Are you thinking about starting a teaching degree? You may be eligible for a Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship.
Applications for Round 2 will be opening soon.
To stay informed about Round 2, you can register for updates.
Register for updates nowAbout Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships
The Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program (the Program) supports new undergraduate and postgraduate teaching students to meet the costs of their study in an accredited teaching degree. In exchange, recipients will be required to undertake a commitment to teach in government schools or government-run early learning settings after graduating from their degree.
Scholarships of up to $40,000 per student are available for new full-time undergraduate teaching students (up to $10,000 per year for a four-year qualification) and up to $20,000 for new full-time postgraduate teaching students (up to $10,000 per year for a two-year qualification).
Applications are strongly encouraged from high-achieving school leavers, mid-career professionals, First Nations peoples, people for whom English is an additional language or dialect, people with disability, people from regional, rural or remote locations, or people from low socio-economic backgrounds, who aspire to embark on a rewarding career in teaching.
Scholarships are available over five rounds from 2024 to 2028 with up to 1,000 scholarships per year to be offered. Round 1 scholarships have been awarded and applications for Round 2 will open soon for individuals who are intending to start an accredited teaching degree in the beginning of 2025.
More information about the eligibility requirements and how to apply for Round 2 is coming soon.
Who can apply?
To apply you must be a person living in Australia who is:
- an Australian citizen
- a permanent resident
- a holder of a permanent humanitarian visa; or
- a New Zealand citizen living in Australia.
You can only apply for a scholarship in Round 2 if you will be studying full-time and commencing an accredited teaching degree in the first semester or study period of 2025.
Commitment to teach obligation
If you are successful in gaining a scholarship you will be required to teach for up to four years full-time equivalent, for an undergraduate degree and up to two years full-time equivalent for a postgraduate degree after you graduate.
You can teach in any government school or government-run early learning setting in any location, to meet your commitment to teach obligation.
Education departments in each state and territory can provide information about how to seek employment in their schools and early learning settings. The Australian Government Department of Education does not find employment for or place scholarship recipients in schools.
Other teaching scholarships and support
If you apply for a Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship you can apply for other scholarships or incentive programs. However, you must check that there are no restrictions set by other scholarships or incentive programs that will impact your ability to meet the requirements of a Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship.
To find out more information on state and territory financial support or scholarships visit state and territory education department websites. For information on other financial support, including Commonwealth supported places (CSP) or the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans, visit the StudyAssist website.
Contact us
If, after reading the website information and the Resources page, you still have questions you can contact the Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships team.
More information on future rounds of the Program will be published on this website soon.
The Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program (the Program) delivers on Action 2 under the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan to help attract high quality candidates into the teaching profession and to help address teacher workforce shortages.