Priority Area 1, Action 2: Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program

This content was published on Monday 6 November 2023. There may be more recent updates available.

Students commencing teaching degrees in 2024 can now register their interest in applying for scholarships worth up to $40,000 which are designed to encourage more people to become teachers.

The $160 million Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships program aims to attract high-quality candidates to teaching to address teacher workforce shortages.

These scholarships extend to both recent school graduates and individuals transitioning into teaching from other professions. The Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships program will allocate 1,000 scholarships annually over the next five years, as an integral part of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan.  

Recipients of the Scholarships will be required to work as teachers in government schools or government-run early learning settings, for a period equivalent to the duration of their teaching degree.

The scholarship package comprises $40,000 for undergraduate teaching students, allocated as $10,000 per year for a four-year course. Postgraduate teaching students will receive $20,000, allocated as $10,000 per year for a two-year postgraduate study period.

As well as high-achieving school leavers, the initiative also seeks to encourage mid-career professionals, First Nations peoples, people with disability, people for whom English is an additional language or dialect, individuals from rural, regional and remote locations or from low socio-economic backgrounds to become teachers.

Applications open soon and close on 14 January 2024.

To register your interest visit: www.education.gov.au/teaching-scholarships

For further details, you can review the media release from the Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education: Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships: Old school idea to tackle new school challenge