Australian Veterans' Children Assistance (AVCAT) Scholarships

Eligibility for a scholarship or bursary includes the following:

• Australian residency status.
• Planning to enrol or enrolled in a course of tertiary study recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework for one or more academic years’ duration at an Australian university, TAFE or registered training organisation.
• Be studying or planning to study full-time online, face to face or a blend of both in 2026 and for the term of the scholarship. If an applicant is offered a scholarship in 2026 but has deferred from their course of study, they are no longer eligible and must reapply when they resume full-time study.
• Priority is given to those who have not previously undertaken tertiary education.
• Applicants who are seeking a scholarship for a second degree, or a graduate degree, Master, or Doctorate i.e., Australian Qualifications Framework Level 8 or above may be considered for a scholarship but will be given lower priority. If an applicant has received a Long Tan Bursary, they cannot be considered for another Long Tan Bursary.
• In receipt of or eligible to receive a means-tested Commonwealth educational benefit including Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY, Austudy, Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS). Use the Services Australia Payment and Service Finder or contact educationschemes@dva.gov.au to see if you are eligible.
• Be a child or a grandchild of an ex-serving veteran. Children include adopted children, ex-nuptial children, stepchildren and foster children. Stepchildren and foster children must have resided with or been financially supported by their veteran stepparent or foster parent for 5 of the last 10 years. Grandchildren are defined as the children of one's son or daughter and must be the direct descendant of a veteran. Step-grandchildren are not eligible.
• The veteran must be an Australian ex-serving veteran with operational service including eligible war service, war-like service and peacekeeping/peacemaking service OR 3 or more continuous years of full-time other service, as a member of the Australian Navy, Army or Air Force. You can search the Nominal Rolls to obtain proof of service.
• People who are serving in the Reserve Forces (SERCAT 3, 4 & 5 – Rendering Service) are considered to be serving so the applicant child or grandchild is not eligible.
• Applicants need only complete one application form to be considered for all AVCAT scholarships and bursaries. Applicants will be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible.

Visit the AVCAT Scholarships webpage to download an Application Guide.

Applications, including all documentation, need to be submitted by midnight 31st October 2025.

Please note the following:

• It is a requirement of the application to provide academic results, an academic reference, detailed financial information, and other supporting documents. If this information is not provided an application cannot be considered.
• All scholarships and bursaries share common eligibility criteria. However, specific criteria may apply to individual scholarships, such as, born/living in a specific state/territory/postcode; membership of a particular association; the veteran’s service in a specific conflict/battalion/particular section of the Australian Defence Force e.g. RAAF, SAS or the course of study.
• Applications are assessed by independent assessors and AVCAT’s National Selection Committee.
• The selection process is competitive and scholarship numbers are limited therefore, not all worthy and eligible applicants will receive a scholarship.

Visit the AVCAT Scholarships webpage to download an Application Guide.