The Victorian College of the Arts and the University of Melbourne are committed to providing students who have experienced ongoing difficulties during their school years with the opportunity to undertake tertiary education.

To further this aim, the VCA is able to provide the opportunity for those students interested in studying at the VCA to apply for the University of Melbourne’s Access Melbourne combined special entry and scholarship scheme. Access Melbourne provides prospective students with the opportunity to explain the ongoing circumstances that affected their chance of gaining a place at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Applying for Access Melbourne will also enable you to be considered for a Melbourne Access Scholarship provided you indicate you are interested in being considered on the application form.

The benefits of a Melbourne Access Scholarship are a $4000 annual contribution towards your HECS fees and a $2000 annual allowance for up to four years. This upfront contribution will attract the 20% discount and so effectively reduce your HECS bill in the course for which you hold the scholarship, provided that you remain enrolled as a full-time student.

To be eligible for Access Melbourne you must:

• Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident or holder of a permanent Humanitarian Visa; and
• Have not been awarded results in any subjects in a degree course at a tertiary institution in Australia (this does not include the University's Community Access Program (CAP), bridging schemes or extension studies undertaken as part of a Year 12 program); and
• Have demonstrated the capacity to successfully undertake the course of your choice 

You may apply under any of the following categories for which the description matches your circumstances. You may apply under more than one criterion.

• Recognition as an Indigenous Australian
• Difficult family circumstances
• Disadvantaged socio-economic background
• Disability or long-term medical condition
• Non-English speaking background
• Under-represented school
• Rural or isolated

For more information on and application forms for the Access Melbourne Program, and the Access Melbourne Scholarships, see the following:

Access Melbourne 2007 Application Form
Access Melbourne 2007 Information Booklet
Access Melbourne Statement of Support Form
Access Melbourne Terms and Conditions

Related Links
Please follow this link for a Melbourne University list of under-represented schools.

Please follow this link for Australian Standard Geographic Classification (ASGC) Remoteness Areas: Rural and Isolated Postcodes.