For students who need to relocate to study at RMIT in Melbourne; provides a rental subsidy worth up to $13,520 for accommodation at UniLodge Melbourne Central.
Applications are now open
In 2024* the scholarship will be paid in the form of a rental subsidy for a studio at UniLodge Melbourne Central.
*The value and duration of the scholarship for 2024 is still to be confirmed, and the below may be subject to change.
| Scholarship type | Scholarship value | Student contribution (total) | Student contribution (weekly) |
| Access and equity - Full year | $12,194 | $12,194 | $234.50 |
| Access and equity - Single semester | $6,760 | $6,760 | $260 |
| Access and equity - Indigenous (financial hardship) - Full year | $24,388 | $0 | $0 |
| Access and equity - Indigenous (financial hardship) - Single semester | $13,520 | $0 | $0 |
| Access and equity - Indigenous (no financial hardship) - Full year | $17,072 | $7,316 | $140.70 |
| Access and equity - Indigenous (no financial hardship) - Single semester | $9,464 | $4,056 | $156 |
Ten 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 enrolling full-time in semester 1 2024 in a certificate IV, diploma, 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 2024
- be from an interstate or rural/regional area and moving/moved to Melbourne to study at RMIT
- 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
- having a long-term medical condition or disability
- 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 your secondary education at a School Network Access Program school
- have not previously commenced or 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 enrolling in an apprenticeship or traineeship program.
Preference will be given to students commencing a program at RMIT for the first time.
It is preferred that you apply direct to RMIT for this scholarship.
Direct to RMIT applications
Complete the online application by the close date. Partial applications will not be assessed.
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.
If you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, you will need:
- to confirm your Indigenous eligibility with RMIT’s Ngarara Willim Centre prior to the application close date
If you cannot provide the required confirmation documentation by the scholarship application due date, you will be considered an "Access and Equity" applicant rather than an "Access and Equity - Indigenous" applicant, and you will have a different scholarship value.
Please visit Supporting Your Application for more information.
Find out more about applying for scholarships.
Applications are now open.
Applications close 2:00PM Thursday 12 October 2023. No late applications will be accepted.
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 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.
Departure Cleaning Fee: Recipients will be charged a departure cleaning fee at the end of their tenancy.
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:
'The scholarship has allowed me to live in Melbourne without the worry of having to find accommodation. This has allowed me to focus on my studies and not having the financial burden of paying a full rate at UniLodge.' - 2022 recipient.
'It has allowed me to continue to study in Melbourne, if not for this scholarship I would be unable to support myself down here and would have to drop out.' - 2022 recipient.
Find out how to contact the Coursework Scholarships Office.
Notice to applicants
The scholarship application process is highly competitive with a limited number of scholarships available. Unfortunately, not all eligible applicants will receive one.
Only successful candidates will be notified via email to their RMIT student account.
For information about other financial assistance available to RMIT students, please speak to one of our Student Welfare Advisors.
