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Commonwealth Scholarships Program
The Commonwealth Scholarships Program (formally known as the Commonwealth Learning Scholarships (CLS) Program) was introduced in 2004 to assist students from low socio-economic backgrounds, particularly those from rural and regional areas and Indigenous students, with costs associated with higher education.
In 2010 the Government implemented significant reforms to student income support including the introduction of the Student Start-up and Relocation Scholarship. The Student Start-up replaces the CSP’s Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (CECS) and the Relocation Scholarship replaced the CSP’s Commonwealth Accommodation Costs Scholarship (CAS).
To complement these reforms the CSP altered in 2010 and is now only open to new students who are Indigenous low SES. The CSP continues to support students who were awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship prior to 1 January 2010 under transitional arrangements provided they maintain their eligibility.
The values of the scholarships in 2012 are: Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (ICECS) $2,377; Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (ICAS) $4,754; Indigenous Access Scholarship (IAS) $4,485.
Applying for Scholarships
The Commonwealth Scholarships Program is administered on behalf of the Australian Government by eligible higher education providers. Providers are responsible for conducting their own application and selection procedures on the basis of guidelines issued by the Commonwealth. Potential applicants need to direct their enquiries on application procedures, deadlines, etc to the higher education provider where they are studying or plan to study. The Indigenous education units at each university will be able to provide assistance with applications.
Indigenous Access Scholarships
The Indigenous Access Scholarships provide eligible commencing students with a one off payment of $4,485 in 2012. These scholarships assist Indigenous students to undertake an eligible enabling course, undergraduate course or graduate diploma (or equivalent post graduate course of study) in an area of National Priority required for initial registration to practice in the chosen National Priority field.
In determining whether an applicant has come from a regional or remote area, higher education providers should use the Australian Standard Geographic Classification (ASGC) Remoteness Areas classification. Applicants from localities other than those belonging to the Major Cities of Australia classification may be eligible for a scholarship.
Questions & Answers for Providers
To assist in managing the new Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships, a series of Questions and Answers has been established. In providing these Questions and Answers, DEEWR in no way represents that the Minister will or will not make any particular decision in relation to a provider’s compliance with the Guidelines.
Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines
The Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Education) 2010 were registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) F2010L00696 on 17 March 2010 and an Amendment was registered on 2 July 2010. The Guidelines and a copy of the Amendments are available on the Attorney-General’s Department website.
See also:
Youth Allowance