Vice-Chancellor's Academic Merit Scholarship

Refer to selection details for application information
Amount

30% of gross annual international tuition fee for students commencing in 2027.

Number available

270

Scholarship details

Establishment

The Vice-Chancellor’s Academic Merit Scholarship has been established to attract academically gifted international students to study at the University of Newcastle. This scholarship acknowledges applicants with a strong academic background and provides an ongoing incentive for continued academic achievement. Scholarships will be awarded to applicants who receive an offer to study in an eligible program and who commence study with the University in Trimester 1, 2027 and beyond.

For more information on this scholarship, please review the full Terms and Conditions 2027.

Eligibility

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

  • Be an international full fee-paying student.
  • Have achieved a minimum selection rank of 85 or equivalent (for undergraduate students) or 4.5 / 7 GPA in an eligible qualification (for postgraduate students).
  • Be commencing study in an eligible CRICOS-registered undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree program at the University.
  • Be able to meet the financial obligations of a full fee-paying international student specified by the Australian Government. Evidence of this ability must be provided if requested by the university.
  • Not be enrolled in a program of study covered under a quota arrangement in which the number of international enrolments are limited.
  • Reside within 50km of the campus location specified on your Confirmation of Enrolment (COE).
  • Not be the beneficiary of a separate University scholarship unless prior approval for special dispensation has been obtained from the university.

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.

  • None Required.

Benefit

The scholarship benefit is a variable value for each year of study under a standard full-time study load (80 units) apportioned over each course taken. It is applied on a pro-rata basis, taking into consideration approved reduced study load arrangements, credit exemptions, recognition of prior learning awards, progression or partial-year program enrolments.

The scholarship has:

  • Annual Value: A dollar value equivalent to 30% of the gross annual international tuition fee.
  • Unit Value (based on 10 units): A dollar value equivalent to 30% of the gross unit value variable based on program of study.

The scholarship will be administered for each term of study in the eligible program(s) as a tuition fee reduction against the number of units required to successfully complete the program of study as specified in the University’s Program Handbook.

The scholarship will reduce the tuition fee liability by the scholarship benefit amount for each term of the program of study, provided the conditions of the scholarship are maintained. The benefit amount will be calculated against the number of units the recipient is enrolled in at Census date for each term.

You will be billed normal tuition fee rates based on enrolment load leading into Census date of each eligible term for which the benefit applies. The tuition fee waiver may not be reflected on the tuition fee account until census has passed. After Census date, a fee waiver will be applied to the recipient’s student account.

Important: Please do not delay your portion of the tuition payment because you are waiting to see the scholarship. In each term of study, you are asked to pay your tuition fee - minus what you expect to receive from the scholarship - by the due date.

A maximum of 270 scholarships are available in 2027. ONce this number has been reached, eligible students will be advised in their admission application and invited to join a waitlist.

Selection

No application is required for this scholarship. Scholarships are automatically assessed upon application for admission to the University.

Eligible students will receive notification of the value of the scholarship within the Letter of Offer.

If you wish to reject an offer of scholarship, it is your responsibility to inform the University.

Scholarship offers will be made based on eligibility. All determinations of eligibility are aligned to the University’s published entry and eligibility requirements and made at the absolute discretion of the University.

Some students may not be eligible for an offer, even if criteria are met. This includes:

  • Students who have not received an offer of the scholarship.

  • Students commencing or transferring to a program not eligible for this scholarship (see conditions Appendix A).

  • Students studying English Language Bridging Program (ELBP), Enabling, Non-Award, Exchange or Study Abroad, Higher Degrees by Research programs, degrees without a CRICIOS code, standalone Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma programs, and programs delivered at offshore campuses or via online delivery.

  • Internal transfer students who are studying at an Australian campus.

  • Students sponsored by an external entity, or recipients of Australia Awards scholarships.

  • Students transferring from the University’s Singapore campus.

The University reserves the right not to award the scholarship.

College

Contact Details

International Scholarships
International Enquiries
Global Office
University of Newcastle
University Drive, Callaghan NSW 2308

Phone: + 61 2 4913 8300
Email: international-enquiries@newcastle.edu.au