Scholarship funds - eligible scholarships, bursaries and prizes
Scholarship funds - eligible scholarships, bursaries and prizes
This webpage provides examples of eligible scholarships, bursaries and prizes.
Eligible scholarships, bursaries or prizes are the only ones for which deductible gift recipient (DGR) scholarship funds can provide money. DGR scholarship funds are funds endorsed by the ATO as deductible gift recipients under the category of Scholarship fund.
The examples in this webpage will help you in working out:
- the sorts of scholarships, bursaries or prizes that your DGR scholarship fund can provide money for, and (therefore)
- whether your fund can be DGR endorsed as a scholarship fund.
To be eligible, a scholarship, bursary or prize must meet all of the following requirements. Examples are provided for each requirement:
The examples are not an exhaustive list. Each group of examples covers only one of the requirements. To be an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize, all of the requirements must be satisfied.
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In the examples the requirement is satisfied, or it is not satisfied.
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For the examples where the requirement is not satisfied, a DGR scholarship fund could not provide money.
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For the examples where the particular requirement is satisfied, a DGR scholarship fund could provide money but only if the other requirements are also satisfied.
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In the examples where the requirement is not satisfied (X), it is possible there will be more than one reason why the scholarship, bursary or prize would not be eligible. In keeping with the approach of illustrating only one of the requirements at a time, the examples usually raise only the one difficulty. However, there may be situations where, on the facts of an example, it would fail to be eligible because of more than one requirement. This is particularly the case for examples on the merit or equity requirement, where the same facts could also cause the openness requirement to be failed.
Australian recipients
To be eligible, the scholarship, bursary or prize must be awarded only to Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia, within the meaning of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. Examples that illustrate this Australian recipients requirement are provided below.
(Examples of the other requirements to be an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also available.)
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Example
A bursary is awarded to the student with the highest grades in the state for first year engineering, provided the student is an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia.
The bursary satisfies the Australian recipients requirement. To be an eligible bursary, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship's formal criteria are silent on whether the recipients can only be Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia, but in fact the scholarship's procedures ensure it is only ever awarded to them.
The scholarship satisfies the Australian recipients requirement. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A bursary is open only to Australian citizens, and the bursary's provider has suitable procedures in place to ensure this. A particular applicant stated she was an Australian citizen. In carrying out its usual checks, the bursary provider had no reasons for doubting her statement. After she had subsequently left Australia, having completed the study, the provider discovered she was not an Australian citizen and not a permanent resident.
The bursary satisfies the Australian recipients requirement. The rules and reasonable practices of the bursary provider are calculated to ensure only Australian citizens receive the bursary. The fact that a particular recipient circumvented the rules and procedures does not make the bursary ineligible. To be an eligible bursary, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is open only to students of a particular foreign country. The applicant must obtain a student visa to study in Australia.
The scholarship is not eligible. The requirement of being awarded only to Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia is not met.
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Example
A scholarship is awarded to the student who has the best academic scores, and so is sometimes awarded to people who are not Australian citizens and not permanent residents of Australia.
The scholarship is not eligible. The requirement of being awarded only to Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia is not met.
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X
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Example
A scholarship's rules require recipients to be Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia. Its advertising, application form, and interview process do not refer to this requirement, and the scholarship is sometimes awarded to holders of student visas.
The scholarship is not eligible. Despite the rules, the scholarship is nonetheless awarded to recipients who are not Australian citizens and not permanent residents of Australia.
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These examples only illustrate the requirement for the scholarship, bursary or prize to be awarded only to Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia.
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A DGR scholarship fund could not provide money for the examples that do not satisfy this requirement.
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For the examples where the Australian recipients requirement is satisfied, a DGR scholarship fund could only provide money if the other requirements for an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also satisfied.
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Open throughout a state, territory or region
To be eligible, the scholarship, bursary or prize must be open to individuals or groups of individuals throughout at least a state, territory, or region of at least 200,000 people. Examples that illustrate this openness requirement are provided below.
(Examples of the other requirements to be an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also available.)
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Example
A scholarship is open to Year 10 students attending Australian secondary schools, and will be awarded on the basis of grades in business studies.
The scholarship satisfies the openness requirement. It is open throughout Australia, which satisfies the requirement of at least a state or territory. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A bursary is open to secondary school students in Queensland.
The bursary satisfies the openness requirement. It is open throughout a state. To be an eligible bursary, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A prize is open to Year 7 students in Brisbane City.
