Scholarships to help you attend university
Each year Youthrive Victoria offers a number of scholarships for Year 12 students who are planning to go to university.
The number and value of scholarships we offer each year is dependent on funding and donations.
University scholarships are funded by private donors, philanthropic trusts and sponsors and provide up to $10,000 per year for three years plus transition and career mentoring and leadership development opportunities.
Scholarships are awarded to Year 12 students who have leadership potential and a commitment to contributing to a strong, just and sustainable rural and regional Victoria.
Applications are open to Victorian Year 12 students who plan to attend university after they complete secondary school.
Selection criteria include demonstrated leadership capacity or potential, financial need, desire to return to rural Victoria after graduation, community service and academic ability.
From 2011-2018 university scholarships were known as Macpherson Smith Rural Foundation scholarships and included those provided from the original Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Scholarship Endowment of $750,000.
Youthrive Victoria Rural Scholarships are provided by private donors, trusts and sponsorships.
Need assistance? email info@youthrivevic.org.au or call (03) 6281 8303
Key Dates for University Scholarships
Youthrive Victoria provides a range of university scholarships. These are provided by various donors, who can be found on the Our Supporters page.
University Scholarships - Eligibility
Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
Applications will be considered from students who meet all of the following requirements:
- Are Australian citizens or have Australian residency status.
- Are registered VCE or International Baccalaureate (IB) students attending a secondary school situated in Victoria.
- Propose to accept a full-time undergraduate place at a Victorian university.
- Have submitted online scholarship applications by the closing date. No late applications will be accepted.
- Have had their applications endorsed by their school via our online application system.
- Will be under the age of 21 as of January 1 in the year they commence their degrees.
- DO NOT live at a home address classified as Major Cities of Australia (Remoteness Area 1)
Scholarship Terms and Conditions
Students who are offered Scholarships will be required to sign a Scholarship Agreement indicating their acceptance of the offer and the terms and conditions.
The continuation of each Scholarship will be subject to the awardee:
- Not accepting any other scholarships in excess of $5,000 per annum without approval of the Youthrive Victoria board.
- Progressing successfully through their chosen undergraduate course.
- Remaining a full-time enrolled student at the University at which the scholarship was granted, unless there are exceptional circumstances which prevent the student from studying full-time, or there is a need to relocate to another Victorian university.
Selection Criteria
Selection of scholarship recipients will be managed by the Youthrive Victoria Scholarship Selection Panel and approved by the Youthrive Victoria Board.
Applications will be individually assessed, and may be shortlisted for interview. Interviews form part of the application process. All applications and interviews will be treated in the strictest confidence.
The Scholarship Selection Panel and Board will consider the following in selecting scholarship recipients:
- Demonstrated leadership in their local community (e.g. school leadership; participation or volunteering in in community organisations, events, sporting clubs; sharing family responsibilities; extra-curricular roles at school).
- Managing and/or overcoming personal disadvantage i.e. particularly financial disadvantage or cultural challenges, social challenges, remoteness, disability, significant loss, trauma or other hardship.
- Commitment to learning and academic ability.
- Demonstrated interest and passion for living in rural/regional Victoria and an intent to return to rural/regional Victoria.
- Endorsement confirming examples of demonstrated leadership, academic ability and potential, experience of hardship and how they have handled personal challenges.
- The level of likely impact on their life and rural/regional Victoria if awarded the scholarship.
Applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of their applications in December.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many scholarships will you offer?
The number of scholarships is decided by the board each year after reviewing a number of factors, including the financial position of Youthrive Victoria and the quality of scholarship applications.
When do applications open?
Applications open mid-June each year.
When do applications close?
Applications close end-August each year.
How do I apply for the scholarship?
To apply, please carefully read ALL of the information about the University Scholarships, then click on the “APPLY” button which will only be visible while applications are open.
How long should my responses be to the questions on the online application form?
All responses should be shorter than 2,000 characters (about 350 words). Please see this as an upper limit, not a recommended length. A clearly expressed response will make a stronger impression on the selection panel than a long, vague response.
Can I format my application with graphics, colours, fancy fonts, bullet points, etc.?
No, please just paste plain text into the online application system. Formatting may not transfer correctly and could make your application harder to read.
Can I add attachments to my application?
No original documents are required or accepted prior to the interview stage. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to bring documentary evidence to their interviews.
My school doesn’t provide an overall grade for year 11 results. It provides a breakdown of an “outcome” grade and exam grades. What should I enter in the online application form?
Different schools may report year 11 results differently. Some provide an overall letter grade, some provide an overall percentage, and some provide a breakdown with no “overall” mark. The fields in this section of the online scholarship application are just text fields, so please type in a description of what appears on your year 11 results. The following examples are all valid ways of completing the question, as long as they accurately reflect your written results:
“A”
“85%”
“80/100”
“Outcome: A — Mid-year exam: B — End-of-year exam: A — Satisfactory”
Should I speak to the person endorsing my application before I apply for the scholarship?
Yes, you must seek permission from the person endorsing your application before applying. You will need to include their details in the initial registration form before you can access the application form.
How does the person endorse my application?
When you submit your registration to apply for the university scholarship, you will need to provide the name and contact details (email address: please ensure this is correct) of the person endorsing your application. They will then be sent a link to an endorsement form, which will be attached to your application once submitted.
Can I change my application after it has been submitted?
No, submitted applications are final. Please check your application carefully before you submit it. We STRONGLY recommend that you work on your application as a separate document that you save on your own computer before “cutting and pasting” your responses into the online application system.
Can my application still be endorsed after the closing date?
No, all endorsements must be submitted before the close of applications.
Can I defer the scholarship if I defer my place at university?
Only with prior approval from Youthrive Victoria.
I am currently taking a gap year. Can I still apply for a Youthrive Victoria University Scholarship?
No, only current year 12 students are eligible to apply for a Youthrive Victoria University Scholarship.
If I miss out on a scholarship are there any other programs available to me?
Yes, Youthrive Victoria also runs a Mentor Program and a Leadership Development Program. There is no separate application process – participants are invited based on the strength of their scholarship applications.
Can the person endorsing my application see my submitted application through your website?
No, to safeguard the confidentiality of your information this is not possible. You will need to keep a record of your application if you wish to share parts of it with your referee after submission.
How should a school decide which applicants to endorse?
This is entirely at the discretion of each school principal. In general, principals should examine the eligibility and selection criteria above, and endorse applicants whom he/she feels are most likely to be competitive in the selection process. You might make this judgment based on your existing knowledge of the applicants, or alternatively could ask to see draft applications from applicants before making a decision.
I am a school principal, and I’d like to know if my students will know whether I have endorsed their applications or not?
Approximately 10 days before the closing date for applications we send an automated message to any applicants who have not yet secured an endorsement. We do this again approximately 4 days before the closing date. We do not provide further information to applicants as to the status of their application (endorsed or not endorsed).
Can I submit a paper-based reference on letterhead?
No, endorsements can only be made by answering the questions on our online system.
Can my school principal still endorse my application after the closing date?
No, all endorsements must be submitted before the close of applications.
How many endorsements can be submitted?
Only one endorsement form can be completed per applicant. Schools can endorse up to four applicants. If a school has a genuine belief that they have more than 4 worthy applicants, please contact the Youthrive Victoria CEO Andrew McGuckian; andrew@youthrivevic.org.au, 0448 268 580