Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships (ICECS and ICAS)

The Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (ICECS) and Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (ICAS) aims to improve access to higher education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly those who need to relocate from regional and remote areas, through payments to assist with education costs.

Any Undergraduate, postgraduate (coursework) or Higher Degree by Research course offered by Swinburne University of Technology.

To be eligible for the Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (ICECS) and Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (ICAS) applicants must:

1. Meet the following criteria:
   • Be an Australian citizen
   • Confirm you are of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage by submitting a Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Heritage certificate (COA) with your scholarship application or a certified Statutory Declaration (Stat Dec) declaring that the individual applying for the scholarship is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, and/or is accepted as such by the community in which you live, or formerly lived. 
2. Meet the following enrolment criteria:
   • be a commencing or continuing Swinburne student in 2024
   • enrolled full-time or part-time in an eligible course (see courses eligible in section above)
3. Provide evidence of low socio-economic status or financial hardship:
   • Supporting documents can include Centrelink statement or payslips. Bank statements can be used if an explanation is provided in a personal statement

By submitting an application for ICECS, you will automatically be assessed for the Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (ICAS).

To be eligible for ICAS you must meet the following additional criteria:

• have lived in a regional or remote area of Australia within the past four years and need to relocate to undertake the current study.
  • Please refer to Australian Statistical Geographical Classification – Remoteness Area to determine your geographic classification (Click on the 'Start now' button at the link provided. Choose 'Search a Location' or 'Search the Map'. Provide your address and select Australian Statistical Geographic Standard Remoteness Areas classification option to determine your geographic classification).

Please note:

• If you are in receipt of a Centrelink Student Start Up Scholarship, Student Start up loan, Relocation Scholarship, ABSTUDY Residential Costs Options or Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships and you are offered an ICECS/ICAS, you may choose to either accept or decline the offer. If you do accept the offer, you must contact Centrelink for information about how to return the Centrelink Student Start Up Scholarship, Relocation Scholarship or Student Start up loan payment.

• Please note - It is the student’s responsibility to notify Centrelink or any other government body of any changes to personal income that might affect government payments received. 

• ICECS is valued at $2,900 per year paid in two instalments in the year. This scholarship is available for up to eight payment cycles.
• ICAS is valued at $5,450 per year paid in two instalments in the year. This scholarship is available for up to eight payment cycles.

Applying through VTAC

If you are planning to apply for a Swinburne course after completing Year 12, you may be able to apply through VTAC by completing the VTAC Scholarship Application Form which is available through your VTAC user account. Refer to VTAC for opening/closing dates.

Applying directly through Swinburne

Applicants should complete an online application form and submit with all supporting documentation. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered. For assistance when completing your application, please view the Scholarship Help Guide.

Fees and Scholarships Team, Student Administration.
scholarship@swin.edu.au