The Commonwealth Learning Scholarships (CLS) Program commenced in 2004. As of 1 January 2008, the program is known as the Commonwealth Scholarships Program. The policy objectives of the program are to facilitate choice in higher education and to increase higher education participation by students from low socio-economic status backgrounds, particularly Indigenous students and students from regional and remote areas.
Under the program, higher education providers assess applicants and approve scholarship recipients in accordance with broad guidelines as determined by the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). The scholarships are not treated as income for Social Security and Veterans Affairs pensions and allowances, or for ABSTUDY.
2008-09 Budget Announcements
The Commonwealth Scholarships Program has substantially expanded as a result of the Scholarships for a Competitive Future measure announced in the 2008-09 Budget. This measure doubles the number of available scholarships to 88,000 by 2012. This most recent expansion of Commonwealth Scholarships follows an increase in the number of new Commonwealth Scholarships in 2008 from 8,500 to 12,900.
Two new scholarship categories will be introduced in 2009:
- National Priority Scholarships (NPS) targeting undergraduate students enrolling in priority disciplines; and
- National Accommodation Scholarships (NAS) for students relocating interstate to study specialist courses not available near their home.
Applying for Scholarships:
The Commonwealth Scholarships program is administered on behalf of the Australian Government by eligible higher education providers. Providers are responsible for conducting their own application and selection procedures on the basis of guidelines issued by the Commonwealth. Potential applicants need to direct their enquiries on application procedures, deadlines, etc to the higher education provider where they are studying or plan to study.
Many students from low socio-economic status backgrounds and Indigenous students face particular challenges in meeting their education costs. Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (CECS) have been introduced to provide such students with a scholarship of $2,162 in 2008 (indexed annually) per year for up to four years to assist with their education costs. Higher education providers must ensure a fair proportion of scholarships are awarded to Indigenous students.
The cost of accommodation can be a significant burden for students from regional and remote areas who need to move away from home to commence higher education. Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS) provide selected students from low socio-economic backgrounds from regional and remote areas with a scholarship of $4,324 in 2008 (indexed annually) per year for up to four years to assist them with accommodation costs when they move to undertake higher education.
In determining whether an applicant has come from a regional or remote area, higher education providers should use the Australian Standard Geographic Classification (ASGC) Remoteness Areas classification. Applicants from localities other than those belonging to the Major Cities of Australia classification may be eligible for a scholarship. The following document provides a quick look-up tool by postcode.
Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Remoteness Postcode Look-up Tool 
From 2008 funding is provided for 1,000 Indigenous Access Scholarships (IAS), valued at $4,080 in 2008 (indexed annually), to further improve higher education access for Indigenous people. This initiative provides assistance to Indigenous Australians wishing to access higher education, particularly those who need to relocate from rural and remote areas to access an approved higher education enabling course or an undergraduate course.
Each provider awarding an IAS to a student must provide the student with an on-going Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (CECS) and, where eligible, a Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (CAS).
Indigenous Enabling Scholarships (IES) provide funding for up to an additional year for Indigenous students to undertake eligible higher education enabling courses through the provision of up to 700 Commonwealth Education Scholarships (CECS) and 210 Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS). In Indigenous Enabling CECS is valued at up to $2,162 in 2008, and an Indigenous Enabling CAS is valued at up to $4,324 in 2008. Both scholarships are indexed annually.
For the purposes of Commonwealth Scholarship funding an eligible enabling course has been defined as a course which, in addition to meeting the requirements of an enabling course as defined in Schedule 1 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, is
- of at least ten weeks duration (full-time);
- provides a pathway into an undergraduate course; and
- does not fast-track an undergraduate degree.
Commonwealth Scholarships expanded in 2008 to include provision for 2,000 Commonwealth Scholarships (1,025 Commonwealth Education Scholarships (CECS) and 975 Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS)) for students to study for a two year associate degree course.
The intent of this initiative is to encourage alternative pathways into higher education particularly targeting those students who otherwise may not have been able to pursue higher education.
