About this scholarship
This ACT Government–funded scholarship supports aspiring teachers as they begin their journey into teaching. It provides ongoing financial assistance for students studying an undergraduate or postgraduate Initial teacher education degrees in the ACT’s priority teaching areas of languages, inclusive education and STEM.
Scholarship type
Equity and Merit
Value
- For undergraduate courses, the scholarship is valued up to a total of $44,000, to be paid in instalments of $5,500 per semester for a maximum duration of four years.
- For postgraduate courses, the scholarship is valued up to a total of $19,000, to be paid in instalments of $4,750 per semester for a maximum duration of two years.
- There are up to 10 scholarships available: five for undergraduate students, and five for postgraduate students.
- Recipients may also be eligible to enter into a separate scholarship agreement with the Territory administered directly by ACT Education Directorate which, amongst other things, offers the students an appointment allowance if they become employed in an ACT public school after graduation. The Allowance is paid in two instalments ($3,000 per year) upon completion of the first two years of employment (temporary or permanent) in ACT public schools. Conditions include:
- Students must complete their degree under this scholarship to receive the appointment allowance.
- *Employment in ACT public schools is not mandatory. However, recipients must complete two years of ACT employment to receive the full $6,000 allowance.
- Commencement of employment can be no later than twelve months following the completion of your degree.
Student type
Future or commencing students
Eligibility
This scholarship is open to applicants who meet all the following criteria:
- Citizenship: domestic
- Campus: Canberra or online
- Faculty: Education and Arts
- Must reside in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) while studying
- Course: commencing full-time study in Semester 1, 2026 in any of the following with priority areas such as languages, disability (inclusive) education, and STEM:
- Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
- Bachelor of Education (Secondary and Special Education)
- Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary)
- Master of Teaching (Secondary)
- Master of Teaching (Secondary)/Graduate Certificate in Religious Education
- Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary)
- Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary)/Graduate Certificate in Religious Education
- Meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- From a low socio-economic background
- From a regional, rural, or remote location as classified by the ASGS Remoteness Areas (2021)
- A veteran (current/ex-serving Australian Defence Force member)
- Barriers including disability, hardship or financial need
- Academic merit (ATAR of 80 or above, or equivalent merit in previous study)
- Not holding a concurrent scholarship from ACU and must not be in receipt of a national teaching scholarship or a scholarship from another jurisdiction.
Application process
Applicants will be required to provide the following as part of the application:
- A written statement* of approximately 200 words outlining how this scholarship could support you and your studies.
- Evidence of your residential address in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
If you are applying under the following categories, you will be required to provide the following:
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Upload Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status (for more information on this requirement, please visit, COA)
- From a regional, rural, or remote location
- Evidence of your regional, rural or remote address.
- A veteran (current/ex-serving Australian Defence Force member)
- The current/ex-serving ADF member’s ADO Service Record Log (long)
- Barriers including disability, hardship or financial need
- A written statement* of approximately 200 words outlining the barriers including disability, hardship or financial need you have faced in accessing higher education. You will also need to submit evidence to support barriers as outlined in your written statement (evidence may include but is not limited to medical documents, and Centrelink statements)
- Academic merit (ATAR of 80 or above, or equivalent merit in previous study)
- Evidence of your most recent studies: ATAR Statement (or equivalent) or academic transcript (including GPA)
- Evidence of your most recent studies: ATAR Statement (or equivalent) or academic transcript (including GPA)
*Statements are assessed on content, not language skills. If you access assistance from advisors, tutors or AI technology to complete your personal statement, please ensure that your submission accurately reflects your personal situation with regards to the criteria.
Selection criteria
Applications are assessed based on the strength of how applicants meet any one or more of the following criteria:
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- From a low socio-economic background
- From a regional, rural, or remote location
- A veteran
- Barriers including disability, hardship or financial need
- Academic merit (ATAR of 80 or above, or equivalent merit in previous study)
Selection process
Applicants will be shortlisted by the Scholarships Office, and the recipients will be determined by a selection committee. The committee will be composed of representatives from the Faculty of Education and Arts.
Ongoing Requirements
To remain eligible for this scholarship, recipients are required to maintain the following each semester for the duration of the scholarship:
- Remain enrolled in the same course at ACU’s Canberra Campus or online under which the scholarship was received.
- Must reside in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) while studying.
- A full-time study load
- Minimum pass grade for at least two-thirds of enrolled credit points.
- Grant the Commonwealth Government and ACU permission to disclose your Personal Information**, as reasonably required, to an independent evaluator appointed by the Commonwealth Government, for the purpose of reporting on the ACT Government Scholarships and Career Pathways to Teaching Program and for confirming their eligibility of Appointment Allowance.
**The Commonwealth Government defines Personal Information as that described in the Privacy Act 1988 and further explained by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: What is personal information? | OAIC.
