Application guidelines
The information below will help you complete and submit your application and supporting documentation.
Preparing your application
Each scholarship has an information page which will outline the specific eligibility criteria. The criteria may be based on:
- Academic record (merit)
- Financial hardship and/or socioeconomic background
- Citizenship
- Course, faculty or interests
You can use the scholarship search to find scholarships that meet specific criteria.
If you would like to apply for regional scholarships, you can check if your post code is considered regional here.
Scholarships for domestic undergraduate and postgraduate students are applied for by either using our online application form or by downloading a PDF application form to return. Some scholarships do not require an application process and are awarded based on students meeting the eligibility criteria.
To see how to apply for the scholarship(s) you are interested in, go to the web information page for each scholarship and scroll to ‘Application Process’.
Applying online for future students
If you do not yet have a Curtin student ID you will be directed to create an account before you can use the online application system. Once your account has been created you will then need to log in to access the application form.
If you would like to edit your application after you have commenced, you can go here to edit anytime before the closing date.
Applying online for current students
If you have a current Curtin student ID the online application system is linked to your Student Oasis. Apply by clicking on the yellow ‘Apply now’ button in the top right corner of the scholarship web information page.
You can view your submitted and in progress applications from the ‘My Scholarships’ link in Student Oasis, which also allows you to edit applications before the closing date and view the assessment status.
The online application system allows you to apply for more than one scholarship at the same time, using the one form. Simply select the scholarships you wish to apply for at the very beginning of the form.
We encourage you to apply for all of the scholarships that you meet the eligibility criteria for. Eligibility criteria can be found by clicking on the web information page for each scholarship.
Do some research
If you are applying for an industry sponsored scholarship, take the time to research the industry sponsor and familiarise yourself with their business objectives and core values. This will help you align your answers accordingly.
Take your time
Write well thought out answers for each question as these scholarships are competitive.
Keep it relevant
Ensure you are including only relevant information that is meaningful and recent. Achievements and community involvement should be kept to the previous few years, and any job titles that are not self-explanatory should be clarified.
Preparation
If you are shortlisted for an interview, make sure you prepare adequately. Preparation is essential and will enhance your chances of performing well. The Scholarships Office can provide resources and advice upon request.
Provide accurate information
Write your application based on your predicted financial circumstances during semester. Make sure your application is accurate and your documents are all correct as each application is reviewed in detail and inaccurate or incomplete applications will be deemed unsuccessful.
Provide detailed information
The application form allows you to provide a statement to elaborate on any personal circumstances that have had or will have an impact on your ability to study. Additional circumstances may be related to health conditions (such as acute or chronic illness, mental health), unexpected situations (such as robbery or car accident) or situations resulting from family dysfunction.
- Your statement can be in paragraph format or dot point format
- You can include as much or as little information as you like – only what is included can be taken into consideration
- Your statement should include how the situation has impacted your ability to study, your enrolment, your home life and/or your income
- Your statements must be supported with documentation e.g. medical certificates
Information provided is treated as confidential and is not passed on to teaching staff.
Submit early
If you would like the Scholarships Office to check your application and documents before the closing date, you will need to contact the scholarships office to request this and your application will need to be submitted at least one week prior to the deadline.
Preparing your supporting documents
If you are applying for a financial need scholarship you may be requested to provide details of your bank transactions in your application. This information is used to substantiate your financial hardship claims.
Bank transaction details are required for:
- All of your accounts, including any credit card, home loan or savings accounts
- All of your partner’s accounts (if partnered).
The transaction details need to include:
- The last 60 days of transactions including up to 10 days before the application submission date. If there are no transactions in this date range, show evidence of this, such as a screenshot of the transaction search parameters.
- Account name and account number
- Date, description and value of each transaction
- Annotations which provide an explanation for all:
- Credits e.g. work income, loan, gift
- Debits over $2,000 e.g. transfer to savings, payment of loan, transfer to housemate for house expenses
Acceptable formats include:
- A statement if it shows the correct date range
- A transaction listing from your bank
- Screenshots from internet banking. If a screenshot is provided you will also need to include either a screenshot of your home page or a statement which shows your name and account number.
- Downloaded csv Excel files are NOT accepted
If you are applying for Centrelink you will need to show your results from using the Online Payment and Service Finder tool on available on the Department of Human Services website. You will need to provide a screenshot of the final ‘Estimator Rate’ page, which shows the Centrelink payment type and total estimate payment per fortnight.
If your parents assist with more than 50% of your living expenses, we require you to submit your parents’ latest Tax Notice of Assessment. The ATO Notice of Assessment should be provided for the last tax year. If this is not possible, you may provide a Notice of Assessment for the previous year or bank transactions.
If you cannot supply a Notice of Assessment for both parents please indicate why.
For merit-based scholarships, you may be required to include at least one reference. References should be on letterhead paper and signed by your referee.
