The University of Sydney has officially opened applications for its Sydney Access Scholarship for undergraduate students commencing studies in Semester 1, 2026. Aimed at empowering students who face socio-economic, regional, or financial hardship, this prestigious scholarship offers a substantial financial boost of $8,500 per year, renewable for the entire duration of the degree, for up to five years.
What Is the Sydney Access Scholarship?
The Sydney Access Scholarship is a competitive financial award created to remove barriers for Australian students from remote, regional, or low-income backgrounds who dream of pursuing undergraduate studies at one of Australia’s top universities. It reflects the University of Sydney’s deep commitment to educational equity and access for all.
Scholarship Benefits
- Value: AUD $8,500 annually (paid in two instalments per year)
- Duration: Up to 5 years full-time for undergraduate study (excluding postgraduate and Honours degrees)
- Flexibility: Supports part-time study, deferment, suspension, and course transfers
- Funding Body: Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be domestic students (Australian citizens, permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens)
- Have applied for admission via UAC (Universities Admissions Centre)
- Be commencing undergraduate students (i.e., not currently enrolled or previously enrolled in a USYD undergraduate degree)
- Not be eligible for the MySydney Entry and Scholarship program
- Meet at least one of the following:
- Reside in a regional, remote, or very remote area of Australia
- Be a recent school leaver from a regional or remote school
- Face financial hardship, as evidenced through UAC’s Educational Access Scheme (EAS)
- Live in a low socio-economic area, determined by SEIFA (IRSAD) rankings from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Apply: https://www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships/f/sydney-access-scholarship.html.
Application Timeline
The application window for the Sydney Access Scholarship 2026 is officially open.
Application Deadline: 30 September 2025.