The UWA Connect Scholarship is designed to make your university journey smoother and more affordable by connecting you with essential support. It’s tailored for students from diverse backgrounds, including regional, Indigenous, and disadvantaged communities, as well as those facing challenging circumstances.

Recognising the higher cost of living and diverse needs, the Connect Scholarship offers flexible, tailored assistance, including early funding for the essentials you need most, whether that’s accommodation, relocation, childcare, or a new laptop.

UWA offers hundreds of scholarships, and with the Connect Scholarship, applying for multiple scholarships is simple. When you apply, you’ll be automatically considered for all eligible scholarships without needing to reapply for each one, saving you both time and effort.

You'll benefit from

• Financial support: Receive $5,000 annually to contribute towards the cost of studying. (Up to six semesters for Undergraduate studies and two additional semesters for Honours or Combined Courses if applicable)
• Start-up assistance: Get up to $1,500 in the first year to cover initial costs like relocation, setting you up for success from day one.
• Accommodation support: A select number of regional and remote students will have priority access to University Hall or UWA accommodation partners such as St Catherine's College, St Thomas More College, St George’s College and Trinity Residential College. (Students apply separately through the UWA Accommodation portal. See each college's websites for their fees, scholarships, and important dates.)
• Wrap-around support: Enjoy comprehensive assistance to ensure you feel connected and supported throughout your university journey, from settling in, to becoming part of UWA's welcoming community.

The UWA Connect Scholarship is more than just financial aid, it's about connecting you to a supportive community that helps you succeed.

Eligibility

UWA Connect Scholarships are awarded annually based on available funding. Applicants are evaluated on a needs-basis, using the information provided against the following criteria below. Please note that you do not have to meet all the criteria to be eligible to apply.

Primary criteria:

Domestic student commencing a UWA bachelor’s degree

• Low socio-economic status: Defined as financial need impacting your ability to pursue higher education
• Regional, rural, and remote students: Supporting students from these areas who face unique challenges in accessing higher education opportunities
• Indigenous students: Empowering Indigenous students to overcome barriers to education
• Financial hardship: Demonstrating significant financial need that impacts your ability to afford university expenses
• Disability or medical condition: Conditions that significantly affect your ability to study effectively
• First in family to attend university: Recognising the challenges faced by students who are the first in their family to pursue higher education

Other criteria (including but not limited to):

• Experienced disruption of education due to relocation
• Requirement to work more than 20 hours a week to help supplement family income
• Extensive family responsibilities impact your ability to study
• Experiencing family disruption (such as recent divorce or death)
• Unsupportive study environment
• Are currently supporting (or have supported) family member/s with an illness or disability
• Experienced disruption to education due to migration or refugee passage to Australia
• Are currently (or within the last two years) in the care of the state