UniSA Study Grants

University of South Australia Study Grants provide financial support to undergraduate students studying at UniSA. These grants offer financial assistance for the life of a student's program up to the maximum duration.

Please note: Scholarships and Grants are subject to change and are awarded based on conditions current at the time of award.
 

Eligibility

Students are eligible for a University of South Australia Study Grant if they meet all the following criteria:

  • Australian citizen, permanent resident or the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa
  • can provide evidence of low socio-economic background. One of the ways that you can verify financial disadvantage is by showing that you are in receipt of a means tested Centrelink Benefit (excluding Youth Allowance, Austudy, Abstudy, and Assistance for Isolated Children), and/or a Health Care Card. Not all Centrelink benefits are means tested.
  • are enrolled in an undergraduate program full-time or part-time with a minimum of  50% load (9 units per half year)
  • have not already completed the requirements of a program of study equivalent to an Australian bachelor's or higher level award.

While low socio-economic status is the primary criterion for University of South Australia Study Grants, applications will be weighted according to other equity indicators, including, for example, that applicants:

  • identify as Indigenous
  • are from rural/isolated areas
  • are from non-English speaking backgrounds
  • have a disability.

Students are not eligible for a University of South Australia Study Grant if they:

  • are in receipt of any Commonwealth Scholarship(s)
  • are in receipt of any other UniSA-related scholarship or grant of the same or higher value to the University of South Australia Study Grant total value
  • are a part-time student with less than 50% study load (9 units per half year).

Students in exceptional circumstances, for example students that have a disability or significant carer responsibilities, will have the opportunity to report and verify their circumstances during application and review periods and may still be deemed eligible.

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Application process

Applications for University of South Australia Study Grants are managed by SATAC for new and continuing students. The application process applies only to students who do not currently have a Commonwealth Scholarships/UniSA Study Grant, and applications are open twice a year (prior to study period 2 and study period 5).

How to lodge an application:
When applications open students can apply online via the SATAC website.

Please note: If you currently receive these payments there is no need to re-apply through SATAC. You will need to complete an online eligibility review, via my Scholarships. The UniSA Scholarships office will contact you before the online review opening date.

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Selection process

  • Selection will be made on the basis of financial need and equity considerations.
  • Applicants will be ranked according to a total score derived from a set of weighted financial need, equity and educational disadvantage indicators.
  • The equity weightings may be adjusted from year to year to ensure that members of the University's current equity priority areas are represented in the ranking.
  • In the case of a tied score, applicants will be separated on the basis of the University's equity priorities for the current year.  Otherwise, applicants will be separated on the basis of academic merit, determined by ranked ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) scores, GPA (Grade Point Average) or equivalent.

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Offer

University of South Australia Study Grant offers will be made after study period 2 and study period 5 census dates each year (31st March and 31st August).

Successful applicants for both University of South Australia Study Grants will receive an Email offer and request for Banking Details via my Scholarships detailing the rights and responsibilities of both the student and the University in regard to the scholarships. The student will be required to Accept the scholarship on the my Scholarships homepage under 'my Offered scholarships' and provide Banking Details before any payment can be made.

Unsuccessful applicants will receive an email informing them that they have not gained a grant. 

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Payments

Value: $2,000 a year (based on full-time load) paid in two instalments of $1,000 (based on fulltime load) in the relevant scholarship period, for up to 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent, or the length of the full-time program, whichever is the shorter, excluding any periods of leave.

The grant is paid twice a year by bank transfer to the grant holder, and is subject to the student satisfying ongoing eligibility requirements for each relevant study period.

For more information on the payments please visit the following website.

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Ongoing eligibility requirements

In order to maintain ongoing eligibility for a University of South Australia Study Grant, the grant holder:

  • must maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the University's Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual.
  • may transfer to another undergraduate program at the University of South Australia, but must maintain continuous enrolment, except for periods of leave.
  • must continue to meet the basic eligibility requirements as detailed in their original application. It is the grant holder’s responsibility to understand the condition and ongoing requirements of the grant, and to provide information to the Scholarship Office of any changes to their current circumstances which would make them ineligible for the grant. Information must be provided by the relevant census date in study period 2 and study period 5.

Students in exceptional circumstances, for example students that have a disability or significant carer responsibilities, will have the opportunity to report and verify their circumstances during ongoing review periods and may still be deemed eligible.

Please note additional load from previous periods (half years) will not be carried forward. Load is calculated after the nominated study period census dates and will determine payment amounts for each period (half year). Study Period 7 (Summer Term) enrolment/s will not be included as study load.

For more information please visit the following website.


The University will undertake a process to review and verify the grant holder's ongoing eligibility for the University of South Australia Study Grant twice a year after the relevant census date in study period 2 and study period 5 of the calendar year (UniSA Academic Calendar).