TAFE Queensland Scholarship Program

To be eligible to apply for a scholarship you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident who is either:

• Intending to enrol into a new eligible TAFE Queensland qualification in Semester 1, 2026 or
• a first-year apprentice enrolled with TAFE Queensland at the time of submitting a scholarship application.

With the exception of first year apprentices, current TAFE Queensland students who are part-way through study are not eligible to apply for a scholarship for a qualification that they have already commenced.

Employees of TAFE Queensland are not eligible to apply.

TAFE Queensland Scholarships are not available for qualifications undertaken as part of the TAFE at School program.

TAFE Queensland Scholarships are not currently available to international students.

Access and equity scholarships provide equitable access to study at TAFE Queensland. They are awarded to students who can demonstrate a genuine interest in and commitment to their chosen career and identify themselves with one of the following access and equity categories:

• is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
• has significant caring responsibilities
• has a disability or long-term medical condition or illness
• is long-term unemployed (for a period greater than 6 months)
• is a sole parent
• suffers significant financial difficulties or social barriers to study
• suffers from another specified disadvantage.

Merit scholarships are awarded to students who have achieved outstanding academic merit or demonstrate strong work performance along with the demonstrable desire to secure ongoing employment within the industry to which they applied for the scholarship.

Athlete - Merit scholarships are available under the Merit category to support athletes across a variety of disciplines to gain a qualification with TAFE Queensland without forfeiting their sporting opportunities.

Applicants in this category must identify which sporting associations they are affiliated with, and must be competing in a sport that is either:

• Listed as a funded sport in the Sports Australia - Australian Sports Directory; or
• an Olympic, Paralympic or Commonwealth Games sport.

Career Pathways - Merit Scholarships are available under the Merit category to support Queensland public sector staff members who are registered with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander careers pathways service.

Applicants in this category must be:

• Queensland public sector (exc. TAFE Queensland) staff members in an AO5 – AO8 level role
• Registered with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander careers pathways service.

Please see the terms and conditions for full details on all scholarships available.

Scholarships are available for any certificate III or higher-level course across all study areas. 

• Certificate III
• Certificate IV
• Diploma
• Advanced Diploma
• TAFE Queensland Associate Degree
• TAFE Queensland Bachelor’s Degree
• TAFE Queensland Graduate Certificate
• TAFE Queensland Graduate Diploma
• TAFE Queensland Master's Degree

Note: Degree programs offered in in conjunction with partner universities are not eligible for TAFE Queensland Scholarships.

In a maximum of 300 words per question you will be required to answer the following:

• Tell us a little about yourself and why you are applying for a scholarship?
• What do you know about your chosen study area, and why have you selected this course?
• Do you have any study/work experience related to the course or an understanding of the job opportunities?
• How do you think TAFE Queensland can help you achieve your goals?
• If you are successful in receiving a scholarship, how will you spend the money?

The following selection criteria will be used by the TAFE Queensland Scholarships Selection Committee when assessing your answers to the questions in the section above.

An assessment of the applicant's:

• alignment to the scholarship categories available.
• understanding of their chosen area of study.
• relevant study/work experience to date, and/or their understanding of the potential pathways and job opportunities in their chosen field.
• knowledge of, and potential to promote TAFE Queensland as the leading vocational education and training provider in Queensland.
• intention to use the scholarship funds for the defined study support costs.

• To apply for a scholarship, you will need to complete the online application form.
• Before completing the application form, please read the terms and conditions to see if you meet the requirements to apply for a scholarship.
• You can complete the form in one go or save a draft and come back to it later. You will have the opportunity to upload a maximum of 10 documents to support your application.
• Check the What information will I need to provide with my application? section to make sure you have all the information you need before you start.
• Applications submitted without the mandatory supporting evidence will not be considered.
• You will receive confirmation via email of your application being successfully submitted. Please check that you have received this email to be sure your application has been received.

• You will need to provide copies of key documents as part of your application. The TAFE Queensland Scholarship Selection Committee uses this information to make sure you are eligible to apply and to assess your application.
• You must attach proof that you are an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident. This must be a passport, birth certificate, visa or citizenship certificate.
• If you are a TAFE Queensland Merit, Athlete – Merit or Career Pathways – Merit scholarship applicant, you must attach evidence of achievement. This can be demonstrated through previous study, industry experience or a combination of both. Examples of evidence may include, certificates, study results, school reports and/or letters from employers.
• Applicants the Athlete – Merit Category must also include details of sporting achievements to date in addition to the above.
• If you are a TAFE Queensland Access and Equity scholarship applicant, you must identify yourself with one of the access and equity categories and where required, attach evidence to support this. Evidence documents will vary depending on your situation and the access and equity group/s you identify with, for examples Centrelink payment documentation in your name could be used as evidence of financial difficulty, sole parenting, significant caring responsibilities, unemployment.

Only complete applications with all documentation will be considered. Before you submit your application, please make sure you have attached all the required information.

The TAFE Queensland Scholarship Selection Committee will assess the information you provided in your application against the identified selection criteria listed in the ‘‘What are the selection criteria?’ section.

Scholarship money will be paid via electronic funds transfer directly into your bank account. The bank account must be in your name.

