Information about Changes to Student Start-up Scholarships
On 13 April 2013, the Government announced that from 1 January 2014 Student Start-up Scholarships will be replaced by income contingent loans for new student payment recipients, repayable along with students’ university fees after students are earning a specified level of income.
For further information, including FAQs, please see the Study Assist Website.
Read the media release announcing a series of reforms to higher education.
Information about Bradley Reforms to Student Income Support
The Australian Government has changed student income support – Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY - to create a fairer system for more students and to ensure increased support for those who need it most.
The Review of Student Income Support Reforms reported to the Government on 8 July 2011. The report of the Review was tabled in Parliament on 14 September 2011. The Government’s response, which was announced on 14 September 2011, provides additional support to young people from regional areas who need to move away from home to study, while maintaining an emphasis on assisting students from low socio economic backgrounds.
These changes build on the substantial student income support reforms that were implemented from 1 April 2010 in response to the recommendations of the Bradley Review of Australian Higher Education.
The two sets of reforms to income support for students support the Government’s target that by 2025, 40 per cent of 25 to 34 year olds will hold a bachelor degree or higher and give more people a chance to participate in higher education.
Information about the changes to student income support is available on the Student Income Support Reforms web page.
Student Income Support payments
ABSTUDY is a payment made to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to provide support to students and Australian Apprentices to improve access and participation in secondary and tertiary education and training. Information about ABSTUDY eligibility and payment rates is available on the Department of Human Services website or by contacting the ABSTUDY customer service line on Freecall™ 1800 132 317. ABSTUDY recipients may also be eligible for the Student Start-up Scholarship and the Relocation Scholarship payments.
Austudy is a means tested payment for full-time students and Australian Apprentices aged 25 years and over. Information about Austudy eligibility and payment rates is available on the Department of Human Services website or by contacting the students and trainees customer service line on 13 2490. Recipients of Austudy may also be eligible for Student Start-up Scholarship payments.
Youth Allowance (student) is a means tested payment for full-time students and Australian Apprentices aged 16 to 24. Information about Youth Allowance (student) eligibility and payment rates is available on the Department of Human Services website or by contacting the Students and trainees customer service line on 13 2490. Recipients of Youth Allowance (student) may also be eligible for the Student Start-up Scholarship and the Relocation Scholarship payments.
Scholarship payments
Student Start-up Scholarships are for Youth Allowance (student), Austudy and ABSTUDY recipients to assist with the costs of university study. Information about Student Start-up Scholarship eligibility and payment rates is available on the Department of Human Services website or by contacting the Students and trainees customer service line on 13 2490 for queries related to Austudy and Youth Allowance (student) or Freecall™ 1800 132 317 for ABSTUDY queries.
Please note: For changes to Student Start-up Scholarship arrangements please see the announcement above.
Relocation Scholarships are for dependent ABSTUDY and Youth Allowance (student) recipients who have to live away from home to study at university and small numbers of independent recipients who are disadvantaged by their personal circumstances (e.g. orphans or those for whom it is ‘unreasonable to live at home’). Information about Relocation Scholarship eligibility and payment rates is available on the Department of Human Services website or by contacting the Students and trainees customer service line on 13 2490 for queries related to Austudy and Youth Allowance (student) or Freecall™ 1800 132 317 for ABSTUDY queries.
Other assistance
Fares Allowance is a payment for eligible tertiary students to cover the travel costs associated with their study if they need to live away from home to undertake that study. Fares Allowance is available to recipients of Austudy, Youth Allowance (student), ABSTUDY and the Pensioner Education Supplement. Information about Fares Allowance eligibility and payment rates is available on the Department of Human Services website or by contacting the Students and trainees customer service line on 13 2490 for queries related to Youth Allowance (student) and Austudy or Freecall™ 1800 132 317 for ABSTUDY queries.
Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) is a supplementary payment paid to eligible income support recipients who are undertaking approved study. Information about Pensioner Education Supplement is available on the Department of Human Services website or by contacting the Students and trainees customer service line on 13 2490 for PES queries or Freecall™ 1800 132 317 for ABSTUDY PES queries.
Approved Institutions and Courses
Information about education institutions and courses, including Masters by coursework courses, that are approved for the purposes of eligibility for Austudy, Youth Allowance (student) and Pensioner Education Supplement is available on the Approved Institutions and Courses for Student Income Support page.
Online Estimator
The Department of Human Services has an online estimator that allows you to estimate or compare payments you may be eligible to receive, based on your current or proposed circumstances.