Payment overview

As a scholarship holder, you will receive:

• an initial payment of $1,000. You will be required to fill out a SmartyGrants form to confirm your enrolment past your University’s census date

• milestone payment instalments based on completion of units.

Scholars will receive up to:

• $20,000 to undertake or complete the Master of Special and Inclusive Education (specialising in Early Childhood) at the University of Newcastle; or

• $10,000 to undertake or complete the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Disability Support at the University of Newcastle.

Your individual payment amounts will be determined from the information you provide to the department. This information includes, but is not limited to, proof of enrolment past the census date and an academic transcript. These amounts are calculated from your award date – when the department approved the award of your scholarship. The award date for the 2022-23 round is 12 December 2022.

If you have completed any units prior to the award of your scholarship, they will not be considered part of your scholarship and will not be eligible for payment. Your award date can be found in your Deed of Agreement.

Receiving your initial payment

To receive your initial payment, the department will request you provide:

• your completed and signed Deed of Agreement
• a completed Electronic Funds Transfer Form (EFT form)
• proof of enrolment  past the census date for the current semester through the SmartyGrants portal.

Once the department has received the above information, the number of units required to complete your degree will be calculated to determine your milestone payments.

If you submit the correct documents by the due date, please allow approximately 4 weeks from the due date to receive your payment. Information provided after the due date may result in a delayed payment.

Receiving your milestone payments

When milestone payments are due, the department will request proof that you have completed the required number of credits to reach a milestone payment.

Please submit all correct documents by the end of February, July and November each year, once prompted by the department. After submitting the correct documents, you can expect to receive your payment after one month from each of these dates. If you have not reached a milestone, you do not need to submit any documents for that month.

TS = Transcripts to be submitted by end of the month.

MP = Milestone payment received.

A scholar who submits the correct documents after February, July or November, will receive their payment in the following payment period.

To calculate your milestone payments:

1. check the total number of credit points required to complete your degree (including Recognised Prior Learning and Transfer of Credits).

2. divide this by 4. This number is how many credit points you are required to complete before each 25% payment milestone.

3. check subjects that were completed, through recognised prior learning or as part of the degree, before the start of the scholar's award, as these will not attract a payment.

Examples

These examples are for information only. Refer to your individual degree information and calculation of total scholarship award.

SmartyGrants

Uploading documents to SmartyGrants

You will need to upload the following documents in SmartyGrants to receive payments:

You will need to provide your unofficial/online academic transcript through SmartyGrants to prove your enrolment and completion of credit points. You can access this online or in person from your university or education provider.

You can access the following unofficial transcripts through your university portal.

Please note

For a milestone payment to be generated, you must meet the 25% payment milestone and have successfully passed each subject.

The department only requires an official transcript upon the completion of your degree. For a breakdown of milestone payments, please refer to the Funding Notice provided by the department after your initial payment.

Census date

The census date is the last day students may withdraw from subjects and courses without paying tuition fees. Ensure you check your university or education provider’s website for the correct date.

Further information is provided below:

Scholarship examples

The examples listed below may help you better understand the structure of the scholarship.

Contact us

Please get in touch if you have any questions:

Email: ecec.scholarships@det.nsw.edu.au