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Theatre scholarships and awards

Please note, values provided are indicative only, as true values will either be determined by the amount of interest accrued from the trust, or are conditional upon ongoing donations.

There may be further scholarships or awards offered through the year, depending on external donations.

This page lists theatre-specific scholarships, and general Faculty of VCA and MCM scholarships, for which theatre students are eligible.

THEATRE SCHOLARSHIPS

BARBARA MANNING SCHOLARSHIP
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Through nomination from the school
 Open orientation week, semester 1 Annual
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$7,000 Theatre only Graduate students in either Animateuring, Writing or Directing
The income of the fund is to provide the scholarship to support an outstanding candidate for one year of a postgraduate course in the fields of Animateuring, Directing or Writing. The scholarship is to provide financial support towards meeting the recipient’s course fees and is to be made on the basis of merit as well as financial need.
GRACE MARION WILSON TRUST SCHOLARSHIP 
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Through nomination from the school Semester 1 Annual
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$12,000 total - multiple available Theatre only Graduate students 
The scholarship's purpose is to provide fee relief for the awardee/s. The scholarship would ideally be offered as an incentive to the prospective undergraduate student to continue their studies in their chosen area of interest.  
GEORGE FAIRFAX MEMORIAL AWARD 
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Apply here Open April, semester 1 Biennially, next in 2014
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$20,000 Theatre only Graduates from any course offered through VCA's Drama or Theatre department, who graduated within the previous 10 years.
Any applicant for the award must have graduated, or be eligible to graduate, in any undergraduate or postgraduate course in Drama/Theare at the faculty within 10 years prior to 1 January of the year of the award (and preferably have three years industry experience); and be an Australian citizen or have resided in Australia for four years immediately preceding 1 January of the year of the award. 
KEITH & ELISABETH MURDOCH TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIP 
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Apply here Open April, semester 1 Biennially, next in 2013
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$25,000 Theatre only Graduates from any course offered through VCA's Drama or Theatre department, who graduated within the previous 10 years.
Applicants for this scholarship must have graduated, or be eligible to graduate, from the discipline of drama/theatre at the faculty within the ten years immediately preceding the date of submission of the application for the fellowship and be an Australian citizen or have resided in Australia for the four yearsimmediately preceding the date of submission of the application for the fellowship. 
LIONEL GELL FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FOR PRODUCTION 
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Apply here Open orientation week, semester 2
 Annual
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$9,000 Production only 2nd year - undergraduate
This scholarship is available to 2nd year students (to be paid in their 3rd year) and applicants will be judged on the basis of merit and financial need. The scholarship is for both fee relief and a bursary, paid in installments through the year.   
ORLOFF FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST SCHOLARSHIP FOR THEATRE
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Through nomination from the school Semester 2 Annual
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$3,500 total - multiple awards available Theatre only Any year level
This award/s is available to a high-ranking student/s in the discipline of theatre, and is awarded at the discretion of the Head of School. 
PRATT BURSARIES
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Through nomination from the school Semester 2 Annual
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$6,000 - 2 awards available Theatre only 2nd year - undergraduate
Candidates for the bursaries must have completed the first year of the undergraduate theatre course in minimum time, according to the rules of the discipline. This requires a minimum of a pass grade in all subjects. The recipients must further be enrolled as full-time students in second year of the course, and must be Australian citizens.
IRENE MITCHELL AWARD
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Through nomination from the school Semester 2 Annual
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$2,000 Theatre only 3rd year - undergraduate
 This award is provided to reward an outstanding Acting student who has successfully completed second year. 

 

GENERAL FACULTY OF VCA AND MCM SCHOLARSHIPS

CREATIVE SCHOLARSHIP FOR OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Through nomination from the school Semester 1 2013
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$8,000 per annum for 3 years General Faculty - 9 awarded, 1 for each discipline 1st year (incoming) - undergraduate

This scholarship will be awarded the most outstanding incoming 1st year student in each discipline, as judged by the respective Heads of School. The Creative Scholars must agree to adhere to the following conditions:

  • requires you to enrol in full time study in the first year of your course and cannot be deferred in the first year;
  • requires confirmation of acceptance and enrolment in the your course each year;
  • is only tenable provided you continue in this course – the scholarship would no longer be available if you were to defer the specialisation for which you were offered the course, or continue with another University of Melbourne degree;
  • requires you to attain satisfactory academic progress for the term of your undergraduate degree (up to three years in total);
  • is only valid until 2015 should you take a leave of absence at any point;would be reviewed before its continuation was assured should you elect to change your major; and
  • may be paid pro rata if you were to pursue part-time study in subsequent years. 

