Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for access-based scholarships, you’ll need to meet specific eligibility criteria and provide supporting documents. These documents help confirm your circumstances and ensure scholarships are awarded fairly to students who are genuinely experiencing disadvantage. The selection panel uses this evidence to assess all applications consistently and transparently. Your application will be scored based on how well your supporting documents show that you meet the criteria.
Your name must appear on all supporting documents so we can verify that they relate to you. Please note that personal statements will not be assessed. Personal statements written by yourself are not considered valid supporting documents and cannot be used as evidence of your circumstances. All documentation must come from an independent, third-party source (e.g. a medical practitioner, social worker, or relevant authority) and clearly verify the situation being claimed.
Below is a breakdown of the assessment criteria and the supporting documents you’ll need to submit, if applicable to your circumstances.
Who qualifies?
A person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted by their community as such.
Required documentation:
- No supporting documentation is required. The Indigenous Strategy and Education unit may contact you for verification.
Who qualifies?
Includes asylum seekers (Bridging Visa A/E, Temporary Protection Visa, Safe Haven Enterprise Visa), refugees (Permanent Protection Visa or Humanitarian Program), or those from a refugee background.
Required documentation:
- Copy of an eligible visa, or statement of claim submitted to the Department of Home Affairs.
Who qualifies?
Someone who spent time in formal out-of-home care (e.g. foster care, residential care) as a minor.
Required documentation:
- No supporting documentation is required.
Who qualifies?
A person experiencing a medical condition or disability (including mental illness) that affects or is likely to affect their study.
Required documentation:
- Acute conditions: a letter from a registered health professional, dated within the past 12 months, that includes diagnosis, date, duration, and study impact.
- Supporting documentation for chronic or lifelong conditions does not need to be recent, but it must show that the condition is ongoing and continues to affect your studies. It should include the date of diagnosis, the expected duration of the condition, and details on how it impacts your academic performance.
- La Trobe Learning Access Plans (LAPS) are not recommended as supporting evidence, unless they cover the supporting documentation requirements stated above.
- Note evidence provided by a third party such as case workers, GPs, teachers, or social workers must be dated and signed by the professional and include contact details.
Who qualifies?
Applies to those whose education has been disrupted by external events such as death or terminal illness in the family, victim of crime, relationship issues, living arrangement disruption, natural disasters, bullying, etc.
Required documentation:
- A statement dated (within 3 months) from a responsible third party (e.g. teacher, doctor, case workers) detailing duration and impact of circumstances on your study.
Who qualifies?
Includes applicants experiencing financial hardship or dependent on someone who is, including Centrelink recipients.
Required documentation:
If you are receiving Centrelink benefits
Download your Income Statement via ‘Request a document’. Must be dated within 3 months of application submission. You may also upload your current Health Care Card, however this is not recommended for Parenting Payment (Single) recipients. Ensure the expiry date is clear.
If you are not receiving Centrelink benefits
If you are experiencing financial hardship, please provide your three most recent pay slips or the most recent Notice of Assessment. If you live with others–such as a partner/spouse or your parents–you must also include their financial documents. This helps us understand the total income of your household. If evidence from all contributing household members isn’t provided, we cannot assess your financial situation.
Note: If you live in a share house, you are only required to provide evidence of your own income.
Who qualifies?
Applicants who are the first in their immediate family (parents or siblings) to attend university.
Required documentation:
- No supporting documentation is required.
Who qualifies?
Applicants who live in a regional or remote area (RA2–RA5).
Required documentation:
- No supporting documentation is required however your address will be verified within Student Online. See the Department of Health Remoteness Map for area classification.