Students with Refugee Background
The Equality and Diversity Centre at La Trobe University offers a support program for students who have a refugee background, and have a Permanent Humanitarian Visa or Australian Citizenship.
What type of support is available to students?
- a Refugee Contact Officer on each campus
- assistance applying for a place at La Trobe University
- provision of a laptop computer if required
- financial assistance in the form of textbook gift vouchers or transport tickets
- provision of personal tutors if required
- La Trobe University Access Scholarships for commencing students
- Residential scholarships
- 'Abdi story - watch video'
How do I get offered a place at University?
Because you have a refugee background, you may be eligible to apply through a Special Entry and Access Scheme to gain a place at University.
How much will a University course cost?
The course fees vary depending on the type of course you want to do and the units you take within that course. View the Student Contributions page, where you will find the approximate cost for one year’s full-time study, for different types of courses. For more cost details of the course you wish to study, contact the Refugee Contact Person (see below) on the campus where you wish to study.
How do I pay for my University course?
You may be eligible to defer your fee payments via HECS-Help until after you have graduated and secured a job with good pay.
You do have to survive while you are studying, so you may have to work in the four months of University breaks and save money to live on. You may also want to think about studying part-time and working part-time. You may be eligible for Centrelink payments while you study if you have a full-time study load. Contact Centrelink for more information.
Who should I contact?
There is a Refugee Contact Person at each campus of La Trobe University. They can help you to understand the way things are done at an Australian university, and provide you with some financial assistance. They can also help you to apply for a place and a scholarship at La Trobe University.
Melbourne (Bundoora)
Ms Holly Langfield
Email: h.langfield@latrobe.edu.au
Phone: 9479 2900
Ms Siobhan Lappin
Email: s.lappin@latrobe.edu.au
Phone: 9479 3244
Bendigo
Paul Gianni
Email: p.gianni@latrobe.edu.au
Phone: 5444 7283
Albury Wodonga
Ms Marita Quaglio
Email: m.quaglio@latrobe.edu.au
Phone: 6024 9628
Shepparton
Ms Rhonda King
Email: r.king@latrobe.edu.au
Phone: 5821 8316
Mildura
Ms Julie Graham
Email: julie.graham@latrobe.edu.au
Phone: 5051 4001