The reference should detail:
- Your major achievements to date – within and external to school/university
- Your commitment to learning, your learning field and personal attributes
- Your leadership qualities
You can supply more than one reference if they are available.
Future students
Your reference should be completed by a teacher, tutor, employer or high school representative who is able to comment on your achievements, abilities and merit.
Current students
If you are enrolled in your first semester, a letter from your high school principal is acceptable. If you are enrolled in your second semester or later, we recommend you provide a reference from a lecturer, tutor or employer.
For merit-based scholarships, you may be required to provide your resume.
Your resume should detail your education and employment experience and be no more than two pages long. It should just provide a snapshot of your educational background and work experience to date.
For more information about how to write a resume, please visit the Careers Centre website http://unilife.curtin.edu.au/careers/resumes.htm
Submitting your application
To be considered for the scholarship your application must be complete. Incomplete applications will be deemed unsuccessful.
The scholarship closing date is listed on the scholarships website and on the front page of the application form. The deadline is not extendable and no applications will be accepted after the deadline has passed.
If you would like the Scholarships Office to check your application and documents before the closing date, you will need to contact the scholarships office to request this and your application will need to be submitted at least one week prior to the deadline.
Future students
An email receipt will be sent to your email once your application has been submitted. Please ensure you use the same email that you have listed through TISC and that you will have access to this email once you leave school.
Current students
An email receipt will be sent to your student email once your application has been submitted via the online application system.
When applying online, all your supporting documentation must be provided in PDF format with a maximum file size per document of 5MB.
Save your files in the format familyname-documenttype (e.g. smith-bankstatement). Do no use any special characters as this may cause issues when uploading them.
Do not compress your documents (i.e. zip files). Tips for reducing file size can be found online.
There are many ways you can create a PDF from your text or image files. Here are some ways that may be available:
- Save as Adobe PDF – select this option from the File > Save menu.
- Print to PDF – select print then choose pdf as your printer.
- Use Adobe Acrobat to create PDFs (Adobe Acrobat Reader cannot create PDFs)
Use one of the free PDF creator programs available. A list of these programs is available on Wikipedia: List of PDF software. Curtin does not support or endorse any specific PDF software.
If you applied online, you can view the status of your application as it progresses through the assessment process.
Future students
Log in to your Curtin account https://future.connect.curtin.edu.au/app/account/profile
Current students
Go to your Student OASIS > My Studies > My Scholarships Applications
Future students
If you submitted your application via the online form, you will be able to log into https://future.connect.curtin.edu.au/app/account/profile to edit your application
If you have applied for multiple scholarships, each scholarship application will need to be edited and resubmitted separately.
If you do not resubmit your application by the deadline, your application will be deemed not submitted and will not be assessed.
Current students
You can edit your application in ‘My Scholarships’ at any time before the submission deadline. Editing your scholarship will withdraw it from the application system and will need to be resubmitted after you have made your changes.
You can find your application in OASIS > My Studies > My Scholarships Applications
If you have applied for multiple scholarships, each application can be edited and resubmitted separately.
If you do not resubmit your application by the deadline, your application will be deemed not submitted and will not be assessed.
Application assessment
Need-based assessment criteria
If you are applying for a need-based scholarship, the assessment is based on:
- Answers to questions in the application form relating to socio-economic status
- Income and living arrangements
- Additional circumstances that affect your ability to study
Merit-based assessment criteria
Applications will be assessed by a selection panel based on the information you have provided. Your application will be reviewed by a minimum of three people, which may include scholarship staff, academic staff and for industry-sponsored scholarships, representatives from the company providing the funding support.
Scholarship interviews are run like job interviews. The interview will be run by a panel who will ask a number of questions in line with the scholarship selection criteria. Interview advice and resources may also be provided from the Scholarships Office upon request.
Shortlisted applicants must be available for their designated interview time. A Skype interview may be possible if the student is not able to attend in person.
Future students
For scholarships that have an interview component, shortlisted applicants will be sent interview information at the end of November via the email address they have listed with TISC.
Each scholarship is assessed based on the scholarship’s individual selection criteria by a selection panel.
All eligible applications will be assessed and ranked by a selection panel according to the selection criteria outlined on the scholarship information webpage.
The scholarship will only be awarded if there are applicants deemed to be of sufficient merit or need, and is subject to the receipt by Curtin of the scholarship funding from the funder.
Outcomes
Future students
Outcomes will be sent at the end of December of the year of application via the email address you have listed with TISC.
All successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified via email.
Current students
If you applied using the online application form, you will receive an outcome within eight weeks of the scholarship closing date via an email notification to your Curtin email address.
Accepting your scholarship offer
Future students
To accept your scholarship offer, you will need to sign and submit the Scholarship Terms and Conditions by the lapse date. Your Terms and Conditions, submission instructions and lapse date will be provided in your scholarship offer email.
