Centre for Social Impact Scholarship 2025

Established in 2014, the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) at Swinburne University of Technology is a highly industry-engaged, practice-oriented research and teaching centre, based within Swinburne’s School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship (SoBLE) and is one of four university-based nodes of the highly respected CSI national network.

CSI Swinburne is focused on people and technology working together for a better world, exploring the intersection between social entrepreneurship and technology, in areas such as social enterprise, social business and social finance; community services innovation; employment access and equity; and impact and evaluation and measurement.

Since 2014, CSI National has awarded more than $1 million in social impact scholarships to changemakers around Australia.  At Swinburne University of Technology, these scholarships provide fee support for individuals who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the world through the completion of CSI Swinburne’s Graduate Certificate of Social Impact course, commencing in Semester 1, 2025.

At Swinburne University of Technology, these scholarships provide fee support for individuals who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the world through the completion of CSI Swinburne’s Graduate Certificate of Social Impact course commencing in Semester 1, 2025.

If you’re someone who’s looking to make a positive difference in the world, this could be your opportunity to take the first step towards realising your potential and driving positive social change.

CSI Swinburne’s Graduate Certificate of Social Impact course, commencing in Semester 1, 2025.

To be eligible for the Centre for Social Impact scholarship applicants must:

1. Meet the following criteria:
   • be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa
2. Meet the following enrolment criteria:
   • be a commencing Swinburne student in Semester 1, 2025; 
   • enrolled full time or part time in required eligible course (see course eligible in section above)
   • studying on campus
3. Provide written statement (max. 500 words) or short video** (no more than 2 minutes) addressing the following points:
   • Please tell us about the impact you would like to have on the world and how completing a Graduate Certificate of Social Impact at Swinburne University of Technology will help you to achieve that impact. You may like to consider providing details of your previous experience as it contributes to your ability to fully leverage the learnings from the course in future.
     
     **Please upload your video to cloud based storage and provide a link in an MS Word or PDF document. The video must be downloadable by anyone - provide any passwords if necessary.
4. Provide written reference outlining your suitability for the scholarship
   • Character reference - from a person competent to supply a character reference such as a current or past employer, community leader, sporting or extra curriculator activity coach, a person competent to supply a character reference.  
5. Provide any other supporting evidence demonstraing the commitment to addressing social issues. 

There are 6 CSI National scholarships to be awarded for 2025 at the value of $5000 each.

(Students cannot be in receipt of another scholarship towards the same program of study (ie Graduate Certificate of Social Impact.)

In addition to the CSI National scholarship opportunity you are currently applying for, you may also like to be considered for the Dr Christopher Baker Memorial Scholarship for 2025.

The Swinburne Philanthropy and Social Impact Alumni (SPSIA) is a group of past and present students who are passionate about philanthropy and social impact.  This year, SPSIA has generously provided a $5000 scholarship (to be provided as a discount against course fees across the life of the course) to a student enrolled to commence the Graduate Certificate of Social Impact in 2025. 

SPSIA has named this scholarship in honour of the late Dr Christopher Baker to recognise his significant contribution to the community and philanthropy and social investment sector. 

If you wish to be considered for this scholarship, please ensure you specify that in your application statement.  Please note that applicants are eligible to be considered for both scholarships, but are only eligible to receive one scholarship (either the CSI National scholarship OR the Dr Christopher Baker Memorial Scholarship, not both.'

Applicants should complete an online application form and submit with all supporting documentation. Application close 12 January 2024. 

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