Scientia Scholarship — Bachelor's Scholarship

The Scientia Scholarship supports students commencing eligible full-time undergraduate study at UNSW Sydney. UNSW identifies recipients automatically from UAC admission applications rather than through a separate scholarship form. UNSW has published the Term 1, 2027 cycle, which opened on 2 July 2026.

Benefits & funding

Minimum value of AUD 10,000, available for at least the duration of the recipient’s program. Payment depends on full-time enrolment in an eligible undergraduate degree at the census date.
An academic mentor, possible invitations to scholar events and student ambassador activities, and encouragement to seek faculty research-assistant opportunities.
A recipient who also accepts a UNSW Co-op Program Scholarship receives a one-time AUD 5,000 Scientia bonus in the first year instead of the standard Scientia payment, while retaining the non-financial benefits.
The award may be deferred for up to one year when admission is officially deferred and no other tertiary study is undertaken during that period.

Eligibility

The student must be commencing an eligible UNSW undergraduate degree. Most undergraduate programs qualify; BMed MD is generally excluded, although a very limited number of awards may be available for that program.
The student must have achieved a raw ATAR of at least 99.90, excluding adjustment factors, in an Australian senior secondary certificate or equivalent in the year before starting at UNSW. An International Baccalaureate score of 45 meets the stated threshold.
Citizenship does not create one universal bar, but route-specific rules apply. International students using an Australian secondary qualification must live in Australia and attend an Australian high school; Australian citizens with an assessable international secondary qualification equivalent to a 99.90 ATAR may also be considered.
The student must submit a UAC undergraduate admission application and list UNSW as a preference by the stated December Round 2 date. The published Term 1, 2027 cycle uses the December Round 2 offer round.
The student must be enrolled full-time in an eligible degree at the census date and cannot hold the Scientia Scholarship together with an Academic Achievement Award.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Education required
High School

Check my eligibility — free

Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

1
Create or access a UAC undergraduate application account.
2
Enter the required personal and qualification details, then select eligible UNSW undergraduate courses among the course preferences.
3
Submit and pay for the UAC application, and ensure UNSW is listed as a preference by the applicable December Round 2 deadline.
4
Do not submit a separate Scientia Scholarship application; UNSW automatically identifies candidates who meet the published criteria.
5
If awarded, accept the admission and scholarship instructions and remain enrolled full-time in the eligible degree at the census date.

Program timeline

2 July 2026
The Term 1, 2027 scholarship cycle opened.
Eligible commencing students are automatically identified for the published cohort.
Term 1, 2027