The University of Newcastle is pleased to announce the opening of the Equity Scholarships Scheme (ESSUN), providing vital financial assistance of up to $5,000 to disadvantaged students.
To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in an enabling or undergraduate program at the University of Newcastle and facing financial hardship or regional/remote disadvantage, with additional consideration for personal challenges such as caring duties, disability, or diverse backgrounds.
The University of Newcastle is a leading Australian institution known for its strong commitment to equity, innovation, and world-class education. With campuses across New South Wales, it offers high-quality teaching, cutting-edge research, and a supportive learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds.
The University of Newcastle Information
Founded in 1965, The University of Newcastle is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the small city of Callaghan (population range of 250,000-499,999 inhabitants), New South Wales. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Ourimbah, Port Macquarie, Singapore, Sydney. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Department of Education and Training, Australia, The University of Newcastle (UoN) is a very large (uniRank enrollment range: 30,000-34,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. The University of Newcastle (UoN) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 54 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.
Offered Benefits
• Total value: Up to $5,000 for one year of study.
• Early payment of $500 after acceptance and enrolment in Semester 1, 2026.
• $2,250 per semester for full-time students (or $1,000 per semester for part-time enrolment in 20 units or less).
• Payments are usually made 2–3 weeks after the semester census date.
• Scholarship is tenable for one year; students may reapply each year of their program.
• Students may receive the scholarship once for Enabling study and multiple times for undergraduate study (subject to reapplication and availability).
Application Process
• Applications must be submitted via the University of Newcastle scholarship application portal.
• Required documents will be listed on the “Your Documents” page of the portal.
• Applicants must upload a personal statement (approx. 1 A4 page) outlining academic achievements, career goals, and how the scholarship will assist them.
• Additional documents may be required based on individual responses (evidence of financial hardship, medical condition, personal circumstances, etc.).
• Only PDF files are accepted (maximum of 3 PDFs per document type, each below 5 MB).
• Early offers may be made throughout the application period, so early submission is encouraged.