currently residing in Australia
- are making satisfactory academic progress (generally, a WAM above 50)
- can provide evidence of experiencing genuine and immediate financial difficulty.
You can’t apply if you’ve already reached the limit on the number of vouchers that can be awarded in a semester.
If your application is unsuccessful, you can re-apply if your financial situation worsens.
If you’re a domestic student who has already received a bursary in the same semester, we’ll assess your application on a case-by-case basis.
If you also have a General Bursary application pending, we will assess the General Bursary before proceeding with the assessment of the Financial Support Voucher. If a General Bursary is approved, Financial Support Vouchers will only be awarded additionally in extenuating circumstances.
Limits on the number of vouchers
There are limits on the number of vouchers that can be awarded in a semester. These are explained below.
Continuing students
- Two vouchers per semester for:
- coursework students studying a full-time load of 24 credit points per semester
- research students studying the Equivalent Full-Time Student Load (EFTSL) of 1.0 per year
- One voucher per semester for students studying less than these full-time loads.
If you’re eligible to apply for a second voucher, you’ll need to wait eight weeks after you receive your first voucher, before you apply again.
New students
- One voucher per semester for coursework students or research students.
Supporting documents
To be considered for a voucher, you need to provide the following supporting documents:
- bank account statement with transaction history of your everyday account, for the past 30 days
- bank account statements for all savings accounts and investment accounts you hold. These should be PDF documents with a letterhead. Screenshots of your accounts will not be accepted
- documents that show upcoming financial responsibilities (for example bills, invoices, quotes and calculations)
- if you would like to receive a voucher for medical items - evidence of medical need, e.g. prescription or medical certificate. This should include your full name and have been issued within the past 30 days from the date of application.
All bank account statements need to be in PDF format and contain:
- the official header of your financial institution (e.g. bank name, logo)
- your full name
- the account number.
Screenshots, photos or CSV files of bank statements will not be accepted.
You don’t need to provide your academic transcript.
It is important to upload all relevant supporting documents, or your application will be declined. You will need to reapply which will lead to a delay in processing your application. You cannot update your application after you submit it.
How to apply
Complete an online application and include your supporting documents.
In your application, you will need to:
- demonstrate how you are experiencing difficulty meeting living expenses in the immediate future
- indicate whether you prefer to receive a voucher for food or other essential items (e.g. medical items)
- provide your current aggregate bank account balance (including your account for everyday transactions and any savings accounts) which indicates an immediate need for financial support with your living expenses and to support the successful completion of your studies
- ensure all relevant bank accounts have been disclosed, bank statements are provided from the last 30 days and that no transfers have been made to other undisclosed bank accounts prior to your application.
If your current aggregate bank account balance does not indicate an immediate need for financial support with your living expenses, you will need to submit a personal statement. This will need to clearly outline your current financial need, what expenses the financial support would cover, and why the need has arisen. The personal statement needs to be submitted as a single Microsoft Word document. Alternatively, you may apply at a later date, once your aggregate bank account balance indicates an immediate need for financial support.
Providing false information
We expect all students to provide genuine, truthful evidence of financial hardship. Providing misleading information such as transferring funds to a hidden account is in breach of the Student Charter and will be dealt with accordingly. Such conduct is a very serious matter. It also increases the processing time of applications for all students and may delay the granting of funds to students in genuine need.
What happens next
We process applications in the order in which they are received. You need to check your University email address regularly after applying as we may contact you there if further information is required.
Most applications are processed within three weeks, provided all your documents are included. After your application has been assessed, you will receive an email from the Financial Support Service which provides information about the outcome of your application.
If your application is successful, follow the prompts in the message to enable the voucher to be issued.
If your application is unsuccessful and your financial situation worsens, you will be able to lodge another application for consideration.
Your application will be recorded against your student record for auditing and compliance purposes only and will be treated confidentially. Any personal or sensitive information submitted as part of your application will be managed carefully by the University as per our Privacy Policy (pdf, 219KB)
If you have questions about the outcome, contact the Office of Student Life online by submitting a financial support enquiry.
Last updated: 03 December 2024
