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How to write a strong scholarship application

Prepare and write your scholarship application with confidence

A scholarship application introduces us to who you are and what you have achieved. While all are different, here are some tips for writing your undergraduate scholarship application.

Before you apply

Do your research: set some time aside to read through the scholarships website to find out about the range of scholarships on offer, find out about our undergraduate scholarships form where you can apply for a range of scholarships at once, and see if there are any upcoming events to ask questions and find out which options are available to you.
Get advice: Ask your parents and teachers to help you with your scholarship choices, navigating the admission criteria, and preparing your personal statement for your application (where applicable).
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.

Preparing your application

Plan ahead: Don't leave it until the last minute, as you may need to gather information to support your application.
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 have access to in the coming year (i.e., not your school email).
Update UAC: Make sure your UAC application is up to date and the course relating to your scholarship is on your preference list.
Have your documents on hand: You will need to submit supporting documentation with your application. This may include your HSC results and most recent school report. Make sure you have copies of these nearby to save time hunting when you go to apply.

Writing your application

Most scholarship applications require a written component, like a personal statement. This is where the university can get to know you and understand why you might be a good fit for the scholarship.

The personal statement will usually be structured as a response to a list of questions, which you’ll find in the application form.

Some examples of common questions include:

Why are you applying?
What are your goals?
What are your academic achievements?
What extra-curricular activities have you been involved in?

Tips for writing your scholarship application

Show us who you are: Some scholarships ask you to complete a personal statement. This tells us about your academic and non-academic achievements, pursuits and goals. What do you aspire to do or be? Tell us about your passions.
Write a story, not a CV: As the name suggests, the Personal Statements should be exactly that – personal. We want to read about who you are, not just a list of your achievements.
Keep it strong and simple: Keep your application concise, stick to the word limit, answer questions clearly and pay attention to structure.
Keep it relevant: Make sure your statement directly addresses the questions. Only submit supporting documents where required to back up your statements of accomplishment.
Pay attention to spelling and grammar: Make sure your writing is clear and error-free. Write in full sentences and tell a story. Avoid using dot points.
Think about the bigger picture: To write a truly 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?

Before you submit

Check, check and check again. Make sure you thoroughly proofread your application, checking for spelling, grammar mistakes and word counts. Get somebody else to proofread your application as well.

Submitting

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 an application.

What happens next?

Once you submit your scholarship application you can relax and look forward to your university adventure. We'll keep you updated on the progress of your application, so be sure to keep an eye on your email. For any questions, please contact us via our online portal.

Last updated: 4 April 2024

9 August 2019