The prize satisfies the openness requirement. It is open throughout a region of at least 200,000 people. Brisbane City has a population of over 900,000 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' local government area estimated resident population. To be an eligible prize, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is open to Year 7 students in Brisbane City. The scholarship can only be taken up at a particular secondary school in Brisbane.
The scholarship satisfies the openness requirement. The fact that it can be taken up only at a particular school does not detract from its openness. It is open to any Year 7 student in Brisbane. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A prize is open to all Year 11 classes in Western Australian secondary schools, and is awarded to the students in the class which has the highest average score in economics.
The prize satisfies the openness requirement. It is open to a group of individuals (the students in the class), and is open throughout a state. To be an eligible prize, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is open to applicants across Australia and is awarded on academic merit. The scholarship is for study in engineering courses at a particular Australian higher educational institution. The applicant must demonstrate that he or she has been accepted for enrolment by the institution in those courses, before any payment can be made.
The scholarship satisfies the openness requirement. Such an enrolment criterion merely ensures that the relevant study is to be undertaken by the recipient. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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X
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Example
A secondary school provides a prize to the Year 10 student at the school who has achieved the highest grade in mathematics.
The prize is not eligible. It is limited to Year 10 students at that particular school. It is not open throughout at least the required state, territory or region.
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X
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Example
A scholarship is open only to people living in a particular town. The town's population is 25,000, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The scholarship is not eligible. The town is not a state or territory, and the population of the town is less than 200,000 people.
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Example
The students at a particular education institution come from throughout a state. A bursary is available only for students who are enrolled at that institution, and have high grades in economics.
The bursary is not eligible. It is limited to enrolled students at the institution. The fact the students come from across the state does not change this.
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Example
A prize is awarded to the school whose students achieve the best average grade in the Year 6 English course, so that the school can buy more books for its library.
The prize is not eligible. The recipient of the prize is the school, and the school is not an individual or group of individuals.
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These examples only illustrate the requirement for the scholarship, bursary or prize to be open to individuals or groups of individuals throughout at least a state, territory, or region of at least 200,000 people.
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A DGR scholarship fund could not provide money for the examples that do not satisfy this requirement.
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For the examples where the openness requirement is satisfied, a DGR scholarship fund could only provide money if the other requirements for an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also satisfied.
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Promoting recipients' education
To be eligible, the scholarship, bursary or prize must promote the recipients' education. Examples that illustrate this requirement are provided below.
(Examples of the other requirements to be an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also available.)
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Example
A scholarship is to cover the recipient's living expenses while studying a vocational course which is an approved Australian course.
The scholarship satisfies the requirement of promoting the recipients' education. There is no necessity that a scholarship only cover tuition costs. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A prize is awarded to the student who has achieved the highest grades in diploma study (in approved Australian courses) in childcare.
The prize satisfies the requirement of promoting the recipient's education. The fact the prize is awarded only after the completion of the study does not detract from this. To be an eligible prize, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A prize is awarded to the secondary school biology teacher whose teaching skills and performance have been adjudged worthy of special recognition.
The prize is not eligible. The law's requirement is that the prize promotes the recipient's education. For this prize the recipient is the teacher, and not the students. While it might be said the prize helps to promote the students' education, it does not promote the teacher's own education.
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Example
As part of promoting young people's activities away from school, a prize is awarded to the Year 10 school student with the most outstanding record of service in the community.
The prize is not eligible. It is not promoting the student's education, even though there may be some indirect connection.
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These examples only illustrate the requirement for the scholarship, bursary or prize to promote the recipients' education.
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A DGR scholarship fund could not provide money for the examples that do not satisfy this requirement.
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For the examples where the promoting recipients education requirement is satisfied, a DGR scholarship fund could only provide money if the other requirements for an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also satisfied.
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Approved Australian courses
To be eligible, the scholarship, bursary or prize must promote the recipients' education in an approved Australian course (the only other way is in certain overseas study). Approved Australian courses are pre-school courses, primary courses, secondary courses and tertiary courses. These terms are defined and have the same meaning as in the GST legislation. Examples that illustrate this requirement are provided below.
(Examples of the other requirements to be an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also available.)
