Scholarships and Bursaries
Education
for all
Providing opportunities for girls to thrive through the Dalton Plan.
Opportunities
to thrive
In line with our school values, we strongly believe a diverse school community benefits us all and our means-tested scholarship program is just one way we fulfil our responsibilities towards inclusion so that we may grow together.
We understand that not every girl is able to financially access an Ascham education and we are proud to be a school that exclusively offers means-tested scholarships and bursaries.
These are awarded annually to girls who we believe will thrive academically and personally through the Dalton Plan, and will make a significant contribution to School life and would otherwise not be able to afford an Ascham education.
Scholarships
available
Applications for 2026 entry scholarships will open in October.
Ascham awards scholarships annually in the following categories:
Academic
Open to girls who demonstrate:
- proven academic excellence
- an exemplary work ethic
- ability to make a positive and significant contribution to the life of the School
- financial need.
All-round excellence
Open to girls who demonstrate:
- the ability to make a positive and significant contribution to the life of the School
- an exemplary work ethic
- academic potential
- a demonstrated high standard in chosen co-curricular activities
- social awareness
- financial need.
Open to daughters and/or granddaughters of Ascham Old Girls who demonstrate:
- the ability to make a positive and significant contribution to the life of the School
- an exemplary work ethic
- academic potential
- financial need.
The Koppel-Johns Scholarship is open to girls who are new to Ascham and who demonstrate:
- academic potential
- an ability to make a positive contribution to the School
- financial need
This Scholarship will next be offered to a girl entering Year 7 in 2026.
Music
When selecting girls for an Ascham Music Scholarship, the School will take into consideration:
- performance in the scholarship written examination
- performance in a music audition
- the musical needs of the School
- the co-curricular profile of the candidate
- financial need.
In addition, for Music Scholarships girls will be expected to have attained a minimum of:
- Grade 7 for strings and piano
- Grade 5 for woodwind and brass instruments.
Boarding
Open to new and current girls who demonstrate:
- the ability to make a positive and significant contribution to the life of the School and above all to boarding
- an exemplary work ethic
- academic potential
- financial need.
Ngara
Ascham School is located on Gadigal Land. Ngara is a Gadigal word that encompasses the value of learning. The Ngara Scholarship is open annually to descendants of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander peoples who demonstrate:
- the ability to make a positive and significant contribution to the life of the School
- strong academic ability or potential, with good school reports that reflect effort
- a ready willingness to participate in a variety of educational and school-related activities
- active participation in co-curricular programs e.g. sport, visual arts, drama, music, debating or community service
- financial need.
The Jiu-Hwa Lo Ngara Scholarship is open to descendants of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander peoples who demonstrate:
- the ability to make a positive and significant contribution to the life of the School
- strong academic ability or potential, with good school reports that reflect effort
- a ready willingness to participate in a variety of educational and school-related activities
- active participation in co-curricular programs e.g. sport, visual arts, drama, music, debating or community service
- financial need.
This Scholarship will next be offered to a First Nations student entering Year 7 in 2029.
Equity and Inclusivity
Welcoming and reaching out to all learners
The Vi et Animo Scholarship supports a student to study at Ascham and it incorporates both financial and non-financial support.
The scholarship is open to students who are:
- from a disadvantaged or low socio-economic background
- from a multicultural or refugee background
- academically competent and show potential, with good school reports that reflect effort
- willing to participate in a variety of co-curricular activities
- demonstrate the Ascham School values
- financial need
The Vi et Animo Scholarship is part of our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout our School community.
This scholarship seeks to attract a bright and motivated girl who will take full advantage of Ascham’s opportunities. It is open to girls who are new to Ascham and entering Year 7, who meet the following criteria:
- Academic competence and future potential, demonstrated by positive school reports that reflect their dedication to learning.
- An enthusiasm for engaging in a wide range of educational and school-related activities, embracing a holistic approach to learning.
- Families from low socio-economic backgrounds.
- Priority will be given to students from under-represented communities, such as First Nations students or students with a refugee background.
This Scholarship will next be offered to a girl entering Year 7 in 2025.
Leadership
The Ascham Leadership Scholarship is an opportunity for young Old Girls to undertake research or humanitarian aid work aligned with their professional degree and development, either overseas or within Australia. It is generously endowed by a past Ascham family.
The Scholarship includes up to $10,000 for travel and living expenses within Australia and/or overseas. It is expected that the successful applicant would maintain strong contact with the School during the term of the Scholarship and afterwards so that Senior students may hear of her experiences.
Who is eligible?
The Scholarship is open to all Ascham Old Girls who were between the ages of 20 and 30.