Current students
If you applied using the online application system you will be prompted to view and accept your Terms and Conditions through the system by the lapse date. Instructions and a link will be provided to you in your email notifying you of your offer.
John Curtin Scholarship Program Guidelines
| Notification Sent To: | For: | Method: | Time frame: |
| Nominator | Nomination receipt | 10 days after submission | |
| Outcome (only if successful) | Early December | ||
| Nominee | Nomination receipt | Immediately after submission | |
| Outcome (successful and unsuccessful applicants contacted) | Early December |
The timeline given above is an indication of expected dates and should be used as a guideline only.
If you have questions regarding the notification timeline, please contact the Scholarships Office at Scholarships@curtin.edu.au or call 1300 222 888.
School Leavers
Nominator form must be completed by the student’s current Year 12 high school and endorsed and signed by the Principal/Acting Principal or Deputy Principal, or equivalent.
Non School Leavers
Nominator must be a professional educator who is familiar with the student’s academic potential.
In addition to the above, mature-age applicants may elect to also provide other documents such as references.
Include ALL required documentation with your online application form and make sure all sections are complete.
(Incomplete applications will be assessed as unsuccessful).
If you would like the Scholarships Office to check your online application once submitted, please contact Scholarships Office at least one week before the scholarship closing date.
You will need to attach a typed statement with your online application outlining the points below:
- Academic achievements
- Achievements (non-academic)
- Achievements within your education institution
- Achievements external to your education institution
- Leadership
- Leadership achievements within your education institution
- Leadership achievements external to your education institution
- Community service
- Community service activities arranged through your education institution
- Community service activities arranged external to your education institution
*Please limit achievements to the previous 3 years (Year 10 to Year 12 for high school leavers)
Nominee Statement Format Requirements:
- List in chronological order with the most recent being at the top of the list
- Typed in dot point format
- Approximately 1-2 pages in length (total)
Format your statement as per the example below
| Nominee Statement
Surname, First Name Your TISC (Curriculum Council) number Full Name of School/Education Institution
Examples
Examples
Examples
Example
|
You will be required to attach a typed essay to your online application on the below:
- What is an issue that you are passionate about within your community?
- In what way does this issue affect you/why are you passionate about this issue?
- Discuss in detail, how you plan to address/tackle this issue whilst studying at Curtin?
Successful applicants for the scholarship will be required to bring their essays along to the John Curtin Scholars camp to discuss their chosen community issue.
Essential Essay Criteria:
Nominees are strongly encouraged to note the following whilst composing their essays, as they will be marked on these items:
- Structure as a fluid essay or with category headings
- Passion and vision
- Originality
- Grammar, sentencing, spelling and punctuation
- Overall tone or voice of essay
- Referencing – formal referencing not necessary, however please acknowledge the appropriate sources if providing data
Essay Hints & Tips:
- Title – Essay is titled appropriately to reflect your discussion topic/theme
- Define – Define your community to provide context for your essay
Essay Formatting Criteria:
- 1-2 pages total, excluding references
- Size 11 font
- 5 spacing
- Moderate margins
- Paragraph format with appropriate sentence and paragraph spacing
Essays must include the following declaration at the conclusion of the essay (you can copy and paste the below at the end of your essay):
| “The above essay has been written without assistance and is my own original work”
Signed:___________________________________________________________________________ Dated:___________________________ |
Format your essay as per one of the below examples:
Example One
| Nominee Essay
Surname, First Name Your TISC (Curriculum Council) number Full Name of School/Education Institution Essay Title
Text in paragraphs
Text in paragraphs
Text in paragraphs “The above essay has been written without assistance and is my own original work”
Signed: __________________________ Date: ________________________ |
Example Two
| Nominee Essay
Surname, First Name Your TISC (Curriculum Council) number Full Name of School/Education Institution
Essay Title Text in paragraphs
Text in paragraphs
Text in paragraphs
“The above essay has been written without assistance and is my own original work”
Signed: __________________________ Date: ________________________ |
For nominee’s also applying for the Julia Gillard Women in Leadership Scholarship, you will also be required to attach a typed statement to your online application outlining the below:
- What does leadership mean to you?
- How will you develop the attributes essential to be a successful leader over the course of your degree?
Statement Formatting Criteria:
- 1 page total
- Size 11 font
- 5 spacing
- Moderate margins
- Statement structure
- Paragraph format with appropriate sentence and paragraph spacing
- Grammar, sentencing, spelling and punctuation
All applicants for the John Curtin Scholarship Program must be nominated by a professional educator who can verify your academic excellence via the Nominator Form.
You will be required to attach the completed Nominator Form in the documentation requirements section of the online application.
The Nominator Form and Guide can be downloaded from the top right-hand side of the John Curtin Scholarship Program webpage.