The examples are grouped for the types of courses:
Secondary courses, primary courses and pre-school courses
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Example
A scholarship is for final year of secondary study at a Tasmanian secondary school.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The tax law's definition of secondary course includes accredited secondary courses conducted by secondary schools, registered training organisations, higher education institutions and special schools, as set out in the Commonwealth education minister's Determination of Education Institutions and Courses under Subsections 3(1) and 5D(1) of the Student Assistance Act 1973 Determination No. 2002/1. (The determination is available from the Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.deewr.gov.au) To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A bursary is for Year 5 study at a Queensland primary school.
The bursary satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. A course of study or instruction delivered, in accordance with a primary curriculum (recognised by the education authority of the state or territory), by a school that is recognised as a primary school under the law of the state or territory, qualifies as a primary course. To be an eligible bursary, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is for children to attend pre-school sessions run by a body that is recognised as a pre-school under that state's law.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. A course delivered, in accordance with a pre-school curriculum (recognised by the state or territory authority), by an institution that is recognised as a pre-school under the law of the state or territory, qualifies as a pre-school course. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is for study in an English as a second language (ESL) course at a Western Australian secondary school.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The tax law's definition of secondary course includes ESL courses provided by secondary schools and special schools, as set out in the education minister's Determination No. 2002/1. (The determination is available from the Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.deewr.gov.au) To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is for a school-based apprenticeship at a particular Australian secondary school.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The tax law's definition of secondary course includes school-based apprenticeships and traineeships conducted by secondary schools, as set out in the education minister's Determination No. 2002/1. (The determination is available from the Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.deewr.gov.au) To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is for an accredited vocational education and training (VET) course that provides basic skills to enable the student to undertake subsequent education. The course is conducted by a registered training organisation.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The tax law's definition of secondary course includes preparatory courses - run by registered training organisations, secondary schools, special schools and higher education institutions - which meet the requirements set out in the education minister's Determination No. 2002/1. (The determination is available from the Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.deewr.gov.au) To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is for Language other than English (LOTE) courses for primary and secondary school students, provided by or on behalf of an ethnic school as set out in the education minister's A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) (Language Other Than English - LOTE - courses offered by ethnic schools) Determination 2004.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The Commonwealth education minister has determined that these particular LOTE courses qualify as primary courses and secondary courses for the purposes of the tax law. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is provided to help meet the costs of private tuition for primary and secondary school students. The tuition only covers the school courses (which are approved Australian courses).
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. Although the private tuition is not itself an approved Australian course, the scholarship is solely to promote the recipients' education in the schools' courses, which are approved Australian courses. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
In a junior age competition of cricket clubs, a prize is awarded to the winning team. All the players in the club teams attend secondary schools, and cricket is one of the sports included in all the schools' curriculum.
The prize is not eligible. It relates only to a competition between cricket clubs. In playing for the clubs, the students are not engaged in an approved Australian course. While cricket is included in the schools' curriculum, there is insufficient link between the club competition and the school courses.
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Example
A bursary is provided for Year 6 primary school students who are studying music as part of the school curriculum (an approved Australian course). The bursary can be used only to meet the costs of private piano tuition, for music grades 3 and 4, by accredited piano teachers. Study of the piano is not part of this school's curriculum.
The bursary is not eligible. This private study for music grades 3 and 4 is not part of an approved Australian course. It is not sufficient that a criterion of the bursary is that the recipient is also studying music as part of an approved Australian course.
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Example
A scholarship is available for secondary schooling at a secondary school in Britain.
The scholarship is not eligible. The courses at the British school are not approved Australian courses because they are not secondary courses. To conduct a secondary course, the tax law's definition requires the secondary school to be located in Australia, as set out in the education minister's Determination No. 2002/1. (The determination is available from the Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.deewr.gov.au). If the British study is by way of a component of an approved Australian course, see overseas study.
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Tertiary courses
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Example
A prize is awarded in computing in accredited vocational education and training (VET) programs for building trades, conducted by industry training bodies and TAFE colleges which are registered training organisations.
The prize satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The tax law's definition of tertiary course includes accredited vocational education and training programs, and pre-vocational courses, conducted by registered training organisations, as set out in the education minister's Determination of Education Institutions and Courses under Subsections 3(1) and 5D(1) of the Student Assistance Act 1973 Determination No. 2002/1. (The determination is available from the Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.deewr.gov.au) To be an eligible prize, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A bursary is open for study at the recipient's choice of an Australian university or registered training organisation. The study can be in their accredited courses at the level of diploma, associate diploma, advanced diploma, Bachelor degree, associate degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma or Master's qualifier.