How to apply
Applicants should email their CV and a cover letter which includes their detailed reasons for applying for the Scholarship to the Ascham Community Relations Manager by COB Friday 4 October 2024.
The successful applicant is notified in late November and invited to accept the Scholarship at Senior School Prizegiving in early December.
Scholarship application process
All applicants will need to sit an examination at Ascham. Applicants who are successfully shortlisted will be invited to an interview with the Head of School. Successfully shortlisted Music applicants are also invited to attend a Music audition.
The process
Students and their parents apply for an Ascham Scholarship or Bursary by completing the online registration form and submitting:
- recent school and NAPLAN reports
- a handwritten piece by the student about why she is applying for a scholarship at Ascham
- recent awards and achievements
- a photo of the applicant
- a completed Statement of Financial Position form and Letter of Need.
Awards and review
Ascham scholarships are awarded after the successful completion of the Ascham Scholarship application process. Acceptance of an offer will require payment of the non-refundable enrolment fee, payment of which confirms acceptance of the scholarship.
All scholarships are reviewed annually and if the recipient is considered to be making outstanding progress, as well as an ongoing valuable contribution to the School, the scholarship will be renewed. Periodically we also ask parents to refresh their ‘financial need statement’ to ensure financial assistance continues to be appropriate. We would expect that under normal circumstances scholarships would be renewed.
Boarding Assistance Bursaries
Please contact the Enrolments Office for all bursary related enquiries and application information.
We are very proud of our boarding history at Ascham and we are committed to continue to support the country boarders who, without our assistance, would not be able to benefit from the opportunities offered by our School.
In response to this, Ascham offers a number of bursaries, open to families living in country NSW, to support their daughters in boarding at Ascham. Boarding Assistance Bursaries are open to external applicants and current students.
Your
questions
answered
Scholarship applications close in February of the previous year. Registrations for the 2025 Scholarship and Bursary program will open 16 October 2023 and close 12 February 2024.
Each Ascham Scholarship Day commences at 8.15am and concludes at 1pm.
Ascham does not offer remote testing.
If your daughter can’t write, a scribe can be arranged. For other illnesses please provide a letter detailing the situation and forward it to the School marked, Scholarships ‘FAO Director of Enrolments and Community’. Every situation will be considered individually, and options provided accordingly. Please also login to Allwell and amend your application online – outlining the illness or reasons.
See the Scholarship Application Process information on this page.
The non-refundable registration fee is AUS$100. If you are applying for more than one scholarship type you are only required to pay a single registration fee.
You can apply from overseas, however your daughter is required to attend the Scholarship Testing Day in Sydney. Ascham scholarships are only available to Australian citizens or Permanent Residents.
Ascham scholarships are only available to Australian citizens or Permanent Residents. The applicant’s status would need to change for her to be eligible to apply, so that she is recognised as a permanent resident by the Australian government (immigration).
All Ascham Scholarships are means-tested. You will be required to complete our Statement of Financial Position and supply your last two tax Notice of Assessments from the Australian Tax Office.
The Scholarship Registration form outlines all required supporting material.
An Information Session and School campus tours will be held for parents on the scholarship testing day.
Generally, scholarships cover a percentage of tuition fees only and the percentage offered varies according to the families Statement of Financial Position.
Music Scholarships cover a percentage of tuition and some other music related activities.
Boarding scholarships are usually boarding only; however, there are further avenues for financial assistance such as the ICPA. Please contact the school for more information.
Applicants being considered vary from year to year, therefore we cannot predict the outcome.
Girls are asked to wear their current school uniform.
Your daughter will need a blue pen, a black pen and some water in a clear bottle. Morning tea will be provided by the School. If you daughter has specific dietary needs, please contact the School. Mobile phones and calculators are not permitted in the testing area.
Your questions
answered:
Music
Scholarships
Music Scholarship Day date is to be announced. Only short-listed candidates will be invited to audition.
Two contrasting pieces of no longer than five minutes per piece. If your daughter is strong in two instruments we would welcome a piece on each instrument.
When selecting girls for an Ascham Music Scholarship, the School will take into consideration:
- performance in the scholarship written examination
- the musical needs of the school
- the co-curricular profile of the candidate.
- In addition, for Music Scholarships girls will expected to have attained a minimum of:
- Grade 7 for strings and piano
- Grade 5 for woodwind and brass instruments.
Yes we can provide an accompanist. If your daughter is short-listed, rehearsal time and other information will be provided to you.
We have many ensembles, bands and orchestras which will welcome our Music Scholarship recipients.
