INFORMATION SHEET

Student Start-up and Relocation Scholarships

Rates of Student Start-up and Relocation Scholarships are changing on 1 January 2012.

This document contains information about these Scholarships, along with details of the new rates.

What are Student Start-up and Relocation Scholarships?

The Student Start-up Scholarship is intended to assist students to cover up-front higher education fees including text book and equipment fees.

The Relocation Scholarship is intended to assist students with the costs of establishing accommodation in their new place of study.

Students may be eligible to receive one or both of these scholarships.

Both of these scholarships are non-taxable and are indexed annually.

Who is eligible to receive a Scholarship?

Students studying an approved scholarship course who receive allowances under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS) are eligible to receive a Student Start-up Scholarship for each year of their course. This is paid twice a year.

Students undertaking an approved scholarship course who receive the living away from home, homeless, or double orphan rate, are eligible to receive a Relocation Scholarship. The Relocation Scholarship is paid for each year of the course and is paid once a year.

Students undertaking a preparatory course (a course offered by a higher education institution aimed to assist people to gain entry to higher education level courses, including enabling and bridging courses) may also be eligible to receive these scholarships.

What is an approved scholarship course?

An approved scholarship course is an accredited higher education course or a preparatory course undertaken at a higher education institution. Accredited higher education courses and institutions are accredited by the relevant authorities in a State or Territory. These include Universities and select other education institutions and courses (e.g. some courses offered by TAFE and CIT).

Who is not eligible to receive a Scholarship?

Students who receive other Commonwealth scholarships (such as a Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship or a Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship) from their education institution or another Government Agency such as Centrelink are not eligible to receive a Relocation Scholarship.

Students who do not begin at commencement, or withdraw from enrolment in an approved scholarship course prior to 35 days after course commencement are required to inform the Department as they may need to repay any scholarship payments.

Do I need to apply for a Scholarship?

Students do not need to apply for the scholarships. Eligibility of VCES and MRCAETS students for the scholarships will be determined automatically by the Department.

How much is the Student Start-up Scholarship?

In 2012 the Student Start-up Scholarship will be $2,050 per year. It will be paid in two instalments of $1,025 per 6 month period.

How much is the Relocation Scholarship?

* The majority of students will be eligible for scholarship payments as described in the above table. However there are some exceptions as detailed below.

Is a student’s rate of relocation scholarship necessarily based on the number of years they have been undertaking an approved scholarship course while living away from home?

No. There will be some students whose applicable rate does not correspond to the number of years they have been living away from home while undertaking tertiary study. If the circumstances described in 1 or 2 below reflect your situation you should ring the Education Scheme on 133 254 (or 1800 555 254 if you live outside a major city) to clarify which rate you will be on.

1. Student was not in receipt of one of the following payments in the first or subsequent years that they were undertaking an approved scholarship course while living away from home:
   
   
   1. homeless student education allowance;
   2. living away from home allowance; or
   3. double orphan allowance.
   
   

   Example 1 – student in year 4 of living away from home while undertaking approved scholarship course but entitled to the initial rate of $4,000 which normally applies in year 1

   Bronwyn started studying at university in 2009 but was not receiving education allowance under the VCES or the MRCAETS. She was living away from home in order to undertake her studies and was financially supported by her father. In September 2011 she became eligible for the living away from home allowance.

   Even though Bronwyn moved away from home to study some years previously, she is eligible to receive the initial scholarship amount of $4,000 for 2012 because she had not previously received:

   1. a Relocation or Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship; or
   2. an education allowance while she was undertaking her tertiary studies.
   
   

   Example 2 – student in year 4 of a university course living away from home while undertaking approved scholarship course and entitled to the intermediate rate of $2,000 which normally applies in years 2 and 3

   Jill started studying at university in 2009. She was living away from home in order to undertake her studies. She was eligible for youth allowance and in 2010 and 2011 received the relocation scholarship from Centrelink. In October 2011 she became eligible for double orphan pension, just as she was finishing her studies for the year.

   Because Jill had, in 2010 and 2011, received a relocation scholarship she is eligible for the $2,000 payment in 2012 but in 2013 will, if still studying and away from home, move to the ongoing rate.

2. Student was not undertaking an approved scholarship course in one or more of the years they were undertaking tertiary studies.

   Example

   Stephen was a full time university student in 2010 and was receiving a double orphan allowance and relocation scholarship. In 2011 he took a non-accredited course at TAFE and therefore did not receive the relocation scholarship. He is returning to university in 2012. Although 2012 will be his third year undertaking a tertiary course while living away from home, it will be his second year in an approved scholarship course while receiving one of the education allowances. Therefore he is entitled to the interim rate of relocation scholarship of $2,000 and if he continues his university studies in 2013 and 2014 as a living away from home student he will receive the interim rate again in 2013 and the ongoing rate in 2014.

When will I receive my scholarship?

Generally, payment of the Relocation Scholarship and of the first instalment of the Student Start-up scholarship will be made in February each year, depending on when the study commenced. The second six monthly instalment of the Student Start-up Scholarship will be made in July each year. If a person starts studying later in the year they will still receive these payments, but they will only be paid one Student Start-up Scholarship if they commence in Semester Two.