The bursary satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The tax law's definition of tertiary courses includes these courses, provided by bodies that meet the definitions of higher education institution or registered training organisation, as set out in the education minister's Determination No. 2002/1. (The determination is available from the Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.deewr.gov.au). To be an eligible bursary, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is open for study in an English as a second language (ESL) course at a TAFE college which is a registered training organisation.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The tax law's definition of tertiary course includes ESL courses provided by a wide range of educational institutions (including TAFEs), as set out in the education minister's Determination No. 2002/1. (The determination is available from the Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.deewr.gov.au). To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is provided to support air training corps cadets in their flying school training courses conducted by non-profit, tax-exempt corporations which hold a current Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) air operator certificate but which are not registered training organisations.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The education minister has determined that these particular flying school training courses qualify as tertiary courses for the purposes of the tax law - see A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) (Flying School Training Courses) Determination 2004. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship covers all subjects in a graduate certificate course in customer relations (an approved Australian course), including elective subjects.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The elective subjects - even though they might not be directly about customer relations - are part of the approved Australian course. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is for study of a particular subject. The subject is an accredited part of a vocational program which is an approved Australian course.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. It is not necessary that the scholarship cover all components of the approved Australian course. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is provided to support research undertaken in the honours component of a Bachelor's degree course at an Australian higher education institution. The field work for the research is to be carried out in Fiji.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The critical aspect is that the research is part of an approved Australian course. It is immaterial that the field work is to be undertaken overseas. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A bursary supports study in a vocational education and training program conducted by a registered training organisation. The program is conducted in New Zealand.
The bursary satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The critical aspects are that the program and organisation have the required accreditation and endorsement or registration from the relevant Australian authorities, as set out in the education minister's Determination No. 2002/1. (The determination is available from the Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.deewr.gov.au) To be an eligible bursary, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is for preparatory courses to help students gain entry to higher education level courses. The courses are offered by higher education institutions.
The scholarship satisfies the 'approved Australian course' requirement. The tax law's definition of secondary course includes preparatory courses such as enabling and bridging courses - run by higher education institutions - where they meet the requirements set out in the education minister's Determination No. 2002/1. (The determination is available from the Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.deewr.gov.au) To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A prize is open for students of recreational cooking courses conducted by registered training organisations (such as TAFE colleges).
The prize is not eligible. The course is not an approved Australian course. Registered training organisations conduct many courses that are approved Australian courses. However, some of them also conduct courses - such as recreational and hobby courses, and other non-accredited courses - which are not approved Australian courses.
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Example
A scholarship is open for study for a Doctorate of Laws at an Australian university.
The scholarship is not eligible. The course is not an approved Australian course. Doctorates and Masters degrees are not covered by the legislation's definition of a tertiary course.
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Example
A scholarship is provided for research at an Australian higher education institution by a graduate. The research is not part of any course run by the institution.
The scholarship is not eligible. Even though the scholarship is for an education-related activity at a higher education institution, it is not for an approved Australian course.
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Example
A bursary is awarded for study towards a professional qualification. The study includes approved Australian courses and also courses, offered through professional associations, which are not approved Australian courses.
The bursary is not eligible. Even though some of the study is in approved Australian courses, the bursary also covers other courses.
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Example
A prize is awarded to a region's apprentice of the year. The criteria for the prize cover the whole range of the apprentice's work and study. The study is all in approved Australian courses.
The prize is not eligible. Even though all aspects of the apprenticeship may promote the recipient's education, and the formal study is in approved Australian courses, the prize is only partly in respect of that study.
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These examples only illustrate the requirement for the scholarship, bursary or prize to promote the recipients' education in approved Australian courses.
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A DGR scholarship fund could not provide money for the examples that do not satisfy this requirement.
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For the examples where the approved Australian course requirement is satisfied, a DGR scholarship fund could only provide money if the other requirements for an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also satisfied.
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Overseas study
For education in educational institutions overseas, an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize must promote the recipients' education by way of study of a component of an approved Australian course. Examples of overseas study that illustrate this requirement are provided below.
(Examples of the other requirements to be an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also available.)
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Example
A prize is awarded to allow the top student studying their final year of Japanese history in an Australian university to complete their final year at a Japanese university. The Japanese component of the course will be credited towards the Australian course.
