Scholarships and other financial support available to students
Here is some further information which may be helpful to you:
The ten Residential Colleges offer generous scholarship and bursary support to students who would otherwise not be able to afford to stay in a college. After submitting your College application, you are able to apply for financial assistance from your first College of preference. In 2023 approximately one third of all students living in residential colleges were supported by a scholarship or bursary.
Scholarships range in financial support but can often be up to half the fees of the college (and in some cases, higher). There is also a large range of scholarships available at the University of Melbourne.
While the majority of College scholarships provide part fee remission, there is additional support available for eligible families through other sources including the Commonwealth government. You need to check the eligibility requirements to see if you qualify for this support through relevant websites. For example if you need to move away from home to attend university you may be eligible for a relocation scholarship.
Combined with college scholarships this will often make the difference between being able to stay in fully supported college accommodation with all meals included and tutorial support or alternative accommodation where you will need to pay for your own meals. Please visit the University of Melbourne Scholarships website or those of each college to check the support available.
New in 2025: Residential Colleges Narrm Scholars Offer.
Additional support available from external sources which you may be eligible for:
Youth Allowance: depending on your family’s circumstances you may be eligible for the living from home allowance – in 2024 the maximum rate was $639/fortnight for eligible students.
Relocation Scholarship
Tertiary Access Payment: this means tested one-off payment of up to $5,385, provided by the Commonwealth government, is for students from outer regional and remote students who relocate to access tertiary study immediately following school (Year 12 or equivalent) whose family home is more than 90 minutes from their education provider to undertake full-time tertiary education. For further information check the website. Combined parental income must be under $250,000.
Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships (unimelb.edu.au): Available for Indigenous students, no application is required. You will be automatically considered for this award.
Indigenous pathways scholarships
Indigenous Accommodation Grant through the University of Melbourne: Available for Indigenous students who do not qualify for Government accommodation funding or other forms of support. In 2024 it was worth $10,000
Case study
Ben is a resident at one of the University of Melbourne Residential Colleges. The fees for his college are $36,000 per year. As Ben lives in regional Victoria and as his parents’ income means he qualifies for Youth Allowance, he is eligible for a number of government benefits to support him moving away from home to study.
Ben’s benefits include (based on 2024 rates):
| 2024 rates |
|
| Youth Allowance -independent rate |
$16,614
($639/fortnight) |
| Rent assistance – boarding style accommodation rate |
$3,696
($184.80/fortnight for 40 weeks) |
| Relocation allowance -first year |
$5,385 |
| TOTAL Government |
$25,685 |
| College bursary or scholarship |
$10,000 |
| TOTAL College and Government |
$35,685 |
This leaves Ben approximately $1,000 to find to fund his College experience. It is quite likely that Ben will receive financial support from the University based on his circumstances. It is also quite common for students to find a part-time job to partially cover the rest of their fees and incidentals.
