Apply now or nominate for an ITSA Study Grant

ITSA Study Grants are now available for students of TAFE NSW who live or study in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, South East or Tablelands regions. They offer financial support to help students to meet study-related expenses.

Grants of up to $2,500 are available for students studying full accredited qualifications, with grants available for up to $1,000 for students studying skillsets or non-accredited courses.

The 2025 ITSA Study Grants invite students to design their own study grant. Applications may request funds to help meet study expenses such as:

• Computer
• Internet data
• Transport
• PPE/Uniform
• Trade Equipment
• Block Release Travel/Accommodation
• Work Placement Travel/Accommodation
• Course Fees
• Other

Applications can be received directly from students, or students can be nominated by TAFE NSW employees. Applications from students will be required to nominate a referee. Students who are nominated by TAFE NSW employees will need to accept the nomination and provide additional information. Both the student and referee responses must be completed by the closing date for the application to be considered.

To apply, after selecting the Apply now button below follow these instructions:

• Students select 'ITSA Study Grant (Student Application)' from the Scholarship drop down menu

OR

• TAFE NSW staff nominating a student select 'ITSA Study Grant (Nomination)' from the Scholarship drop down menu

Applications for the 2025 ITSA Study Grants close 11:59 pm (AEST) Sunday, 28 September 2025.

Funds for this scholarship were endowed to TAFE NSW by the Illawarra TAFE Student Association (ITSA) to benefit TAFE NSW students who live or study across the former Illawarra TAFE regions. ITSA and its predecessor the Wollongong College Union provided student services across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, South East and Southern Tablelands regions from 1975 to 2023.

To be eligible for an ITSA Study Grant you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be enrolled at TAFE NSW in Semester 2 2025
• Study or live within the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, South East or Tablelands regions
• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen
• Be committed and motivated to study and successfully complete your course, and to gain employment after finishing your studies
• Be able to demonstrate that you are experiencing financial hardship
• Nominate a referee to endorse your application (TAFE NSW Teachers or employees in student support roles if possible). Endorsements must be received by the closing date
• If you are aged under 18 years, your application will require permission from a parent or legal guardian

For more details, check out the 2025 ITSA Study Grants Terms and Conditions.

Have a question about the ITSA Study Grants? Email us at ITSAgrants@tafensw.edu.au.

Please remember that TAFE NSW offers multiple support services to students, including free counselling services. We understand that sharing your personal or financial circumstances may be emotionally challenging, so please don’t hesitate to access these services if you need support.

You can arrange an appointment with a counsellor by phoning 131 601 and selecting option 5, then option 2. You can also use this option to access disability services or referral to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student support services.

Learn more about the resources available to you on the Student Services homepage.

Every year TAFE NSW awards hundreds of scholarships and study grants. To find the one that's right for you, go to the TAFE NSW Scholarships homepage.