Tertiary Access Payment
Overview
Title
Tertiary Access Payment
College
Opening date
01-01-2025
Closing date
31-12-2025
Scholarship value
Up to $5,000
Scholarship duration
1 year
Payment term
Enrolment status
Commencing
Student type
Regional or rural or remote
Level of Study
Undergraduate, Honours
Selection basis
Financial need
Description
Young Australians who have taken one or more gap years and are moving from regional or remote areas to start their tertiary studies may now be eligible to access up to $5,000 in financial assistance to help cover the costs of relocating. The TAP is designed to ease the transition for regional and remote students, and recent changes to the eligibility criteria mean even more young Australians can benefit from this support.
Previously, students needed to start their tertiary studies immediately after completing year 12 to qualify for the TAP. However, this requirement has been removed. Now, students up to 22 years of age who begin their tertiary studies after taking a break following year 12 can apply for the TAP. Newly eligible students can conveniently apply through Services Australia. There is a step-by-step guide to claiming on the Services Australia website.
The eligibility criteria changes have been backdated to January 1, 2025. This means students who start their tertiary studies this year, including those who have already commenced, can now apply under the new rules. Students have until December 31 in their first year of tertiary study to claim the TAP.
Benefits
The Tertiary Access Payment is a payment of $3,000 or $5,000. How much you can get depends on where your family home is located.
Inner regional students
If you’re eligible, you can get a one off lump sum of $3,000 in the first half of your study year.
We’ll pay you after you confirm your study details. You’ll need to meet all eligibility criteria at that time, including being enrolled in full time study.
Outer regional and remote students
If you’re an outer regional or remote student, you may be able to get this payment in 2 instalments.
First instalment
If you’re eligible, you can get an instalment of $3,000 in the first half of your study year.
We’ll pay you after you confirm your study details. You’ll need to meet all eligibility criteria at that time, including being enrolled in full time study.
Second instalment
If you stay enrolled in full time study, you can get a second instalment of $2,000. We’ll pay you in either:
- September of the same year you started studying
- March in the following year, if you started studying in the second half of the year.
Eligibility
You need to be an eligible student from a regional or remote area, moving away from home to study at a tertiary education provider.
To get this payment you must be all of the following:
- be an Australian resident meeting residence rules
- come from an inner regional, outer regional or remote area
- move to study at a tertiary education provider that’s at least 90 minutes away from your family home location by public transport
- have completed year 12 or equivalent
- be in your first year of tertiary study
- studying a tertiary course at certificate IV or above
- be 22 or younger on the day you start your tertiary course
- have parents or guardians whose income is under the current combined parental income limit of $250,000 if you are a dependant.
You can claim Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) at any time between 1 January and 31 December for the current year.
