To help get you started with your application and to let you know what to expect throughout the scholarship process (applying, assessment, outcomes, payment, and ongoing requirements), we’ve compiled some useful pointers and a step by step guide to point you in the right direction!
Don't make the mistake of believing that all scholarships are for the highest achieving students. Some scholarships are awarded on academic merit, however there are literally hundreds of scholarships available to UniSA students that are awarded on a needs basis.
This means that circumstances such as socio-economic disadvantage, a disability, moving from or residing in a rural area, or meeting one of the other equity criteria set by UniSA could mean that you are eligible for a scholarship.
We have a range of categories - including financial support for high achievers and students in need. It is important to read and understand each scholarship criteria and there is a legend of icons to help you identify possible scholarships that you may be eligible to apply for.
There are hundreds of different scholarships and they have different opening and closing dates. You will need to review the information listed for each scholarship as the dates vary between each scholarship. All scholarships listed on the UniSA Scholarships website have the opening and closing dates included. In the event there is no date available, a contact will be listed so that you can obtain more information.
As each scholarship has differing eligibility criteria and every student's situation is unique, it is necessary to review the scholarship criteria in relation to your own circumstances.
How do I apply?
Applications for UniSA Study Grants and other equity scholarships for study are open via SATAC for new and continuing students. The application process applies only to students who DO NOT currently have a Commonwealth Scholarships/Study Grant and wish to apply.
Please note: If you are currently in receipt of these payments you will be contacted (via email) by the UniSA scholarships office to verify your ongoing eligibility. There is no need to re-apply through SATAC. Instead you will be required to complete the online eligibility review, via the myScholarships page in myUniSA. Further information will be sent to review students before the online review opening date.
Students can apply online via the SATAC website (opens new window). Before applying please read the Basic eligibility requirements for Commonwealth Scholarships, and Eligibility requirements for Study Grant.
Applying for other UniSA scholarships
Please review the specific details of each scholarship in order to determine the application process and how to apply, or who to contact to find out more information for external scholarships
As all scholarships have their own opening and closing dates, it is necessary to review the details of the scholarship you are interested in. The application opening dates are listed for most scholarships on the UniSA website, or there will be a contact listed with whom you can discuss the application dates.
There is a name or link listed under each scholarship description on the UniSA website, please contact the person listed as a first point-of-call.
If your query is more general, please contact:
Scholarships and Candidature
Student and Academic Services
Tel: (08) 8302 1697
Email: scholarships.prizes@unisa.edu.au
If you want to look at scholarships by Academic Unit, but you are not sure which Academic Unit your program of study relates to, you can visit the program search page (opens in new window) and the program page will list the Academic Unit.
If you are not sure if your program of study is undergraduate or postgraduate you can visit the program search page (opens in new window) and the program page will list the program level.
To find out whether you will need to pay tax on your scholarship please visit the Australian Tax Office (ATO) site. We recommend that you completed the online questionnaire 'Is your scholarship taxable?'.
Some scholarships are not considered income for Social Security purposes.
The Commonwealth Scholarships (CS), including Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (Indigenous-CECS) and Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (Indigenous-CAS), are not considered income for social security purposes. This means that current benefits such as payments made to you by Centrelink or concession cards should not be affected by payments of either of the Commonwealth scholarships.
If you are in receipt of any other form of scholarship, we recommend you visit the website or contact the Australian Government - Department of Human Services (Centrelink) to determine if the scholarship will affect your current benefits.
Some scholarships allow the recipient to take periods of leave and then continue the scholarship when study is recommenced. Not all scholarships allow periods of leave, so it is necessary to read and understand the scholarship criteria, or seek advice from the scholarship administrator before making any decision on your situation.
In most cases it is not possible to defer a scholarship, however there are some exceptions, so it is important that you read and understand the eligibility criteria for the relevant scholarship. If you are not sure after reading the description or criteria, contact the person listed under that scholarship for more information.
In determining a rural/remoteness for a scholarship, we will verify if the rural/remote or regional area with the Australian Bureau of Statistic's ASGC Remoteness Areas classification. The classifications are:
Check the classification of your home postcode (XLS file - 246KB)
UniSA has a Scholarships Management System which students can access by logging into myUniSA and selecting my Current Studies. This will display a 'my Scholarships' link (under the heading Related Information) which when selected will take you to the my Scholarships homepage.
The my Scholarships home page is broken into the following five sections:
my Offered scholarships
Displays scholarships that you applied for and have been offered. This is where you can either accept or decline the offer.
my Documentation required
Displays scholarships that you have applied for, that require you to submit supporting documentation. The list will show the name of the scholarship, type, the documentation required, any contact address and the due date for the documentation.
my Scholarships for Review
Displays the scholarships that you are in receipt of and are currently under review. You may complete your Scholarship Eligibility Review in this section.
