Shaping Futures Postgraduate Scholarship

Applications open
Amount

$5,000

Number available

4

Closing date

08 February 2026

Apply for this scholarship

Scholarship details

Donor

Various

Establishment

Since 2021, the Shaping Futures Postgraduate Scholarship has supported postgraduate coursework students, alongside our undergraduate students supported by the Shaping Futures Scholarship, to overcome adversity and educational disadvantage.

These scholarships are awarded to students who are managing their academic progress alongside complex personal circumstances such as:

  • Carer responsibilities
  • Financial disadvantage
  • Long term medical condition/disability or ongoing effects of abuse
  • Regional or remote disadvantage
  • Sole parent responsibilities
  • Additional equity attributes such as being an Indigenous Australian, having Refugee status or placement with an Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) provider.

It is hoped that the Shaping Futures Postgraduate Scholarships will provide much needed support for students to continue study and reach their future goals.

This scholarship also includes the:

  • Judy Kennedy Shaping Futures Postgraduate Indigenous Health Scholarship (1) which will support and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicant in a health program and
  • Central Coast Campus Union Postgraduate Shaping Futures Scholarship (2) for students who are currently enrolled at or previously completed a bachelor degree at a University of Newcastle Central Coast campus.

For more information on this scholarship, please review the full Terms and Conditions.

Applicable to equity, postgraduate, part-time study permitted (must be enrolled in a minimum of 20 units in term of scholarship award).

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, you will need to:

  • Be enrolled in any year of a postgraduate coursework degree program with the University of Newcastle where the majority of delivery is on-campus.
  • Be enrolled in a minimum of 20 units in the term of scholarship award.
  • Demonstrate the impact of educational disadvantage such as carer and sole parent responsibilities, financial hardship, a long-term medical condition or disability, the ongoing effects of abuse, regional/remote disadvantage, or applicant attributes such as being an Indigenous Australian, having a Refugee background, or placement with an Out-of-Home Care provider.
  • Be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident (including holders of a permanent humanitarian visa and New Zealand citizens with permanent residency).
  • Not be the recipient of another University of Newcastle donor-funded or sponsored scholarship concurrently.

Required Documentation

Required documents will be listed on the ‘Your Documents’ page of your application. The application portal accepts PDF only. A maximum of 3 PDF smaller than 5 MB can be added per document type upload field.

  • A personal statement (approx. 1 A4 page) outlining your academic achievements, career aspirations in the relevant area of study, and how this scholarship would assist you. This statement will cover all scholarships you are submitting for.
  • You may be required to provide documents to support your educational challenges and personal circumstances. These will be identified when you apply based on your individual application responses.

Benefit

The scholarship provides a total benefit of $5000 to be paid as a lump sum.

Payments are typically received 2–3 weeks after the semester census date, or 2–3 weeks after you accept your offer if the census date has already passed.

Selection

Selection for this scholarship does not require review by a selection panel, however is highly competitive and will be based on a thorough assessment of each application and required supporting documents, considering both the eligibility criteria and the applicant's demonstrated educational disadvantage. Academic merit may also be considered where relevant.

Award of the named Shaping Futures Postgraduate Scholarships may take specific donor wishes in to account.

College

Contact Details

Scholarships
Student and Academic Services
University of Newcastle
University Drive
CALLAGHAN NSW 2308

Phone: +61 2 4921 5000
Email: scholarships@newcastle.edu.au