Scholarships for secondary teaching degrees

To be eligible, an applicant must be:

• a Victorian or designated border community resident domestic student. For the purposes of the STS, this is defined as:
  • an Australian citizen, or
  • an Australian permanent resident, or
  • a New Zealand citizen living in Victoria, or
  • an Australian permanent humanitarian visa holder.

and:

• someone whose place of primary residence is in Victoria or a designated border community during completion of their eligible initial teacher education (ITE) degree (see below for a list of designated border communities)

and:

• enrolled in a secondary or dual (primary-secondary) qualification ITE degree accredited by the VIT, or accredited by an equivalent regulatory State or Territory authority and recognised by the VIT, with a first census date between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025. Students who discontinued their secondary ITE study prior to 2022 (i.e. have not completed their secondary ITE qualifications nor enrolled in secondary ITE study in either 2022 or 2023 and are returning to their secondary ITE study), are now eligible.

and:

• undertaking the eligible degree at a minimum of 50% study load (equivalent full-time study load – EFTSL) at the time of assessment.

Note: Victorian residents who are enrolled in a secondary or primary-secondary school ITE program at a non-Victorian ITE provider, and meet all other eligibility criteria, may apply for STS. Eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Department of Education.

Read the STS Program (Study Phase) Guidelines for further eligibility considerations and to read about ineligible applicants.

• STS Program (Study Phase) Guidelines (PDF, 310KB)(opens in a new window)
• STS Program (Study Phase) Guidelines (DOCX, 97 KB)(opens in a new window)

The following individuals are not eligible for STS:

Students who are not Victorian residents and do not reside in Victoria (or in a border community) during completion of their program of study are not eligible.

In addition, the following individuals are not eligible for STS:

• students who have completed a registered secondary ITE qualification before 1 January 2024

  or

• students who started their registered secondary ITE qualifications in 2022 or 2023

  or

• students who started their registered secondary ITE qualifications before 1 January 2022 and actively completed a unit of secondary ITE study in 2022/ 2023

  or

• students who start their registered secondary ITE qualifications after 31 December 2025.

Note: recipients of the STS study component who do not enter employment in a Victorian government secondary or specialist school setting within 15 months of completing their secondary school Initial Teacher Education degree will not be eligible to receive the employment component of STS.

Yes, students of VIT-accredited employment-based or accelerated secondary school teaching degrees (or an employment-based or accelerated secondary school teaching degree that is accredited by an equivalent Australian regulator and recognised by the VIT) can receive STS.

No, you are not eligible for STS if you are not a Victorian resident, unless you live in a designated cross-border community listed below (as specified in the eligibility criteria) for the duration of the program.

STS is open to Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, New Zealand citizens resident in Victoria and people who hold an Australian humanitarian visa.

The Local Government areas listed below are defined as designated border communities.

New South Wales

• Balranald Shire
• Bega Valley Shire
• Berrigan Shire
• City of Albury
• City of Broken Hill
• City of Wagga Wagga
• Edward River Council
• Federation Council
• Greater Hume Shire
• Hay Shire
• Lockhart Shire
• Murray River Council
• Murrumbidgee Council
• Snowy Monaro Regional Council
• Snowy Valleys Council
• Wentworth Shire

Note: The Silver City Highway between the Broken Hill and Wentworth Local Government Areas is part of the NSW-Victoria designated border bubble.

South Australia

• Berri Barmera Council
• City of Mount Gambier
• District Council of Grant
• District Council of Loxton Waikerie
• District Council of Robe
• Kingston District Council
• Naracoorte Lucindale Council
• Renmark Paringa Council
• Southern Mallee District Council
• Tatiara District Council
• Wattle Range Council

Part-time students are eligible if they are studying a 50% study load or more and meet all other eligibility criteria at the time of STS eligibility assessment.

Note: eligible part-time students will receive their study period payments on the same schedule as eligible full-time students and are eligible to receive the same total study phase payments as their full-time peers. That is:

• Eligible students studying part-time for an undergraduate degree will also receive their payments on the same schedule (i.e. across the first 4 years of their studies) as full-time students.
• Eligible students studying part-time for a postgraduate degree will also receive their payments on the same schedule (i.e. across the first 2 years of their studies) as full-time students.

