The Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) is a one-off, non-indexed, means-tested payment of up to $5000. It encourages and assists regional and remote students who need to relocate to access tertiary study immediately following school (Year 12 or equivalent).

To be eligible, your family home must be 90 minutes or more by public transport from your education provider. You must also be enrolled full-time in further study at Certificate IV or above.

The program is designed to help you with:

  • start-up expenses for relocation (such as travel, transport and bond for accommodation)
  • costs of living (rent and food)
  • direct costs of education or training (tuition fees, textbooks and computers)
  • the cost of travelling home in semester breaks
  • the opportunity cost of forgone income while studying.

Related

About the Tertiary Access Payment

The TAP will help inner and outer regional, remote and very remote school leavers with the increased costs associated with relocating to a new city or town to undertake tertiary study, and expenses of the first year of study.

Importantly, it will provide an incentive for students to start tertiary study immediately after completing secondary school, rather than taking a gap year to save money or qualify for other types of income support.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the TAP, you must be:

  • from an inner or outer regional, remote or very remote area (use the Student Regional Area Search tool to check eligibility)
  • relocating to study at an education provider at least 90 minutes by public transport from your family home
  • undertaking eligible tertiary study in the year immediately following completion of Year 12 or equivalent (or the first available semester of your course if the course has a mid-year, or later, start)
  • studying in person, or in dual-delivery (hybrid) method, for at least part of the course
  • enrolled in a Certificate IV or above qualification, with a course duration of at least one academic year
  • enrolled in at least 75% of a full-time study load
  • be 22 years of age or under when commencing study, and
  • have parent(s) or guardian(s) with a combined income of less than $250,000.

Value

  • This scholarship is valued from $3000 to $5000. 
  • Eligible students from outer regional, remote and very remote areas will receive a payment of up to $5000 which will be paid in two instalments, and
  • Students from inner regional areas will receive a single payment of $3000.

Applications

Applications are open from 1 January 2022

Please visit Tertiary Access Payment - Services Australia to submit your application.