Scholarship groups I may apply for
Certain scholarships are 'grouped'. In this section you may submit one application that will cover a number of scholarships that are listed in that group. Clicking on the Scholarship name will give you a brief description of the scholarship. Full details of scholarship criteria will be available from the scholarships website.
Individual scholarships I may apply for
Displays individual scholarships that are open for application. You can apply for these by clicking on the apply button. If you are unable to complete the application immediately, you can save it and go back to it later. The status for this will then change from ‘apply' to ‘continue'. Please ensure you complete and submit your application before the application closing date indicated for that scholarship. Clicking on the Scholarship name will give you a brief description of the scholarship. Full details of scholarship criteria will be available from the scholarships website.
For a brief description of the scholarship, click on the scholarship name listed under 'Scholarship groups I may apply for' or 'Individual scholarships I may apply for'.
Full details of scholarship criteria will be available from the scholarships website.
Selecting the 'my Applications' tab at the top will display a list of all the scholarships that you have applied for and whether your application(s) were successful or not. Selecting the scholarship name will bring up a list of your responses to the application. This section also includes a list of all the reviews that you have completed.
Selecting the 'my Scholarships' tab at the top will display a list of all the scholarships that you were awarded and have accepted. Scholarships that have been awarded but you have not yet accepted will appear on the homepage under ‘My Offered Scholarships'.
From the 'my Scholarships' tab, any scholarship(s) that is opening in the near future will be displayed at the bottom.
By selecting the 'my Details' tab, you can view your banking details. You can complete your banking details here or update new banking details. When accepting an offered scholarship, you may be requested to complete your banking details.
When you submit your responses to the eligibility criteria, you will be advised if you need to upload supporting documentation within your online application.
Please upload the supporting documentation as requested. You may find the following resource helpful: Supporting Documentation Guide (PDF 3MB).
Students who receive the CECS-Indigenous Enabling or CAS-Indigenous Enabling and progress to an undergraduate degree will have up to four years of access to Indigenous-CECS or Indigenous-CAS if eligible.
For ongoing recipients, provided that you meet the specific eligibility requirements, basic eligibility, and ongoing eligibility requirements. Students who undertake a component of overseas study will not be precluded from accessing the scholarship (these include: Indigenous-CECS, Indigenous-CAS, UniSA Study Grant), even whilst undertaking study overseas and as long as it will count towards the program requirements in which the student is enrolled.
A UniSA Study Grant is a UniSA based scholarship and therefore NOT considered a Commonwealth Scholarship.
Students don't need to apply for this scholarship - they will be paid directly to eligible Centrelink customers.
For further information on the changes to income support for students and the Relocation Scholarships, refer to the Centrelink website.
All students who have a placement record in My Placement/In Placement (for nursing students) are welcome to apply. Please check the criteria for the University of South Australia Placement Grant before you apply.
If you reside in a rural area and your placement is nearby, unfortunately you will not be eligible for UniSA Placement Grant. If there are significant travel involved or you have to relocate to do your placement, then you may be eligible.
You need to provide your supporting documentation at least 2 weeks before commencing your eligible placement. Late documentation may not be assessed by Scholarships office unless there is a special circumstance.
Unfortunately students can only be awarded one UniSA Placement Grant in the same year.
Awards are allocated retrospectively, a few months into the following year. For example, academic achievement in the year of 2018 the awards would be allocated by about the end of March, 2019.
The Academic Unit to which your program belongs, or Chancellery will notify you in April by letter if you have received one of the awards.
In order to be considered for one of the above awards you must:
Anyone who has met the above requirements will be considered for one of the awards, however only those in the top 15% of their Academic Unit will be granted an award
The University Merit Awards and the Chancellor's Letters of Commendation are granted on an annual basis to the top 15% of students in their Academic Unit, who qualify according to all of the criteria. You will receive the relevant award/commendation for each year you are eligible.
Yes, all official allocated prizes or awards that are administered by the University should appear on your student transcript. Sometimes transcripts are printed prior to the awarding period and these will not show recently allocated prizes or awards, however the additional or later transcripts you receive will show all prizes or awards allocated to you.
Students can receive only one of the awards in a given year as they are awarded for different percentiles within the same Academic Unit. That is, the Chancellor's Letters of Commendation will recognise the top 5% of all students who qualify in their Academic Unit, and the University Merit Awards will recognise the students who qualify and are in the top 15% of their Academic Unit (excluding the top 5%). The criteria states: '...Students eligible for a Chancellor's Letter of Commendation will not also receive a University Merit Award for that year'.
Please forward your enquiry to: Scholarships.Prizes@unisa.edu.au
Make sure to detail which program you think you should have received the award for, the year of study and your Student ID.
You can send enquiries through to: Scholarships.Prizes@unisa.edu.au
Your enquiry will be responded to as soon as possible.