Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarships (CS)
Commonwealth Scholarships are available for eligible Australian citizens and holders of Permanent Humanitarian visas, and aim to facilitate choice in higher education by assisting low income undergraduate students to participate in higher education. There are two categories of Commonwealth Scholarships:
- Commonwealth Educational Costs Scholarships (CECS) to assist students with general education costs - valued at $2162 in 2008
- Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS) to assist students with accommodation costs - valued at $4324 in 2008.
Both scholarships are indexed annually and are available to applicants with ongoing eligibility for a maximum of four years. In 2008, over 1500 students were in receipt of a CS at the University of Newcastle and at the University of New England.
Rural Scholarships
There are a range of scholarships designed to provide enrolled medical students with rural experience, to encourage graduates to practise in rural/remote areas of Australia. The NSW Rural Doctors Network provides details of such scholarships on its website.
University of Newcastle
The University of Newcastle offers an extensive range of scholarships totalling over 8 million dollars for students in 2008.
While there are no specific medical scholarships available for Commonwealth Supported students, there are a number of scholarships available for students enrolling in undergraduate programs within the Faculty of Health, for example, the David Beer Scholarship to assist students from a financially disadvantaged, rural background entering a health program. Visit the University of Newcastle Scholarships website and click on Scholarships for Commencing Students for more information.
In addition the University of Newcastle offers a wide range of general scholarships to students enrolled in undergraduate programs at the University of Newcastle. For example, scholarships awarded under the Equity Scholarships Scheme University of Newcastle (ESSUN). The ESSUN scholarships were established by the University of Newcastle to assist students who face financial and educational disadvantages. In 2008 over 900 students were in receipt of a ESSUN scholarship at the University of Newcastle ranging in value from $2000 - $4000 per annum. All University of Newcastle scholarships information and application forms are available online at the Scholarships website. Enquiries should be directed to the University’s Scholarships Office (Ph: 02 4921 6539 or 02 4921 6404; Email: scholarships@newcastle.edu.au).
University of New England
The University of New England offers more than 100 undergraduate scholarships available each year for students commencing study at UNE, at a combined value of more than $1.3 million. UNE is committed to its rural and regional communities and will offer around 30 scholarships for each year to assist commencing students from these areas. In particular, a UNE Country Scholarship will provide successful applicants with $5,000 for every year of full-time study. All University of New England scholarships information and application forms are available online at the UNE Undergraduate Scholarships site. Enquiries should be directed to the Student Centre (Ph: 02 67734444; Email: scholarships@une.edu.au).