This means that part-time students may need to continue studying to complete the requirements of their teaching degree after they have received the full study phase scholarship payments, and may not be receiving STS payments during the final year/s of their studies.

If you do not obtain employment in a Victorian government secondary or specialist school setting within 15 months of completing the requirements of your teaching degree or by 30 June 2029, whichever is earliest, you will not be eligible for any remaining scholarship payments.

Eligible undergraduate students receive approximately $9,600 across their 4-year (FTE) teaching degree and approximately $8,400 during their first 2 years of teaching in Victorian government secondary or specialist school setting, for a total of approximately $18,000.

Eligible postgraduate students receive approximately $5,700 across their 2-year (FTE) teaching degree and approximately $3,300 during their first 2 years of teaching in a government secondary or specialist school setting, for a total of approximately $9,000.

The total paid to both undergraduates (approximately $18,000) and postgraduates (approximately $9,000) who complete a secondary school teaching degree and work for 2 years in government secondary or specialist school settings is based on the standard student cost of a Commonwealth Supported Place in a teaching degree at the time STS were announced.

Note: these figures represent payments in 2024. STS payments will be indexed at the standard Victorian Government rate of 2.5% per annum. Total amounts received by students will vary depending on their commencement and completion years.

Students enrolled in a double degree that includes a VIT-accredited secondary initial teacher education (ITE) program will be eligible for the scholarship if they meet all other eligibility criteria. Eligible students studying a double degree undergraduate program are eligible to be paid a maximum of approximately $9,600 over 4 years during their period of study. Eligible students studying a double degree that includes a postgraduate secondary teaching degree are eligible to be paid a maximum of approximately $5,700 over the first 2 years during their period of study.

To be eligible for the employment phase of scholarship payments, you must obtain employment in a Victorian government secondary or specialist school setting within 15 months of completing your accredited teaching degree or by 30 June 2029, whichever is earliest.

If you move between universities, you will still be eligible for STS providing you continue to meet the eligibility criteria, and the degree that you enrol in at your new provider also meets scholarship eligibility criteria.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and then during the course of your program you change to a different secondary teaching program at the same teacher education provider, you can continue to receive the scholarship as long as you continue to meet all other eligibility criteria.

Previous partial or completed study of other programs (i.e. programs that are not accredited secondary school teaching programs) does not affect your eligibility for the secondary teaching scholarship.

The only breaks in study accepted under the scholarship are where an individual’s education provider has approved a Leave of Absence for up to 12 months for compassionate reasons. Whilst a student is on a Leave of Absence period, they will not be eligible for the scholarship payments. The Leave of Absence will not impact the student’s scholarship eligibility once they recommence studies, providing they continue to meet all eligibility criteria.

Universities may provide a Leave of Absence period to support students who are experiencing extenuating circumstances in their personal or academic life (e.g. significant financial, emotional, medical, employment or study related difficulties). Individuals should contact their university to discuss their individual circumstances and to request a Leave of Absence. The provision of Leave of Absence is at the discretion of a student’s teacher education provider.

No, primary teaching students are not eligible for a secondary teaching degree scholarship unless you are enrolled in a dual primary-secondary (Pri/Sec) qualification. At a statewide level, demand for teachers is currently more pressing across secondary and specialist than primary school settings. The scholarships aim to increase Victoria’s teaching workforce where it is most needed.

Students of primary school teaching degrees may be interested in the Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships, which are also open for application from people studying early childhood and secondary teaching degrees. For further information about the Commonwealth scholarship program, see: Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships(opens in a new window).

Victoria also offers a range of initiatives that support both the primary and school teaching workforce, including financial support during pre-service teacher placements in regional and remote primary schools, Placements Plus (formerly known as Teaching Academies of Professional Practice (TAPPS)), Teacher Financial Incentives for roles in some primary and secondary schools and the expanding Career Start graduate teacher induction program: Ensuring a strong, sustainable and supported school workforce(opens in a new window).

The first step is to apply for a place in a secondary teaching degree that is accredited by the VIT (or equivalent Australian regulatory authority) with a first census date (the date when your enrolment in your unit of study is finalised) in 2024 or 2025. Once you have been accepted and enrolled in an accredited secondary teaching degree, and you meet other eligibility requirements, you can apply for the scholarship payments. The scholarship portal can be accessed from this page during the application windows(opens in a new window).

