teach.Rural Scholarship

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply for a teach.Rural Scholarship, an applicant must:

1. be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
2. be entering or continuing an initial teacher education program (including initial integrated teacher education programs), or an undergraduate degree followed by an initial teacher education program, from Semester 1, 2026, at a recognised Australian university or tertiary institution. The applicant's studies will need to meet the department's and NESA's academic requirements for employment as a secondary school teacher, or for those applying for a scholarship for inclusive/special education, either primary and/or secondary teacher with a specialisation in inclusive/special education. Applicants must have no less than 6 months of study remaining from Semester 1, 2026 or no more than 5 years.
3. be willing to accept an appointment as a permanent full-time teacher to a NSW public school in a rural or remote location in line with the Scholarship Agreement on completion of their studies for a minimum period of 3 years. The rural and remote locations under the teach.Rural Scholarship are: Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Bourke, Broken Hill, Deniliquin, Dubbo, Griffith, Moree, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.
4. be able to demonstrate that their English language proficiency is of a standard which would enable them to teach and interact effectively and confidently in a NSW public school. Applicants will be required to undertake an assessment of their English language proficiency if they have not completed the full 4 years of required higher education in a country where English is the main language. This is a requirement to gain approval to teach in a NSW public school.

Inclusive/special education eligibility criteria

There are only 3 universities that offer recognised initial teacher education programs in inclusive/special education in NSW. These are offered through the University of New England, the University of Newcastle and the Australian Catholic University.

The University of Newcastle courses require students to enter into an internship (EDUC4167) in their fourth and final year of study to meet academic requirements as an inclusive/special education teacher.

A scholarship is only available to students who commenced the Bachelor of Education (Secondary and Special Education) or Bachelor of Education (Primary and Special Education) at the Australian Catholic University from 2021 onwards.