ACU Refugee Scholarship Program 2027 in Australia (Funded)

The ACU Refugee Scholarship Program for 2027 is offered by the Australian Catholic University (ACU) to support international students from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds. This scholarship aims to provide educational justice, dignity, and opportunity for students who have faced significant barriers in accessing higher education. It enables talented individuals to pursue undergraduate degrees, diplomas, and foundation studies at ACU, helping them achieve their academic ambitions and contribute to their communities.

This scholarship is fully funded for tuition and covers the entire cost of tuition fees for the duration of the approved course, provided the recipient continues to meet eligibility requirements. It also covers student services and amenities fees. However, it does not provide a salary, travel expenses, housing money, or a separate living allowance. Applicants are responsible for arranging additional financial support to cover living expenses such as accommodation, food, transportation, and other personal charges.

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be international students from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds who have faced significant barriers to higher education. They must be either future or commencing students at Australian Catholic University. Crucially, applicants must be residing in Australia and hold one of the following Australian visa categories: a temporary humanitarian stay visa (Subclass 449), a temporary protection visa (Subclass 785), a humanitarian concern temporary visa (Subclass 786), a Safe Haven Enterprise visa (Subclass 790), or a bridging visa while applying for a Subclass 866 Permanent Protection visa. Applicants must apply as an international student to ACU or via a Tertiary Admissions Centre (for Australian Year 12 students).

Applicants are required to provide the following documents as part of their application: * A completed application form. * A CV or resume. * A valid passport. * A certified copy of their visa. * A certified copy of their ImmiCard, if available. * A copy of their ACU course offer. * A letter of recommendation. * A written personal statement of approximately 300 words. (Statements are assessed on content, not language skills; assistance from advisors, tutors, or AI is permitted, but the submission must accurately reflect the applicant's personal situation). * Other relevant supporting documents.

Applications are submitted online through the Australian Catholic University's scholarship portal. Applicants will be assessed based on the strength of their application criteria. Shortlisted candidates may be required to attend an interview with a selection panel. The final recipients will be selected by ACU Global Engagement. To maintain the scholarship, recipients must meet specific academic, enrollment, and eligibility requirements each semester for the duration of their course.

It is expected that a community organization or education partner will assist the student in finding work or other funding to support themselves while at university. ACU aims to work with this organization to support the student throughout their course. For inquiries, you can email [email protected].