The scholarship portal can be accessed from this page during the application windows(opens in a new window). The current application window is open from 13 August to 1 October 2024. If you want to complete an expression of interest form (see link on this webpage), you will be alerted when the application portal opens.

If you have commenced studying an eligible degree in Semester 1 2024 but did not submit your STS application form before the application portal closed, you may submit an application in Round 2 (from 13 August to until 1 October 2024). Please be aware that you will receive payment from that round onwards and that there is no retrospective or back pay.

Eligible students who enrol in their initial secondary teaching degree between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025 can claim scholarship payments for as long as they meet eligibility criteria up until June 2029.

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university or higher education provider where the Commonwealth Government subsidises a student’s tuition fees. This subsidy does not cover the entire cost of study. The remaining portion of the tuition fees which the student is liable for is referred to as the 'student contribution amount'. All students are also liable for costs not covered by tuition fees (CSP or full fee-paying). These may include additional fees charged by education providers (e.g. Student Amenities Fees), uniforms, books and equipment, transport and accommodation.

Education providers are responsible for assessing and determining a student’s eligibility for a CSP. Availability of CSPs varies between courses and education providers and not all higher education providers and courses offer CSPs. Where a CSP is not available or in instances where the student does not meet the CSP criteria, education providers may offer a student a full fee-paying place. For more information about CSP and full fee-paying places visit the Commonwealth Government’s Study Assist website Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) | StudyAssist(opens in a new window).

Students who meet the eligibility criteria for STS will receive the scholarship regardless of their place in the course being a CSP or a full fee-paying place.

Eligible undergraduate students who commence a secondary school teaching degree that is accredited by the VIT or equivalent regulatory authority will receive approximately $9,600 across their 4-year (FTE) initial teacher education (ITE) program and approximately $8,400 during their first 2 years of teaching in a government secondary or specialist school setting, for a total of approximately $18,000.

Eligible postgraduate students who undertake a VIT-accredited or equivalent secondary school teaching degree will receive approximately $5,700 across their 2-year (FTE) ITE program and approximately $3,300 during their first 2 years of teaching in a government secondary or specialist school setting for a total of approximately $9,000.

The total paid to both undergraduates (approximately $18,000) and postgraduates (approximately $9,000) who complete an eligible secondary school teaching degree and work for 2 years in government secondary or specialist school settings matched the standard student cost of a Commonwealth Supported Place in a teaching degree on the date the secondary teaching scholarships were announced, in September 2023.

Note: the figures above represent payment amounts in 2024. STS payments will be indexed at the standard Victorian Government rate of 2.5% per annum.

Eligible students who submit an application in Semester 21 2024 will receive their first payment in late 2024.

The scholarship payments are designed to support students with the cost of studying and living.

If you are awarded a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), the Commonwealth Government pays a portion of the cost of your degree and the student contributes the remaining cost, known as the ‘student contribution amount’. In 2023, the standard student contribution amount for a CSP in an accredited teacher education degree was $4,124 a year.

The maximum scholarship payments, available to students who successfully complete their degree and then work in a government secondary or specialist school setting for 2 years, match the 2023 rate for the standard student contribution for a CSP in an accredited teacher education degree.

Students are responsible for enrolling and meeting associated payments to their chosen university by the due date. This may include organising HECS-HELP loans and any proposed deferrals and/or making up-front payments. Scholarship payments can only be made following university census dates, due to applicant eligibility verification requirements.

The Local Government areas listed below are defined as designated border communities.

New South Wales

• Balranald Shire
• Bega Valley Shire
• Berrigan Shire
• City of Albury
• City of Broken Hill
• City of Wagga Wagga
• Edward River Council
• Federation Council
• Greater Hume Shire
• Hay Shire
• Lockhart Shire
• Murray River Council
• Murrumbidgee Council
• Snowy Monaro Regional Council
• Snowy Valleys Council
• Wentworth Shire

Note: The Silver City Highway between the Broken Hill and Wentworth Local Government Areas is part of the NSW-Victoria designated border bubble.

South Australia

• Berri Barmera Council
• City of Mount Gambier
• District Council of Grant
• District Council of Loxton Waikerie
• District Council of Robe
• Kingston District Council
• Naracoorte Lucindale Council
• Renmark Paringa Council
• Southern Mallee District Council
• Tatiara District Council
• Wattle Range Council