Cedar Pacific UniLodge Melbourne CBD Accommodation Scholarship

In 2026 the scholarship will be paid in the form of a rental subsidy for a studio at UniLodge Melbourne CBD.

There will be ten half (50%) scholarships available to students experiencing financial hardship. These scholarships will reduce the weekly cost of the room by 50% per week.

There will be thirty 30% scholarships available to students who are not experiencing financial hardship. These scholarships will reduce the weekly cost of the room by 30% per week.

Ten 50% scholarships available.

Thirty 30% scholarships available.

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or a permanent humanitarian visa holder
• be from an interstate or rural/regional area within Australia and moving/moved to Melbourne to study at RMIT
• be commencing full-time study in semester 1 2026 in a certificate IV, diploma, undergraduate degree or postgraduate by coursework program at RMIT (Brunswick or City campus)
• not already be committed to a student accommodation provider under a lease agreement in 2026
• be able to demonstrate circumstance/s which impact your ability to study such as:
  • receiving a government tested low income benefit or having a Centrelink Health Care Card
  • living with a disability, long-term medical condition or identify as neurodiverse
  • experiencing personal/family/social difficulties
  • have previously/are currently living in foster/kinship care or are a ward of the state
  • be from an under-represented background such as:
    • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
    • were born overseas, are from a non-English background and recently migrated to Australia
    • current or former refugee
    • completed secondary school at a School Network Access Program school
• have not previously completed a program at the same level of study or higher

If you are a certificate IV or diploma student you must:

• have a government-subsidised place
• not be enrolled in an apprenticeship or traineeship program.

It is preferred that you apply direct to RMIT for this scholarship.

Direct to RMIT applications

The online application form will be made available here when applications open. 

VTAC applications

Apply online through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) website (www.vtac.edu.au).

Supporting documentation

Depending on your circumstances, you will need to provide different types of evidence and material to support your scholarship application. Applications without supporting documents will not be considered.

Please visit Supporting Your Application for more information.

Find out more about applying for scholarships.

Applications are now closed.

This scholarship will next be offered for Semester 1, 2027, with applications opening August 2026.

Applications are now closed.

View the Coursework Scholarships Office’s terms and conditions (PDF, 698KB).

Additional charges

Bond: Recipients will be required to pay a bond equal to 4 weeks rent in line with the requirements of the Residential Tenancies Act (Vic.) 1997 and sign a residential tenancy agreement with UniLodge Melbourne Central prior to moving in. The bond amount is calculated using the full rate of the room and not the scholarship rate. The bond must be lodged with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA). The RTBA will hold the bond in trust until the end of the lease. This will be refunded at the end of the tenancy agreement following an apartment inspection and clearance of all relevant payments to the accommodation provider.

Security Deposit: Students are required to pay a security deposit equal to two week's rent at the full rate of the room and not the scholarship rate. This will then be deducted from your rental costs. 

Departure Cleaning Fee: Recipients will be charged a departure cleaning fee.

If a recipient chooses to terminate their Residential Tenancy Agreement prior to the lease end date, they must continue to pay all rent charges until a new resident can be secured or the Residential Tenancy Agreement ends, whichever comes first.

What is included in rent?

• Residential Life Program Membership
• Water usage
• Electricity usage
• Unlimited Wi-Fi Internet

What is not included in my weekly rent?

• Departure Cleaning Fee
• Food
• Study materials
• Bed linen and kitchen equipment.

Refer to RMIT's Moving to Melbourne website for information on lifestyle and culture, public transport, employment and the cost of living.

Quotes from past recipients:

"Receiving the Cedar Pacific UniLodge Melbourne CBD Accommodation Scholarship filled me with a profound sense of gratitude and relief. It alleviated a significant financial burden, allowing me to focus more on my studies and less on the stress of finding affordable housing. The scholarship not only provided me with a comfortable and convenient living space but also affirmed my hard work and dedication, motivating me to continue striving for academic excellence. This support has made me feel more secure and confident as I navigate my educational journey in Melbourne." – 2024 recipient

"It has impacted my studies and life immensely, being so close to campus means it cuts down on the time it takes for me to travel there, compared to the large distance where I originally was staying at. This scholarship has made it so that I can focus more on my studies for other reasons as well, since it cuts my rent in half I don't have to stress about working (which would take time away from my studies)." - 2024 recipient

Find out how to contact the Coursework Scholarships Office.