2026 Community Bank Mansfield & District University, TAFE and Stinchcombe Foundation Scholarship Program (CEF)(U)(T)

The scholarship program aims to assist academically motivated students from the Mansfield District who have been offered a place at an Australian University or TAFE to study for the first time in 2026 and are facing personal, medical, social and /or financial circumstance that make it difficult to undertake further education.

The Scholarship program supports the following study related expenses – accommodation costs, course costs, study-related materials/equipment, textbooks, tutoring and /or education related travel (within Australia).

The scholarship award value is up to:

2026 Community Bank Mansfield & District University and TAFE Scholarship Program (CEF)(U)(T)

• $5,000 per year, for 2 years (total $10,000) for University/Bachelor studies - Subject to the criteria set out below and satisfactory academic performance.
• $2,000 per year, for 2 years (total $4,000) for TAFE studies - Subject to the criteria set out below and satisfactory academic performance.

2026 Community Bank Mansfield & District Stinchcombe Foundation Scholarship for practical based studies

• $5,000 per year, for 2 years (total $10,000) for practical based studies  - Subject to the criteria set out below and satisfactory academic performance.

Key General qualification criteria:

• You are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or have refugee status.
• You reside in or have attended secondary school in Mansfield District.
• You can demonstrate leadership both within, and outside, your school community.
• You can provide an explanation of personal, medical, financial &/or social challenges hindering your ability to undertake further study; and
• You can provide evidence of your academic motivation.
• You can provide evidence of your community involvement.
• Receipt of scholarship is conditional on commencing studies the year the scholarship is offered
• You can attach a reference from your school (principal/ teacher/careers counsellor)

For study at University - undergraduate bachelor’s degree level

Qualification criteria:

• You will be a first-time tertiary student at first year undergraduate bachelor’s degree level in 2026.
• You can be studying on campus and/or off campus (including online).
• You can be studying on a full time or part time basis.
• You can provide evidence of your letter of offer to study a bachelor’s degree in an approved Australian course with an Australian university.
• You have completed Year 12.
• You must be aged 22 years or younger as at 29 January 2026 (students under the age of 18 years will require parental /guardian consent to accept this scholarship.)

For study at TAFE or practical based studies:

Qualification criteria:

• You must be aged 16 to 22 years as at 29 January 2026 (students under the age of 18 years will require parental/guardian consent to accept this scholarship.)
• You must have left secondary school (having completed Year 10 as a minimum).
• You can be studying on campus and/or off campus (including online).
• You can be studying on a full time or part time basis.
• You have been offered a place to commence study in 2026 at an approved Australian TAFE institute campus in an approved Australian course*.

* Eligible TAFE courses include –

• Full-time or competency-based completion (Apprenticeships),
• Certificate I, II, III or IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate degree
• Course must be of at least 10 weeks’ duration for full-time study or the part time equivalent.
• Courses ineligible for this scholarship include VETiS, Foundation level training and short courses.

Please select your relevant scholarship type in the application form – TAFE, University, or Other (if you are attending a different registered training organisation).

The system will ask for you to attach a Letter of Offer from your Tertiary provider to your application. If you have not yet received your letter of offer, please upload evidence of your Tertiary application (as the Letter of Offer)

Scholarships will be awarded on the recommendation of a selection committee and will be based on how an applicant addresses the qualification criteria.

If successful, you will be given a letter of offer with payment being made subject to evidence being provided of your enrolment in 2026 and acceptance of the Scholarship Agreement

For further information please contact the Community Bank Mansfield & District 

For assistance with your application – phone 1300 304 541.

The Scholarship Selection Committee reserves the right, at its discretion, not to award this scholarship in any given year.

Community Bank Branch Scholarships are funded from management accounts of the Community Enterprise Charitable Fund ABN 12 102 649 968 (the Fund), The Bendigo Centre, Bendigo VIC 3550. Sandhurst Trustees Limited ABN 16 004 030 737 AFSL 237906, a subsidiary of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178, AFSL 237879, is the trustee of the Fund.

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Before you begin:

Welcome to the Bendigo Bank online grant application service, powered by SmartyGrants. For queries about the guidelines, deadlines, or questions in the form, please email us at foundation@bendigobank.com.au and quote your submission number. If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

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