• Charles Sturt offers $2.4 million in grants to help new students with the cost of workplace learning
• Grants are available for students studying teaching, nursing, and social work degrees
• Grants of between $2,000 and $3,000 will be paid to students commencing in 2023

Charles Sturt University is offering $2.4 million in financial assistance to reduce the burden of workplace learning costs (WPL) for students.

The University announced the grants of between $2,000 and $3,000 this week which will go to new students commencing specified teaching, nursing, or social work courses in 2023. 

Charles Sturt Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Graham Brown said the grants will help students overcome a key barrier faced by many of our students.

“Workplace learning is a vital element of many of our degrees at Charles Sturt,” Professor Brown said.

“Students working in their communities and the industries in which they are training provides an invaluable experience you can’t get from a textbook.

“Our WPL program has delivered outstanding graduate employment rates across many of our courses, so much so, Charles Sturt has been ranked number one in the nation for graduate employment for six consecutive years, a result we are extremely proud of,” Professor Brown said.

Professor Brown said the costs associated with students undertaking workplace learning often presented financial barriers. 

“We know that there is a financial cost associated with unpaid WPL, and this grants program will help alleviate some of that burden and allow students to concentrate more on their studies,” he said.

Professor Brown said the length of WPL can range from two to fourteen weeks, and sometimes the placement is outside a student’s hometown which adds accommodation costs.

The Charles Sturt Workplace Learning Grants will be applied to students commencing in any of the following courses with WPL requirements in 2023:

• Bachelor of Education (Birth to 5)
• Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary)
• Bachelor of Education (K – 12)
• Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)
• Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)
• Bachelor of Nursing – the grant is available for students studying online and coming in with a diploma-level qualification.
• Bachelor of Social Work

Professor Brown said grants will be paid automatically to students when they commence their WPL program.

“For some courses, students could receive their grants as soon as this year, while for other courses WPL requirements may not begin until later years,” Professor Brown said. 

The Charles Sturt Workplace Learning Grants are in addition to the existing financial support options available for students undertaking WPL.

“Charles Sturt’s scholarship program acknowledges that a student’s financial position should be no barrier to a quality education,” Professor Brown said.

“We are proud to support students with the drive, determination, and stamina to pursue a university qualification however we can.” 

Charles Sturt offered more than 650 scholarships in 2022, valued at approximately $5.5 million. An additional $4 million was announced in September 2022 to assist first-year students with the costs of accommodation at Charles Sturt’s six regional campuses.

“The University is proud of its extensive relationships with partner organisations across a variety of industries,” Professor Brown said.

“Just some of the ways our students are being supported by industry and government include $2 million in funding from Transgrid Civil Engineering Scholarships; close to $300,000 in scholarships from the NSW Government to assist young people who have experienced out-of-home care to obtain an undergraduate degree; our partnership with IBM which aims to create more than 300 jobs through the new Client Innovation Centre while offering scholarships to our IT students; along with our range of scholarships to assist First Nations students.”

Applications for scholarships close in early February.

Applications for Session 1 2023 close on 27 February, but close earlier for some courses listed above. More detail is available on the Charles Sturt University website.

Applications for Session 2 2023 open on 23 February and close on 7 July.

ENDS