General bursaries

Overview

A bursary is a type of scholarship awarded based on financial need, designed to help cover essential living and study expenses.

Exclusions

Bursaries will not be provided for:

payment of HECS or tuition fees
payment of compulsory subscriptions
purchase of cars
holidays
financial penalties such as traffic and library fines
non-essential expenses.

Value

General bursaries are worth up to $2000 per semester, depending on available funds.

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Who can apply

General bursaries are available to domestic undergraduate and postgraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria, or alternatively can demonstrate extenuating circumstances.

Eligibility criteria

You are eligible to apply for a general bursary if you:

are a domestic student currently enrolled at the University of Sydney
are an undergraduate or postgraduate student
are currently residing in Australia
are making satisfactory academic progress – this generally requires a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 50, however in extenuating circumstances your WAM will not impact your ability to access financial support
can provide evidence of experiencing genuine and immediate financial hardship
have not received more than two general bursaries in the same calendar year
are studying full-time, meaning:
- for coursework students, a minimum of 18 credit points per semester
- for research students, the Equivalent Full-Time Student Load (EFTSL) of 1.0 per year.

If you're studying less than this full-time load due to a disability and you're receiving some form of government support (such as the Disability Support Pension or National Disability Insurance Scheme), you can apply for a bursary provided you meet the general eligibility criteria.

If you're studying less than this full-time load for any other reason, you can apply for a bursary provided you meet the general eligibility criteria. In these circumstances, you may be eligible to receive up to $1000 per semester.

If you've been directly affected by a natural disaster and require financial support, we encourage you to apply for a general bursary.

You are eligible if you:

are enrolled at the University of Sydney
have been directly affected by a recent natural disaster
are experiencing financial hardship.

You will need to provide specific documentation. If you would like further advice about your circumstances or eligibility, contact us by submitting an enquiry.

Extenuating circumstances

If you are experiencing financial hardship and do not meet the eligibility criteria, in extenuating circumstances you may still be able to access bursary assistance.

Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. For example, we understand that there may be other circumstances impacting your academic progress.

Additionally, you may be eligible for support if you've been referred by other teams at the University, such as but not limited to the Student Counselling Service, Disability and Inclusion, the Gadigal Centre, the Fees Office, a Student Liaison Officer or an Associate Dean, Student Life.

If you're unsure whether you qualify, you can ask us by submitting a financial support enquiry.

When to apply

You may apply once per semester if necessary. If your application is successful, you cannot apply again until the following semester. If your application is unsuccessful, you can re-apply if your financial circumstances worsen.

Commencing students at the University of Sydney who apply for a general bursary prior to census date may be eligible to receive financial support of up to $1000. If you continue to experience financial hardship, you may reapply for a general bursary after census date to receive up to another $1000, provided you meet all other eligibility criteria.

For the purposes of financial support, a commencing student is defined as a student commencing an award course for the first time or returning after a period of non-enrolment of three or more years.

Supporting documents

To be considered for financial support, you need to provide the following supporting documents in your application.

You don’t need to provide your academic transcript.

Financial documents

You must provide supporting documents to demonstrate your financial hardship:

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 held in your name
proof of Centrelink (if relevant)
documentation demonstrating any upcoming financial commitments or expenses related to your circumstances. This may include bills, invoices, quotes, payment schedules, or other evidence of expected costs.

Required format

All bank account statements need to be in PDF format and contain:

the official header of your financial institution (for example, bank name, logo)
your full name
the account number.

Screenshots, photos or CSV files of bank statements will not be accepted.

'Buy now, pay later' transactions

If your bank statements show significant transactions through buy now, pay later services (such as Afterpay, Zip or similar providers), include information in your personal statement about the nature of these expenses. Providing this context will help us assess your application holistically and efficiently.

If you've been affected by a natural disaster

You will need to supply:

proof of your address in an identified natural disaster-affected area
evidence of your current financial situation (for example, bank statements)
an outline of how the natural disaster significantly impacted you and your household.

If you would like further advice about your circumstances or eligibility, contact us by submitting an enquiry.

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<p>The University takes privacy and the safety of your personal information very seriously. When uploading supporting documents, you should only provide sufficient information to demonstrate your circumstances, and not include any sensitive information beyond what’s requested.</p>

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How to apply

Step 1: Check your application

Make sure you've gathered your supporting documents and that your application:

Demonstrates that you are experiencing difficulty meeting rental obligations and other living expenses in the immediate future.
Provides your current aggregate bank account balance (including your account for everyday transactions and any savings accounts) to demonstrate an immediate need for financial support with your living expenses and to support the successful completion of your studies.
Ensures all relevant bank accounts have been disclosed, that statements from the last 30 days have been provided, and that funds have not been transferred to undisclosed accounts prior to applying.

You are encouraged to provide information about your situation in the personal statement field of the application.

Step 2: Apply online

Submit a general bursary application through Sydney Student > My finances > Scholarships, prizes, bursaries and loans > Apply for financial support.

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Step 3: Submit your documents

Submit supporting documents through our form.

It is important to upload all relevant supporting documents. Incomplete applications will be declined, and you will need to reapply, which will delay the assessment of your application.

You cannot update your application after you submit it.

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<p>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 <a href="https://policyregister.sydney.edu.au/doctract/documentportal/08DE2219FEF9DDDCDD79EC0DBCF5BE84">Student Charter</a> 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.</p>

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What happens next

Application updates

We assess applications in the order in which they are received. After submitting your application, make sure you check your university email regularly, as we may contact you if we require additional information to assess your application.

Receiving an outcome

Most applications are processed within three weeks, provided all required supporting documents have been submitted. Once your application has been assessed, you will receive the outcome in Sydney Student.

Successful application

If your application is successful, follow the instructions in the message to enable your payment. Payments will be made to your nominated bank account within 4 to 10 working days. Make sure your bank details are correct in Sydney Student > My finance > Your finances > Bank details.

Unsuccessful application

If your application is unsuccessful and your financial circumstances worsen where you are unable to meet essential living expenses, such as rent or food, you may submit a new application for consideration.

If you have questions about the outcome, submit an enquiry to Student Journey and Engagement.

Protecting your privacy

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 in accordance with the University's Privacy Policy.

Current students