Early Childhood Scholarships to help people upskill and become a kindergarten teacher

Enrol to study early childhood education with the mid-year intake and secure financial support while you study.

An early childhood teacher is sitting with a student in a classroom are laughing together.

Early Childhood Scholarships are available to help people build their careers in early childhood education, without an additional financial burden.

The Early Childhood Scholarships and the Early Childhood Aboriginal pathway scholarship initiatives are part of the Victorian Government’s $370 million investment to bolster our kindergarten workforce.

Scholarships can be used to pay for course fees, living costs while you study, or other costs associated with your education.

Apply for a scholarship today.

Early Childhood Scholarship recipient, kindergarten teacher Chelsea Ford is now in her dream career. Check out her story.

Reminder: mid-year intake for early childhood education courses is open

If you’re a current educator, you can upskill and become a qualified kindergarten teacher.

Different universities have different enrolment requirements and study options, and we encourage interested people to contact their preferred university to find out more.

The department’s kindergarten webpages have information on financial support, the Innovative Initial Teacher Education program, and study options throughout Victoria.

Early Childhood Scholarships available

Early Childhood Scholarships can provide financial support to support people studying to become a kindergarten teacher. Scholarships comprise both study and employment milestone payments.

Whether someone is starting their study or already studying early childhood teaching, there may be financial support available.

Support options include:

  • $25,000 towards an approved undergraduate qualification
  • $12,000 towards an approved graduate diploma qualification
  • $18,000 towards an approved master's qualification.

Early Childhood Aboriginal pathway scholarship

The Early Childhood Aboriginal pathway scholarship is for eligible Aboriginal people wanting to become a kindergarten teacher or educator. These scholarships also comprise both study and employment milestone payments.

Support options include:

  • $34,000 towards an approved undergraduate qualification
  • $16,000 towards an approved graduate diploma qualification
  • $24,000 towards an approved master’s qualification
  • $2,500 towards an approved early childhood Certificate III qualification
  • $5,000 towards an approved early childhood diploma qualification.

Study milestone payments are not available to those studying to become an educator through the Free TAFE initiative, however, students may be eligible for employment milestone payments.

Find out more

For more information, refer to:

For further enquiries, contact the Early Childhood Scholarships team:

Updated

Back to top