2026 ECEC Scholarship Program second intake to open in April

The NSW Government has confirmed that applications for Round 1, Intake 2 of the 2026 ECEC Scholarship Program will open at 10am on 20 April 2026 and close at 10am on 29 May 2026.

Backed by a $27 million investment, the program is designed to reduce the cost of study, improve qualification completion rates and support the attraction and retention of qualified educators across New South Wales.

The 2026 program provides targeted financial support across two key pathways:

• Up to $6,000 for vocational education and training (VET) qualifications, including Certificate III and Diploma programs
• Up to $35,000 for early childhood teaching (ECT) degrees recognised by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

The scholarships support both new entrants to the sector and existing educators seeking to progress into higher-qualified roles.

Eligibility requirements and study timelines

Applicants must meet specific enrolment and study commencement requirements to be eligible.

VET applicants must be enrolled in an approved course and commence study after 1 January 2026. ECT applicants must be enrolled, or intending to enrol, in an approved teaching qualification and also commence study after this date.

Additional requirements include:

• all applicants must commence their first subject after 1 January 2026
• VET applicants must commence by 30 April 2026, and ECT applicants by 31 July 2026
• only Birth–5 and Birth–8 ECT qualifications are eligible, with Birth–12 pathways no longer supported

Applicants must also meet residency requirements, intend to work in an eligible NSW ECEC service, and complete a Child Safety Declaration.

The second intake provides an opportunity for services to support educators to plan study pathways for the 2026–27 period.

With workforce shortages continuing across NSW, the program may assist services to:

• strengthen educator retention by reducing financial pressure
• support progression into Diploma and ECT roles
• meet qualification and ratio requirements under the National Quality Framework
• build long-term workforce capability

As applications will not be assessed with follow-up requests for missing information, services may play a key role in supporting educators to prepare documentation in advance.

Services may consider several practical steps to support uptake:

• sharing scholarship information through team meetings, newsletters and performance discussions
• encouraging early engagement with registered training organisations (RTOs) and universities
• supporting educators to gather required documentation, including enrolment evidence and identification
• aligning workforce planning with educators considering further study

The 2026 ECEC Scholarship Program represents a significant investment in workforce development across the state.

By reducing financial barriers and supporting clear qualification pathways, the program contributes to a more stable and qualified workforce, supporting improved outcomes for children and families.

Further information about eligibility and application requirements is available via the NSW Department of Education’s 2026 ECEC Scholarship Program page.