Professional development

ECEC scholarships on offer for those willing to go regional

Freya Lucas

Nov 04, 2019

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Almost 1,200 scholarships, with a combined worth of $19.5 million are on offer for those who are happy to study with a regional university or vocational education provider in 2020.

A number of participating institutions, such as the University of New England or Charles Dawrin University, offer qualifications in early childhood education and care (ECEC) for both international and domestic students, who may now be interested in the Destination Australia program.

Scholarships worth $15,000 a year, covering qualifications from Certificate IV level through to PhD are on offer to students who study at a regional institution.

Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan said that an increase in student numbers at regional education providers will give local economies a kickstart and also help share the social, economic and cultural benefits of higher education.

He highlighted some of the benefits of studying in a regional location, including smaller class sizes, cheaper cost of living as well as “the people and the lifestyle”.

As well as benefiting domestic students, the Government hopes that the scholarships will entice international students to choose a regional university. In 2018, of the 690,000 international students in Australia, just three per cent were enrolled in regional Australian institutions.

Those interested in accessing a scholarship as part of the Destination Australia funding are encouraged to apply directly through their institution of choice.

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