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Regional Benefits Program

The path ahead starts here

La Trobe’s Regional Benefits Program empowers high achieving students from regional communities to live, study and thrive in regional Victoria.

If you come from a regional school and scored an ATAR of 80 or higher1 you are guaranteed a place in your chosen course2 subject to meeting all course requirements including course prerequisites, offered at one of La Trobe’s Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura or Shepparton campuses. Your guaranteed place will include the benefits of the program and a scholarship of up to $5,000 a year.

In addition, you’ll have access to opportunities and a supportive network to help you explore your passion. The Regional Benefits Program will set you up for success and help you make the most of your university experience.

You will:

  • surround yourself with like-minded students – your high-achieving friends will be your support network for years to come
  • attend workshops and seminars that prepare you to be a leader in your field
  • stack up your industry experience with a guaranteed Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunity
  • receive a grant to study overseas
  • fast-track your success with all the other opportunities that come your way.

1. An ATAR of 85 is required to access the Regional Benefits program for the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) and Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours).
2. Some courses have limited places; offers for the Regional Benefits Program may not be available in those instances.

What am I eligible for?

 

*Min ATAR Required

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

Overseas Study

Excellence Academy

Regional Scholarship

Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical)

80 ATAR

*Entry is not guaranteed, there are other admission requirements that need to be met for this course see more

✓

N/A

 ✓

✓*

Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)(Regional Entry)

85 ATAR

*ATAR Adjustments available for regional students see more

N/A

*scholarships available for International short-term programs

✓

 ✓

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)

85 ATAR

 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

All other courses at regional campuses

80 ATAR

 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

*Guaranteed place subject to meeting ALL course requirements, and availability of places: some courses have limited places; offers for the Regional Benefits Program may not be available in those instances)

*Overseas study must first be available and approved as credit in your study plan

*The Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) regional scholarship will be paid for a duration of 3 years only.

Take advantage of the guaranteed benefits

Kickstart your university experience with scholarships, opportunities and a caring network of like-minded students to set you up for success.

Membership to our elite program

You’ll be a member of the La Trobe Student Excellence Academy, which recognises and rewards diverse forms of excellence and nurtures the next generation of leaders.

We offer:

  • tailored leadership development seminars
  • targeted career support
  • priority access to industry mentoring and work placements
  • opportunities to represent La Trobe at national and international events
  • connection to a network of outstanding students across all our campuses
  • opportunities to explore your passions and extend yourself into new areas.

Guaranteed grant for overseas study

All regional campus students who are eligible for international exchange are guaranteed to receive a Student Mobility Grant of at least $1000 for a semester overseas. Smaller scholarships are also available for shorter international programs.

*Overseas study must first be available and approved as credit in your study plan

Experience work and industry

Get priority placements in the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program. La Trobe guarantees you the opportunity to participate in a work placement program in the second or third year of your degree. We’ll place you in an exciting and interesting organisation to watch, learn and apply your theoretical knowledge to your chosen industry.

Interested in studying Dentistry or Biomedical Sciences (Medical)?

These degrees have adjusted benefits to accommodate special criteria.

Regional Dentistry

Study Dentistry in Bendigo. This course offers a focus on rural health needs, policy and services. You’ll gain direct experience in regional clinics in Bendigo, Melton, Wodonga and Mildura. With an ATAR over 85, you’ll be guaranteed regional benefits – including the excellence programs and scholarships.

Dentistry- Bonus ATAR points for rural students

Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) (Regional Entry): If you are applying for our Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) (Regional Entry) and you have a permanent address in RA zones 2 and 3, you receive 10 points added to your ATAR. If you live in RA zone 4 you receive 12.5 points, and if you live in RA zone 5 you receive 15 points.

Regional Biomedical Science (Medical)

Study a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) in Bendigo or Albury/Wodonga and prepare for graduate entry into Medicine. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) will receive the Regional Benefits Scholarship for a duration of 3 years only.

Please note that the Regional Benefits Program only offers the Scholarship amount according to ATAR, WIL and the Excellence Academy for the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) students. This program has other admission criteria that students need to meet in order to be admitted into the program. To discuss these admission requirements and receive personalised advice please book a one-one consultation with our Future Students Team.

Eligibility

Regional Benefits Program

You’re eligible if you:

  1. have completed Years 11 and 12 at a school in an area classified by the Australian Statistical Geographic Standard - Remoteness Areas (ASGS-RA) (2016) as RA2 to RA5
  2. scored an ATAR of 80 or higher (85 for physio and dentistry) – not including adjustment factors
  3. meet all the subject-specific prerequisites and enrol at one of La Trobe’s regional campuses.

How to apply

Applications are accepted via VTAC and UAC only.

Frequently Asked Questions

If a student has completed years 11 and 12 at a regional school (RA2-RA5) and is a non-Australian citizen or non-permanent do they qualify for the program?

Yes

If a student gets an ATAR over 80 and then decides to defer their place and have a gap year they can do so?

Yes. In doing this they run the risk that we change the package for 2021 but it is very unlikely that we will change the scholarshipping.

If a regional student achieves an ATAR between 80-84.95 missing the guaranteed entry into Physiotherapy and Dentistry and then opts for a pathway course i.e. Bachelor of Health Science. What happens to their scholarship if they are successful in a lateral course transfer?

The student can transfer course however their scholarship duration/entitlement is for the first course they enrolled in.

For example, if a student enrols in the Bachelor of Health Science which is a 3-year course and is successful in a course transfer after the first year of study into the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy which is a 4-year course. The student will only obtain the scholarship for the 3-year duration of the first course they enrolled in.

If a student has higher education study (i.e. completed one year of University or completed a Diploma)​ do they qualify for the Regional Benefits Program?

No, unfortunately if you have completed any form of higher education study you do not qualify for this program. The Regional Benefits Program is specifically for recent school leavers that have not completed higher education.