You must propose and undertake your course of study at an eligible provider.

An eligible provider is either a:

• registered training organisation (RTO) registered with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), or in Victoria the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA), or in Western Australia the Western Australian Training Accreditation Council (WA TAC), or
• higher education provider registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

The Department of Education advises us of higher education or training providers for which issues of financial viability, quality or unethical behaviour have been identified and may, at its discretion, require that a higher education or training provider not be considered an eligible provider for the purpose of the program. 

The course of study must be accredited, and the eligible provider must be accredited to deliver the qualification.

If you are applying for the Creative Arts Scholarship, the chosen course of study must also fall within the Creative Arts Field of Education (Category 10), Please refer to the Australian Bureau Statistics website for further information.

RRES Program

The course of study must be classified at one of the following Australian Quality Framework (AQF) levels:

• Level 4 – Certificate IV
• Level 5 – Diploma
• Level 6 – Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree
• Level 7 – Bachelor Degree
• Level 8 – Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma
• Level 9 – Master Degree
• Level 10 – Doctoral Degree (PhD).

Please Note: Tertiary Preparation Program and Pathway courses are not considered as eligible courses.

Creative Arts Scholarships

If you are applying for the Creative Arts Scholarship the course of study must be classified at one of the following Australian Quality Framework (AQF) levels:

• Level 7 – Bachelor Degree
• Level 8 – Bachelor Honours Degree

All new applicants for the RRES Program must have commenced their first year of their study in 2022 or 2023 in order to be considered.

Scholarships cannot be deferred.

You can study on a full-time or part-time basis. A full-time study load is as defined by the eligible provider of the eligible course of study. Part-time scholarships are reduced proportionally per semester. Visit the Benefits page for more information.

You may change from full-time to part-time study, or vice versa.

The mode of study may be face-to-face or online, but must be undertaken in Australia, unless we grant a special exemption (for example, to allow for a student exchange experience).

Study must be delivered in English, unless we grant a special exemption (for example, to allow for a student exchange experience).

For your permanent home address to be considered as being in a regional or remote area, it must be located within a remote geographic region as defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) and classified as:

• Remoteness Area 2 (RA2)
• Remoteness Area 3 (RA3)
• Remoteness Area 4 (RA4); or
• Remoteness Area 5 (RA5)

To check if your home address is in an eligible regional or remote area:

• Visit http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/internet/otd/publishing.nsf/Content/locator
• In the “Search the Map” section enter your full permanent home address
• Choose the “ASGS Remoteness Area (2016)” check box under the “Australia Bureau of Statistics remoteness classifications” section.
• Check which classification area your permanent address is located in on the interactive map. (You can zoom in on your location).
• To be eligible for RRESP you must be located within a RA 2 – 5 classification.

If you need assistance with determining your rural classification, please contact us.