Regional Merit Scholarship

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Student (Natalie) walking through the L5 courtyard with backpack and tablet

Are you a new international student passionate about cultural engagement, sports, or community leadership? The Regional Merit Scholarship celebrates students who go beyond the classroom to make an impact.

If you’ve demonstrated excellence in these areas, apply now and take the next step toward your future.
Apply now

Eligibility

Scholarships worth up to AU$7,500 are available to students holding passports from an eligible country/region.

Eligible regions and nationalities

ASEAN
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

North Asia/Central Asia
China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Kazakhstan, Macau SAR, Mongolia, South Korea, Taiwan ROC

South Asia
Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

Africa
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Applicants may be eligible if they have an offer for a 2026 UNSW College Foundation Studies, Diploma or Pre-Masters program (including those students who have already accepted offers) and hold a valid passport from one of the countries or regions listed above.

Who is not eligible for Regional Scholarships:

  • Students who are repeating a program of study (either in whole or in part)
  • Sponsored students
  • Students undertaking the Business stream

Students who successfully complete their UNSW College program may be eligible for other scholarships at UNSW Sydney.

Scholarships are in the form of a tuition fee waiver and may not be combined with any other scholarship or fee waiver, with the exception of the International Student Award where students are eligible.

Selection criteria

Applicants must: 

  • Meet the eligibility requirements as outlined above.
  • Nominate the country or region in which they are applying for the scholarship.
  • Applicants must submit a personal statement (maximum 500 words) outlining their motivation for studying at UNSW College. The statement must include:
    • Full name
    • Date of birth (for identification purposes only)
    • Student ID

Scholarships are awarded at the sole discretion of UNSW College. All decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

Scholarship conditions

Scholarship recipients will automatically become UNSW College student ambassadors and will be required to participate in the College's promotional activities, including, but not limited to:

  • Providing written, verbal and recorded (audio and/or video) testimonials;  
  • Joining webinars with prospective students and/or agents;
  • Attending events, face-to-face and online;
  • Other College activities as required and directed by the UNSW College team.

To maintain the scholarship, recipients must:

  • Have no outstanding tuition fees.
  • Remain enrolled in an eligible UNSW College program.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by UNSW College policies.
  • Continue to meet all eligibility requirements.

The Scholarship offer is valid only for students commencing in the 2026 intake. Students who withdraw or transfer to an ineligible program will forfeit the scholarship.
Terms and conditions

Application timeline

Applications must be submitted via the form below by one of the following deadlines:

  • 19 December 2025; or
  • 13 April 2026; or
  • 20 July 2026.

Foundation Studies applicants must accept their program offer and scholarship offer as well as make payment of the remaining part 1 tuition fees within 4 weeks of receiving their scholarship offer.

Diploma applicants must accept their program offer and scholarship offer, as well as making full payment of their deposit within 4 weeks of receiving their scholarship offer.

Scholarships are awarded at the sole discretion of UNSW College. All decisions are final and not subject to appeal.