UWA Connect Scholarship 2026 is designed to make your university journey smoother and more affordable by connecting you with essential support. It’s tailored for students from diverse backgrounds, including regional, Indigenous, and disadvantaged communities, as well as those facing challenging circumstances.
The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a leading research-intensive university and a member of the prestigious Group of Eight. UWA offers hundreds of scholarships, and with the Connect Scholarship, applying for multiple scholarships is simple. When you apply, you’ll be automatically considered for all eligible scholarships without needing to reapply for each one, saving you both time and effort.
Benefits of UWA Connect Scholarship 2026
- Financial support: Receive $5,000 annually to contribute towards the cost of studying. (Up to six semesters for Undergraduate studies and two additional semesters for Honours or Combined Courses if applicable)
- Start-up assistance: Get up to $1,500 in the first year to cover initial costs like relocation, setting you up for success from day one.
- Accommodation support: A select number of regional and remote students will have priority access to University Hall or UWA accommodation partners such as St Catherine’s College, St Thomas More College, St George’s College and Trinity Residential College.
- Wrap-around support: Enjoy comprehensive assistance to ensure you feel connected and supported throughout your university journey, from settling in, to becoming part of UWA’s welcoming community.
Eligibility Criteria for the UWA Connect Scholarship 2026
- Domestic student commencing a UWA bachelor’s degree
- Low socio-economic status: Defined as financial need impacting your ability to pursue higher education
- Regional, rural, and remote students: Supporting students from these areas who face unique challenges in accessing higher education opportunities
- Indigenous students: Empowering Indigenous students to overcome barriers to education
- Financial hardship: Demonstrating significant financial need that impacts your ability to afford university expenses
- Disability or medical condition: Conditions that significantly affect your ability to study effectively
- First in family to attend university: Recognising the challenges faced by students who are the first in their family to pursue higher education
- Unsupportive study environment
- Inability to work due to extenuating circumstances
- Member of a minority group who is or has been impacted by discrimination
- Extensive obligations including family responsibilities that impact negatively on your ability to study
- Requirement to work more than 20 hours a week to help supplement family income
- Family or relationship disruption (e.g., separation, divorce, loss of a loved one)
- Currently supporting (or have supported) family member/s with an illness or disability
- Currently (or previously) in the care of the state or engagement with the justice system
- Disruption of education due to relocation, migration, or refugee passage to Australia
- Disruption of education due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g., natural disasters, accidents, living in the street, survivors of torture and trauma)
How to Apply for the UWA Connect Scholarship 2026
- Apply online for the UWA Connect Scholarship through the link below and be part of a network dedicated to your success.
- Applications for the following rounds are now open: Round 2 (Semester 2, 2026): 1 June 2026 – 5 August 2026; Future Students 2027: 1 July 2026 – 7 November 2026; Round 1 (Semester 1, 2027): 15 December 2026 – 3 March 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the UWA Connect Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, and how to apply.
Where can I access the UWA Connect Scholarship conditions?
It is available on the listing page for the UWA Connect Scholarship next to the ‘Apply now’ button. Alternatively, you can also download the UWA Connect Scholarship conditions [RTF, 32KB]. You would have signed the scholarship conditions and received a copy of the document when you accepted the scholarship.
I have been offered the UWA Connect Scholarship but would like to defer my studies. How can I do so?
First, you must accept the scholarship offer via the UWA Apply Portal. Next, contact the Coursework Scholarships office via askUWA to explain your request to defer the scholarship (maximum 2 semesters). Please read this FAQ regarding deferring your studies.
How is the scholarship paid? Is it an automatic deduction to my HECS-HELP loan or my student accommodation account? Is it a lump sum or pay-as-you-go?
The UWA Connect Scholarship is not an automatic deduction to your HECS-HELP loan or student accommodation account. The payment will be transferred to the nominated bank account listed on your studentConnect. It is paid in two equal instalments of $2,500 each year after the academic census date in each semester.
When will I receive the $1,500 one-off payment?
The one-off $1,500 payment will be processed within two weeks of the start of your first semester. Please ensure that your bank details are correct on your studentConnect (under Finance > Bank details).
Regarding the $1,500 add-on payment, will I need to have my purchases approved before receiving this money?
We do not ask our UWA Connect Scholars how they use their scholarship funds. We respect your discretion and trust you to use the funds in ways that best support your learning journey.
When will I receive my $2,500 payment per semester?
Please allow up to four weeks after each semester’s census date for the team to manually verify all recipients’ enrolment eligibility and finalise the payment step. The payments are processed in bulk once a week by the Finance team, so it is normal that students receive payments at different times.
I don’t receive any HECS-HELP and have to pay my course fee upfront. Can my fee payment due dates be extended until I receive the $2,500 after the census date?
Having a scholarship doesn’t alter the deadlines for payment of fees so you would still need to abide by the fee deadlines as listed on your electronic Statement of Account on studentConnect. For more information on tuition, administrative and amenities fees, please view the Fees and Payments page.
If I need an early payment from my UWA Connect Scholarship, would it be possible to receive it before the census date?
Scholarship payments are processed after the census date as we need to ensure that students are enrolled post census date for compliance reasons. If you are needing urgent financial assistance, please visit our financial assistance page or contact Guild Student Assist.
According to UWA, studying 3 units per semester is still considered as full-time. Will this affect my UWA Connect Scholarship?
As studying 3 units per semester is considered as full-time study, this satisfies the conditions for the UWA Connect Scholarship. However, this means that you could potentially prolong your degree completion time. The scholarship provides a maximum of $21,500 (i.e., six semesters for Undergraduate studies and two additional semesters for Honours or Combined courses if applicable).
One of the criteria to maintain the UWA Connect Scholarship is studying full-time. Can I apply for special consideration if I ever need to enrol in part-time studies due to extenuating circumstances?
Yes, you can apply for special consideration to continue receiving the UWA Connect Scholarship payments whilst studying part-time. Please contact the Coursework Scholarships office via askUWA to explain your circumstances and provide any supporting documentation, for example, a letter from the UWA Wellbeing Adviser.
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