Applying for a scholarship

Applying for a scholarship doesn't have to be difficult. We're here to help you understand what is required, prepare a strong application and know what to expect throughout the process.

Whether you're applying for your first scholarship or have applied before, the information below will help you get started.

How the application process works

• 1. Find a scholarship

  Explore the scholarships available and identify opportunities that match your circumstances, course and eligibility.

  You may be eligible for more than one scholarship, and you can apply for as many as you are eligible for. Use the scholarship finder tool to explore your options and look for scholarships that reflect your circumstances, achievements, course or other eligibility criteria.

• 2. Check your eligibility

  Before starting an application, take a few minutes to make sure the scholarship is right for you.

  Understand eligibility and selection criteria

  Eligibility criteria tell you whether you can apply. Selection criteria explain what will be considered when applications are assessed. Make sure you understand both before applying.

  While scholarships may have varying eligibility criteria, many of them will have similar selection criteria. You are welcome to repurpose parts of your application content and supporting documents for scholarship applications with the same selection criteria.

• 3. Write your personal statement

  The strongest applications provide relevant evidence to support the claims made in your personal statement, alongside any documents specifically required by the scholarship criteria. Before submitting your application, consider what evidence you can provide to demonstrate your circumstances and explain why you are a strong candidate for the scholarship.

  Your personal statement should explain your circumstances, experiences, goals and how the scholarship would support you. Where possible, provide supporting evidence for the circumstances or experiences you describe.

  For example, if you explain that financial pressures are affecting your ability to study, you could provide financial documentation that demonstrates your circumstances. If you describe caring responsibilities, significant personal circumstances or other challenges affecting your studies, consider whether there is appropriate evidence you can provide to support this.

  You do not need to provide documents that are unrelated to your application. Instead, focus on providing relevant and meaningful evidence that supports what you have told us.

  Make your evidence count

  Before submitting your application, review your personal statement and consider:

  • What have I disclosed about my circumstances?
  • What evidence can I provide to support what I have said?
  • Does my evidence demonstrate the selection criteria?
  • Have I provided all documents specifically requested for this scholarship?

  Where relevant evidence is available, providing supporting documentation can strengthen your application by helping the assessment panel understand and verify the circumstances you have described.

  You should provide as much relevant supporting evidence as you reasonably can, particularly where it directly supports your personal statement or demonstrates how you meet the scholarship's eligibility and selection criteria.

  Always check the individual scholarship requirements, as some scholarships may specify particular documents that should be submitted.

• 4. Prepare your supporting documents

  A strong application clearly demonstrates how you meet the scholarship's eligibility and selection criteria. Give yourself enough time to gather your information and prepare thoughtful responses. Supporting documents can help demonstrate the circumstances, experiences and achievements you describe in your application.

  Depending on the scholarship, you may be able to provide:

  • References or referee reports: A reference can provide an independent perspective on your experience, circumstances, achievements or potential.
    Where references are requested or accepted, choose someone who knows you well and can speak meaningfully about areas relevant to the scholarship criteria. Depending on the scholarship, this could include a lecturer, employer, supervisor, community leader or professional who has relevant knowledge of your circumstances or achievements. Reference letters from relatives, partners, neighbours, or personal friends will not be considered.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé: Your CV can provide evidence of your employment, volunteering, leadership, community involvement, extracurricular activities, achievements and other relevant experience.
    Consider tailoring your CV to highlight the experience that is most relevant to the scholarship criteria rather than providing an unrelated or overly lengthy employment history.
  • Academic information: This may include academic transcripts, statements of results, evidence of academic achievements, awards or other information about your studies.
    Some scholarships may require particular academic results or qualifications, so check the individual scholarship requirements carefully.
    Notre Dame students can access and download their unofficial transcript here.
  • Financial information: Where financial circumstances are relevant to the scholarship, you may be asked to demonstrate financial need and provide evidence of your financial situation.
    Depending on your circumstances, this could include documents such as Centrelink Income statements, payslips, employment information, evidence of household income, budgets, bills or other documentation that helps demonstrate your financial circumstances.
    Only provide financial information that is relevant to the scholarship requirements or supports the circumstances outlined in your application.
  • Residential evidence: Where your place of residence, rural or regional background, socio-economic status or location is relevant to the scholarship criteria, you may need to provide evidence of your address.
    This could include a driver's licence, utility bill, rental agreement, rates notice or other official document showing your residential address. Check the scholarship requirements for any specific evidence that must be provided.
  • Medical or disability evidence: If you refer to a medical condition, disability, injury or other health-related circumstance in your application, you may provide appropriate supporting evidence where relevant.
    This could include a letter from a medical or health professional, relevant assessment or other appropriate documentation. Only provide information that is relevant to demonstrating the circumstances outlined in your application and required or accepted by the scholarship.
  • Other supporting documentation: You can provide any other relevant documents that help demonstrate your circumstances, achievements or experiences.
    For example, this could include evidence of community involvement, awards or achievements, caring responsibilities, significant personal circumstances, professional experience or other information relevant to the scholarship criteria and your application.

  Uploading documents

  Make sure your supporting documents are in the required format, within the file size limits and clearly readable before uploading them.

  If your supporting documents exceed the available upload limit, you can email additional documents to the Scholarships team after submitting your application. Please include your Application ID and ensure any additional documents are received before the scholarship closing date and time.

• 5. Submit your application

  Before you submit, make sure you have:

  • Answered all required questions in the application form;
  • Provided all requested supporting documents including any that are relevant to you and your application;
  • Checked that your information is accurate and complete; and
  • Allowed enough time to submit before the closing date.

  Apply early. Scholarship applications close at the advertised date, at midnight AWST. Late applications cannot be accepted.

  Your Application ID

  When you submit a scholarship application, you will receive a confirmation email containing your Application ID and a summary of your submission. Keep this email for your records, as you may need your Application ID when contacting us about your application.

  Remember: Starting or saving an application does not mean it has been submitted. Always check that you have completed the submission process before the closing date and time.

  If you do not receive a confirmation email after submitting your application, please contact the Scholarships team before the closing date to confirm that your application has been received.

  Need to make a change?

  If you need to amend your application after submitting it, you can contact us before the closing date via email, and reference your application ID.

• 6. Assessment

  Applications are assessed against the eligibility and selection criteria for each scholarship. Learn more about assessments and selection.

• 7. Outcome

  You will be notified of the outcome of your application via email and, if successful, provided with information about your scholarship and next steps. Learn more about managing your scholarship after receiving your outcome.

Application support

Our Scholarships team can help you understand what makes a strong response, what evidence you could provide and common mistakes to avoid. To ensure a fair and impartial assessment process, we are unable to review draft scholarship applications or provide feedback on individual applications before they are submitted.

If you would like support preparing your responses, the Careers and Employability team can provide guidance on addressing selection criteria and presenting your skills and experience - like preparing a job application.

Contact us

Need help?

For more information or to get in touch, contact our Scholarships Office:

Email: scholarships@nd.edu.au
Fremantle: +61 8 9433 0545
Sydney: +61 2 8204 4228