How to write a strong scholarship application
<p>Tips for writing your undergraduate scholarship application.</p>
Before you apply
Plan ahead
Don't wait until the last minute because you will need to gather information to support your application.
Do your research
Read through the Undergraduate Guide and the course details on the website. You can choose up to three courses you would like to study and answer questions about why you want to study those courses. Talk to us at an upcoming event to find out if there are upcoming scholarship writing workshops and contact us if you have any questions.
Get advice
Ask your parents, carers teachers or careers advisors to help you with your application and prepare your personal statements.
Get involved
Keep track of or revisit your involvement in school, community and extracurricular activities so you can include these details in your scholarship application.
Equity scholarships are for students who have or are currently experiencing some form of disadvantage such as:
- financial hardship
- moving from a regional or remote area
- disability or long-term illness
- educational disruption
If you would like to be considered for equity scholarships, ensure you have also lodged an Educational Access Scheme (EAS) application in UAC before the UAC early bird deadline.
Note: You may need additional supporting documentation about the disadvantage you have experienced to submit an EAS application.
Prepare your application
Submit your UAC application
You will need your 9-digit UAC pin to start and submit your scholarship application. Ensure you submit your UAC application as soon as possible.
Have a valid email address
We need to be able to contact you to let you know if you’ve been successful. This might not happen until after you've finished high school, so make sure it’s an email address you can access in the coming year (i.e. not your school email).
Prepare your documents
You will need to provide supporting documents with your application. You will also need a copy of your Year 12 half-year results (HSC trials or equivalent), and your final Year 11 school reports. Ensure grades for all the subjects are listed.
Prepare your written responses
Write your responses to the personal statement questions asked. Always write your answers in a word processing document, do a spell and grammar check, check the word count and save your work. Before submitting your responses, ask a parent or friend to look for any errors.
Writing your application
The single scholarship form requires four written responses in addition to other documents to be submitted. This is where the University can get to know you and understand why you might be a good fit for the university and for the scholarship, why you want to study your chosen courses and what impact you will make after you have finished university.
The four questions that you need to respond to follow these themes:
- Academic achievements
- Extra-curricular activities
- Motivations for your chosen study area/courses
- Impact you want to have once you’ve graduated
Tips for writing your application
- Show us who you are and be authentic in your responses, we want to see your passions and what motivates you.
- Write a story, not a CV. As the name suggests, personal statements should be just that, personal. We want to read about who you are, not just a list of your achievements.
- Keep it strong and simple. Your application should be concise, stick to the word limit, answer questions clearly and pay attention to structure.
- Ensure it is relevant and make sure your statement directly addresses the questions. Only submit supporting documents when required to back up your statements of accomplishment.
- Pay attention to spelling and grammar. Make sure to write without errors and in full sentences – tell a story and avoid using dot points.
- Think about the bigger picture. To write a compelling scholarship application it’s important to think beyond yourself. How will this scholarship help you make a difference in the world? What can you contribute to your field?
Save and come back
If you start your scholarship application and need a break, you can save your application and come back within 30 days. Upon saving your scholarship application you will be emailed a link you can use to return to your incomplete application. (Tip: add a calendar reminder when your saved application will expire.)
Submit
Once you're ready, submit your application. If you wish to revise it later, don't worry – you can submit a new one. However, no changes can be made after the closing date. You'll receive an email confirmation once you've successfully submitted your application.
What happens next?
We'll keep you updated on the progress of your application, so be sure to keep an eye on your email. If you have any questions, contact us online.