For more information, terms and schedules, please visit Creative Scholarships.
CREATIVE SCHOLARSHIP FOR DISADVANTAGED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Apply here Open orientation week, semester 1 2013
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$9,500 per annum for 3 years General Faculty - 9 awarded, 1 for each discipline 1st year (incoming) - undergraduate

This scholarship will be awarded the incoming 1st year students judged the most disadvantaged and in financial need in each discipline, as judged by the respective Heads of School. The Creative Scholars must agree to adhere to the following conditions:

  • requires you to enrol in full time study in the first year of your course and cannot be deferred in the first year;
  • requires confirmation of acceptance and enrolment in the your course each year;
  • is only tenable provided you continue in this course – the scholarship would no longer be available if you were to defer the specialisation for which you were offered the course, or continue with another University of Melbourne degree;
  • requires you to attain satisfactory academic progress for the term of your undergraduate degree (up to three years in total);
  • is only valid until 2015 should you take a leave of absence at any point;would be reviewed before its continuation was assured should you elect to change your major; and
  • may be paid pro rata if you were to pursue part-time study in subsequent years. 

For more information, terms and schedules, please visit Creative Scholarships.
CASSIDY BEQUEST SCHOLARSHIPS 
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Apply here Open orientation week, semester 1 Annual
Value (indicative)
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$24,000 total - multiple awards available BMus; BFA - Contempory music and Music Theatre; Theatre; Production Any year level
These scholarships will be awarded to talented students to overcome barriers to university education by alleviating some of the costs associated with higher education study. Applicants will be assessed on merit and on financial need.
MARGARET LAWRENCE SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Apply here Open orientation week, semester 2 Annual
Value (indicative)
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$4,000 All disciplines, targeted to Film and Television Any year level
The income of the fund is to be applied to provide the awards for students at the faculty to enable them to pursue eligible projects in film or other art forms. Eligible projects are projects which are designed to raise awareness and debate in the broader community about a wide range of global and local issues which do, or could, have an adverse impact on the communities within which those issues are evident or emerging.
FRIENDS OF THE VCA AWARDS 
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Through nomination from the school Semester 2 Annual
Value (indicative)
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$20,000 total - multiple awards available All disciplines at the VCA Any year level
Multiple awards are provided to encourage students through their studies at the VCA.
CREATIVE SCHOLARSHIP FOR OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENTS
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Through nomination from the school Semester 1 2013 & 2014
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$12,000 per annum for 2 years General Faculty - 8 awarded, 1 for each discipline 1st year (incoming) - Masters students

This scholarship will be awarded the incoming 1st year Masters students judged the most disadvantaged and in financial need in each discipline, as judged by the respective Heads of School. The Creative Scholars must agree to adhere to the following conditions:

  • requires you to enrol in full time study in the first year of your course and cannot be deferred in the first year;
  • requires confirmation of acceptance and enrolment in the your course each year;
  • is only tenable provided you continue in this course – the scholarship would no longer be available if you were to defer the specialisation for which you were offered the course, or continue with another University of Melbourne degree;
  • requires you to attain satisfactory academic progress for the term of your degree (up to two years in total);
  • is only valid until 2015 should you take a leave of absence at any point;would be reviewed before its continuation was assured should you elect to change your major; and
  • may be paid pro rata if you were to pursue part-time study in subsequent years. 

For more information, terms and schedules, please visit Creative Scholarships.
CREATIVE SCHOLARSHIP FOR DISADVANTAGED GRADUATE STUDENTS
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Apply here Open orientation week, semester 1 2013 & 2014
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$14,500 per annum for 2 years General Faculty - 8 awarded, 1 for each discipline 1st year (incoming) - Masters students

This scholarship will be awarded the incoming 1st year Masters students judged the most disadvantaged and in financial need in each discipline, as judged by the respective Heads of School. The Creative Scholars must agree to adhere to the following conditions:

  • requires you to enrol in full time study in the first year of your course and cannot be deferred in the first year;
  • requires confirmation of acceptance and enrolment in the your course each year;
  • is only tenable provided you continue in this course – the scholarship would no longer be available if you were to defer the specialisation for which you were offered the course, or continue with another University of Melbourne degree;
  • requires you to attain satisfactory academic progress for the term of your degree (up to two years in total);
  • is only valid until 2015 should you take a leave of absence at any point;would be reviewed before its continuation was assured should you elect to change your major; and
  • may be paid pro rata if you were to pursue part-time study in subsequent years. 

For more information, terms and schedules, please visit Creative Scholarships.
JIM MARKS POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP 
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Apply here April, semester 1 Annual
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$12,500 total - multiple awards available All disciplines Graduate students only
This scholarship is provided to support outstanding postgraduate student/s in any of the disciplines taught at the faculty. Candidates for the scholarship must have completed an undergraduate degree or equivalent; have been accepted into any postgraduate course offered by the faculty; be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia; and be in financial need.
FACULTY GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANCE GRANTS 
Method of award Timing of award Frequency of award
Apply here April, semester 1 Annual
Value (indicative) 
 Eligible discipline or specialisation Eligible year level
$30,000 total - multiple awards available All disciplines Graduate students only

The purpose of the fund is to assist students by providing or making available grants of up to $500 for various purposes incidental to their study at the Faculty. Suitable purposes related to their area of study may include:

  • software 
  • instrument purchase or repair 
  • conference or festival registration 
  • materials 
  • text books, scores, plays, etc. 

The funds cannot be used for the hire of people, for example:

  • lessons 
  • accompanists 
  • associate artists or 
  • crew