The total scholarship payment will be $5000 split into two payments as follows: 

- Payment 1: $3000 will be paid after commencement of study in Semester 1, 2026, on proof of enrolment and attendance.

- Payment 2: $2000 will be paid as follows:

• for scholarship recipients studying a Bachelor's or Master's degree with TAFE Queensland - on completion of a minimum of 10 units (with graded outcome of pass, credit, distinction or high distinction) within two years of the date of the scholarship was awarded.
• for scholarship recipients who are apprentices– on completion of two years of the apprenticeship, with a ‘J -Competency Achieved’ result for at least half of the units needed for the apprenticeship/completion certificate
• for all other scholarship recipients – on evidence of successful completion of the qualification, provided that the qualification has been completed within two years of the commencement of the scholarship.

Please refer to the terms and conditions for full payment details.

Scholarship cash payments can be used to meet study related costs including:

• course fees
• tuition costs
• cost of books and other study materials
• uniform/PPE
• tools or equipment
• cost of childcare
• living away from home
• travel costs

• If you apply and are unsuccessful you may re-apply.
• If you have been awarded a scholarship, you cannot re-apply for a period of two years.
• If you are awarded a scholarship and you don’t complete the first semester or equivalent, you become excluded from any future scholarship applications.

The award of a scholarship does not guarantee course placement. Scholarships will be awarded for the next available start of study date. No deferment of the scholarship is allowed.

For more information please see our terms and conditions or contact us by email at scholarships@tafeqld.edu.au

If you are having technical difficulties with the application form, please clear and refresh your browser cache (Google, Firefox, Safari), or changing your browser all together. If you are still having trouble submitting an application form after trying the above, please contact scholarships@tafeqld.edu.au for more help.

Financial assistance offered to one student enrolled in a full time, accredited Australian education institution studying a certificate, diploma, degree, or traineeship in any of the medicine, health sciences, healthcare, and/or specialist healthcare.

For more information please visit the Choosi website.

The Queensland Overseas Foundation offers scholarships for recent vocational education and training (VET) sector graduates and tradespeople who want to work overseas, and bursaries to VET trainers and assessors to fund their attendance at recognised international courses, workshops, work placement, events or activities with professional development benefits.

For more information please visit the Queensland Overseas Foundation website.

Financial assistance available to one eligible student studying a certificate, diploma, degree or traineeship full time in either business, finance, medicine, healthcare or specialist healthcare, at an accredited Australian tertiary education Institution.

For more information please visit the Real Futures Grant website.

RSL Australia provides scholarships for children and grandchildren of Australian veterans.  RSL Australia also provides scholarships for students in regions in which our veterans fought, as a sign of a continuing tangible recognition of the friendship, support and mutual regard developed during times of conflict. This allows us to continue to give back to the people of those regions as a symbol of gratitude for the support that they gave our veterans while they were stationed there. State Branches provide additional scholarships.

For more information please visit the RSL Australia website.

The Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships Program (RRESP) has been introduced to improve access to and completion of tertiary education courses for students from regional and remote areas in Australia in STEM courses.

For more information please visit the RRESP website.

The Pinnacle Foundation provides annual scholarships for LGBTIQ+ Australians who are at least 17 years of age and younger than 27 years of age on the closing date for scholarship applications, who are planning to study full-time education at a public institution of higher education in Australia, for the purpose of gaining an educational or vocational qualification in any profession, trade or the arts.

For more information please visit the Pinnacle Foundation website.

WorldSkills Australia holds a number of competitions on a regional, national and international level over a two-year cycle. They also offer scholarships to participants to help pursue further skills development through study, work and financial support.

For more information please visit the WorldSkills Australia website.

The Commonwealth Scholarships Program for Young Australians provides scholarships of up to $13,000 for young Australians from select regions to undertake an eligible certificate III, certificate IV, diploma or advanced diploma course.

For more information please visit the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website: https://www.dewr.gov.au/commonwealth-scholarships-program-young-australians 

Read the fact sheet

The Settlement Services International (SSI) Allianz scholarships support people from refugee backgrounds to achieve independence. The scholarships are designed to minimise the financial barriers experienced by refugees as they participate in the education system. 

For more information, please visit the SSI website.

There are a number other Queensland Government related scholarships accessible for First Nations people. 

Learn more

The Public Education Foundation’s VET in Schools Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship that aims to support students who are interested in pursuing vocational studies through their schools. Up to six scholarships may be awarded, with each scholarship providing up to $1,500 per year for up to three years. Students will be required to provide evidence of their ongoing enrolment in VET studies each year to remain eligible for their scholarship.

For more information please visit the Public Education Foundation website.

AMR Hair & Beauty offers scholarships for aspiring hairdressing students who are passionate about the hair and beauty industry and are looking to further their education and career goals.

For more information please visit the AMR website.

Advance Plants is a local, family-owned business providing indoor plant hire and landscape maintenance services to South-East Queensland since 1982. They are committed to helping two outstanding environmental science, horticulture, or landscaping students each year with a $1,500 AUD grant towards their study and an offer of two weeks of work experience.

For more information on the Environmental Science Indigenous Scholarship please visit the Advance Plants website.

For more information on the Horticultural Scholarship please visit the Advance Plants website.