ACT Government Career Pathways to Teaching Program Scholarship
About this scholarship
This ACT Government–funded scholarship supports aspiring teachers as they begin their journey into teaching. It provides ongoing financial assistance for students studying an undergraduate or postgraduate Initial teacher education degrees in the ACT’s priority teaching areas of languages, inclusive education and STEM.
Scholarship type
Equity and Merit
Value
- For undergraduate courses, the scholarship is valued up to a total of $44,000, to be paid in instalments of $5,500 per semester for a maximum duration of four years.
- For postgraduate courses, the scholarship is valued up to a total of $19,000, to be paid in instalments of $4,750 per semester for a maximum duration of two years.
- There are up to 10 scholarships available: five for undergraduate students, and five for postgraduate students.
- Recipients may also be eligible to enter into a separate scholarship agreement with the Territory administered directly by ACT Education Directorate which, amongst other things, offers the students an appointment allowance if they become employed in an ACT public school after graduation. The Allowance is paid in two instalments ($3,000 per year) upon completion of the first two years of employment (temporary or permanent) in ACT public schools. Conditions include:
- Students must complete their degree under this scholarship to receive the appointment allowance.
- *Employment in ACT public schools is not mandatory. However, recipients must complete two years of ACT employment to receive the full $6,000 allowance.
- Commencement of employment can be no later than twelve months following the completion of your degree.
Student type
Future or commencing students
Eligibility
This scholarship is open to applicants who meet all the following criteria:
- Citizenship: domestic
- Campus: Canberra or online
- Faculty: Education and Arts
- Must reside in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) while studying
- Course: commencing full-time study in Semester 1, 2026 in any of the following with priority areas such as languages, disability (inclusive) education, and STEM:
- Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
- Bachelor of Education (Secondary and Special Education)
- Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary)
- Master of Teaching (Secondary)
- Master of Teaching (Secondary)/Graduate Certificate in Religious Education
- Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary)
- Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary)/Graduate Certificate in Religious Education
- Meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- From a low socio-economic background
- From a regional, rural, or remote location as classified by the ASGS Remoteness Areas (2021)
- A veteran (current/ex-serving Australian Defence Force member)
- Barriers including disability, hardship or financial need
- Academic merit (ATAR of 80 or above, or equivalent merit in previous study)
- Not holding a concurrent scholarship from ACU and must not be in receipt of a national teaching scholarship or a scholarship from another jurisdiction.
Application process
Applicants will be required to provide the following as part of the application:
- A written statement* of approximately 200 words outlining how this scholarship could support you and your studies.
- Evidence of your residential address in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
If you are applying under the following categories, you will be required to provide the following:
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Upload Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status (for more information on this requirement, please visit, COA)
- From a regional, rural, or remote location
- Evidence of your regional, rural or remote address.
- A veteran (current/ex-serving Australian Defence Force member)
- The current/ex-serving ADF member’s ADO Service Record Log (long)
- Barriers including disability, hardship or financial need
- A written statement* of approximately 200 words outlining the barriers including disability, hardship or financial need you have faced in accessing higher education. You will also need to submit evidence to support barriers as outlined in your written statement (evidence may include but is not limited to medical documents, and Centrelink statements)
- Academic merit (ATAR of 80 or above, or equivalent merit in previous study)
- Evidence of your most recent studies: ATAR Statement (or equivalent) or academic transcript (including GPA)
- Evidence of your most recent studies: ATAR Statement (or equivalent) or academic transcript (including GPA)
*Statements are assessed on content, not language skills. If you access assistance from advisors, tutors or AI technology to complete your personal statement, please ensure that your submission accurately reflects your personal situation with regards to the criteria.
Selection criteria
Applications are assessed based on the strength of how applicants meet any one or more of the following criteria:
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- From a low socio-economic background
- From a regional, rural, or remote location
- A veteran
- Barriers including disability, hardship or financial need
- Academic merit (ATAR of 80 or above, or equivalent merit in previous study)
Selection process
Applicants will be shortlisted by the Scholarships Office, and the recipients will be determined by a selection committee. The committee will be composed of representatives from the Faculty of Education and Arts.
Ongoing Requirements
To remain eligible for this scholarship, recipients are required to maintain the following each semester for the duration of the scholarship:
- Remain enrolled in the same course at ACU’s Canberra Campus or online under which the scholarship was received.
- Must reside in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) while studying.
- A full-time study load
- Minimum pass grade for at least two-thirds of enrolled credit points.
- Grant the Commonwealth Government and ACU permission to disclose your Personal Information**, as reasonably required, to an independent evaluator appointed by the Commonwealth Government, for the purpose of reporting on the ACT Government Scholarships and Career Pathways to Teaching Program and for confirming their eligibility of Appointment Allowance.
**The Commonwealth Government defines Personal Information as that described in the Privacy Act 1988 and further explained by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: What is personal information? | OAIC.