The prize satisfies the requirements for overseas study. The Australian course qualifies as an approved Australian course, the Australian course provides credit for the overseas study, and the overseas study is at an educational institution. To be an eligible prize, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is provided for a Year 11 student enrolled at a secondary school in a particular state. The scholarship is for a semester's study at an overseas secondary school. The applicant must show that the state's educational authority has accepted that the overseas study qualifies for a semester's credit.
The scholarship satisfies the requirements for overseas study. The Australian course qualifies as an approved Australian course, the Australian course provides credit for the overseas study, and the overseas study is at an educational institution. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is provided for study of three undergraduate level physics subjects at a North American university. The scholarship is open to students of Bachelor degree courses in engineering at Australian higher education institutions. The Australian institution must provide credit in the engineering course for the overseas physics subjects.
The scholarship satisfies the requirements for overseas study. The engineering course qualifies as an approved Australian course, that course credits the overseas study, and the overseas study is at an educational institution. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is provided to undertake a Bachelor's degree at a British university.
The scholarship is not eligible. The British Bachelor's degree is not by way of study of a component of an approved Australian course.
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Example
An exchange student scholarship is open for a final-year Australian secondary school student (in an approved Australian course) to undertake a year's schooling at a comparable school in the United States. The US study is not taken into account in assessing whether the Australian schooling has been completed.
The scholarship is not eligible. The US study is not by way of a component of the Australian secondary course.
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Example
An exchange student scholarship is open for an Australian secondary school student (in an approved Australian course) to undertake a year's schooling at a comparable overseas school. The scholarship is awarded irrespective of whether the overseas schooling will be credited towards the Australian secondary course.
The scholarship is not eligible. While the scholarship is for overseas study, any actual connection between the approved Australian course and the overseas study is immaterial to the scholarship. The scholarship is not for education by way of study of a component of an approved Australian course.
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Example
A bursary is provided for a Masters degree in chemistry at one of a range of overseas universities.
The bursary is not eligible. The bursary is for a stand-alone course, unrelated to any Australian course. It is not for education by way of study of a component of an approved Australian course. Also, a Masters degree course does not qualify as an approved Australian course.
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Example
A scholarship is open to Australians who have an honours degree from an Australian university. The scholarship can be taken up only for a Bachelor's degree at a particular university in the USA.
The scholarship is not eligible. It is not for study of a component of an approved Australian course. Rather, it is for a stand-alone course at an overseas educational institution. The fact that completion of an approved Australian course is a pre-requisite for the scholarship is not sufficient to meet this criterion.
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These examples only illustrate scholarships, bursaries or prizes promoting the recipients' education at educational institutions overseas.
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A DGR scholarship fund could not provide money for the examples that do not satisfy this requirement.
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For the examples where the overseas study requirement is satisfied, a DGR scholarship fund could only provide money if the other requirements for an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also satisfied.
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Merit or equity
To be eligible, the scholarship, bursary or prize must be awarded on merit or for reasons of equity. Examples that illustrate this requirement are provided below.
(Examples of the other requirements to be an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also available.)
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Example
The criteria for a secondary school scholarship are school grades and proven leadership skills.
The scholarship satisfies the merit requirement. The proven leadership skills are merit-based, and they are sufficiently relevant to secondary school education. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A vocational course scholarship requires applicants to be long-term unemployed.
The scholarship satisfies the equity requirement. Long-term unemployment is a 'reason of equity' in relation to a vocational course. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
The non-academic criteria for awarding a boarding school scholarship are living in a remote area and not being able to afford the fees.
The scholarship satisfies the equity requirement. The remoteness and inability to meet fees are 'reasons of equity' in relation to the boarding school study. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
Applicants for a secondary school scholarship in western New South Wales must be Indigenous.
The scholarship satisfies the equity requirement for the particular scholarship. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
As well as academic and musical skills, applicants for a secondary school music scholarship are required to demonstrate their community service.
The scholarship satisfies the merit requirement. The community service criterion is sufficiently relevant to the secondary school education. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
Applicants for a nursing degree scholarship are rated on their grades and their essay on why they wish to pursue nursing as a career and what they, as a nurse, can offer the community.
The scholarship satisfies the merit requirement. The career and service criteria are sufficiently related to the nursing degree. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
As well as academic ability, eligibility for a scholarship for students from rural areas to attend tertiary institutions is determined on their need in terms of economic circumstances and geographic location.
The scholarship satisfies the merit and equity requirements. The needs in terms of geographic and economic circumstances are 'reasons of equity' in relation to the tertiary study. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
As well as merit-based academic criteria, a scholarship - for study that will require participants to live in shared accommodation - includes a criterion that the applicant demonstrate the ability to live cooperatively in shared accommodation.
