Commonwealth Scholarships

The Commonwealth Government provides Commonwealth Scholarships (CS) for eligible Deakin University students.

There are two types of CS:

Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (CECS) to assist with general education costs
Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS) to assist with accommodation expenses

Both CECS and CAS are available to commencing and continuing full time students.

Scholarship holders must maintain their eligibility to retain the scholarship. Successful applicants may hold both CECS, CAS and other scholarships concurrently. An exception is the Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship which cannot be held with a Deakin Accommodation Scholarship.

Eligibility

Applicants for Commonwealth Learning Scholarships (both CECS and CAS) must be:

an Australian citizen, or holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa
undertaking an undergraduate course of study as a Commonwealth supported student
enrolled full time unless there are exceptional circumstances preventing full time study
in receipt of a Centrelink benefit or can demonstrate that they have a personal or family taxable income below the HECS repayment threshold depending on independence status
not holding a bachelor degree or higher-level award unless such award is a prerequisite to their current undergraduate course of study
additional CAS eligibility criteria, the applicants must:
- Have attended school and/or lived in rural and regional Australia for three of the previous four years or moved from the rural location to attend boarding school
- Have moved away from that area to undertake higher education as an on campus student
- be enrolled in a majority of on-campus units
- be enrolled as a full-time student

Selection criteria

Academic merit based on ENTER or GPA based on previous higher education studies will be considered in the allocation of CLS to eligible students

Value

The CECS are worth $2207 per year in 2009 and the CAS are worth $4415 per year in 2009. These amounts are indexed annually.

Duration

Up to four years subject to satisfactory performance and maintenance of eligibility

Number per year

Deakin was allocated 211 CECS and 103 CAS in 2008

Special conditions

Scholarship holders may defer their scholarship entitlement for up to twelve months but on resumption of studies they must demonstrate that they have maintained their eligibility for a CLS

How to apply

VTAC applicants
VTAC applicants for Deakin Access and Equity Scholarships must apply using the SEAS – Access and Equity online application located on the VTAC website. No additional form will be required.

An assessment will be made based on the information and supporting documentation provided together with your SEAS application.

Direct (non-VTAC) applicants
Non-VTAC applicants applying directly to Deakin must apply using the Deakin Scholarships online form.