The scholarship satisfies the merit requirement. The ability to live cooperatively in shared accommodation is reasonable in terms of this education. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship is awarded to persons with a physical and/or intellectual disability, with preference being given to those with higher academic grades.
The scholarship satisfies the merit and equity requirements. To be an eligible scholarship it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A secondary school scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit and footballing prowess. The school includes football as part of the approved Australian courses it delivers. The school's football teams also compete in inter-school competitions, and this is not related to its approved Australian courses.
The scholarship satisfies the merit requirement. The footballing prowess is relevant to the approved Australian courses the school delivers. The fact that the school also has other involvements in football does not detract from this. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
A scholarship recipient's grades are reviewed at the end of each semester. If the grades fall below a pre-determined standard, the scholarship is terminated.
The scholarship satisfies the merit requirement. Such a cancellation criterion is consistent with 'awarding on the basis of merit'. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
Applicants for a school scholarship are required to sit an exam to test their academic ability. The exam is conducted by an organisation that specialises in examinations. The scholarship is awarded to the applicant with the highest marks.
The scholarship satisfies the merit requirement. The fact that the exam is conducted by a third party does not detract from this. To be an eligible scholarship, it will also need to satisfy the other requirements.
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Example
Applicants for a secondary school scholarship must be children of employees of a particular retailing company.
The scholarship is not eligible. The employment criterion is not based on merit or equity.
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Example
Applicants for a pre-vocational course scholarship must be employees of a fast-food business.
The scholarship is not eligible. The employment criterion is not based on merit or equity.
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Example
A scholarship is open only to people who have agreed to work for a particular transport firm after their studies are completed.
The scholarship is not eligible. The service agreement criterion is not based on merit or equity.
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Example
A school scholarship's formal criteria are in terms of academic merit. In fact, the scholarship is only ever awarded to employees of a particular company and to relatives of its owner.
The scholarship is not eligible. Even though the formal criteria are for merit, the actual criteria are at least substantially on the basis of particular employment and family relationship.
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Example
The criteria for a secondary school scholarship are school grades and being a descendant of a particular immigrant couple who arrived in Australia in 1854.
The scholarship is not eligible. The descent criterion is not based on merit or equity.
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Example
A bursary is for a graduate diploma in taxation studies. The eligibility criteria are the applicant's Bachelor degree grades and snow skiing ability.
The bursary is not eligible. While the applicant's skiing involvement may be assessed on merit, it is not relevant to the education in taxation studies.
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Example
The criteria for a tertiary bursary in accountancy are grades in accounting subjects and participation in a church's evangelisation program.
The bursary is not eligible. Awarding for participation in the church's evangelisation program is not for merit or reasons of equity in relation to the accountancy studies.
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Example
A secondary school awards a scholarship on academic merit and hockey skills. Hockey is part of the school's approved Australian courses. The school enters hockey teams in an interschool competition, unrelated to the courses. If the recipient does not compete in the interschool competition, the scholarship will be cancelled.
The scholarship is not eligible. The decision to cancel the scholarship for this reason is not based on merit or equity in relation to the approved Australian courses.
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Example
A school scholarship's formal criteria are defined in terms of academic merit. In fact, the scholarship is awarded to all students at the school. Parents are required to pay a corresponding amount (described by the school as a 'gift') to the scholarship fund.
The scholarship is not eligible. It is awarded to students on the basis of contributions to the scholarship fund, and not on the basis of merit or for reasons of equity. (Also, the parents' contributions to the fund would not qualify as gifts.)
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Example
A school scholarship's formal criteria are defined in terms of academic merit. In fact, the scholarships are awarded each year to all children at the school whose parents have contributed $3,000 to the scholarship fund that year.
The scholarship is not eligible. It is awarded on the basis of contributions to the scholarship fund, and not on the basis of merit or for reasons of equity. (Also, the parents' contributions to the fund would not qualify as gifts.)
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These examples only illustrate the requirement for scholarships, bursaries or prizes to be awarded on merit or for reasons of equity.
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A DGR scholarship fund could not provide money for the examples that do not satisfy this requirement.
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For the examples where the merit or equity requirement is satisfied, a DGR scholarship fund could only provide money if the other requirements for an eligible scholarship, bursary or prize are also satisfied.
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Last Modified: Monday, 25 September 2006
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