The AIS Athlete Education Scholarship, in partnership with the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation, is open to all categorised athletes with a total of $200,000 available to support high performance athletes with their education costs. $50,000 of this fund is available specifically for Para-athletes thanks to the Australian Government's record investment in High Performance sport.

"The combination of sport and study is a winning mix"

AIS Director, Matti Clements

The benefit of studying whilst a high performance athlete are:

• committing yourself to pursuits that benefit you for life following your athlete career
• providing for the ability to advance your knowledge in a particular field, either as an interest or for future career options
• contributing to your professional development
• providing an alternate experience to accompany your daily training environment and participation in competitions
• providing the ability to inspire and share study experience for the benefit of others, including other athletes

AIS Athlete Education Scholarship Program 2024-25 Guidelines

• Applications open: 9:00am AEDT Monday 10 February 2025
• Applications close:
• Outcomes notified to all applicants: April 2025

2025 Applications now closed.

Funding amounts and timeframe

A total funding pool of $200,000 is available for allocation through the Athlete Education Scholarship Program.

$150,000 is available to all applicants, with a further $50,000 available to eligible Para-athletes only.

The maximum scholarship amount available to any individual is $5,000.

Scholarship amounts will be determined by the AIS as part of the assessment process. The amounts may vary between applicants and may not be the full amount applied for.

The unit or course of study for which a Scholarship is awarded, must be successfully completed by 31 December 2025.

Eligibility criteria

Who is eligible to apply for a Scholarship?

To be eligible to apply for a 2025 Athlete Education Scholarship, an athlete must:

a) Be categorised by their National Sporting Organisation (NSO) NSO as a Podium, Podium Ready, Podium Potential, Developing or Emerging athlete, in line with the National Athlete Categorisation Framework, as at 16 February 2025.

b) Be intending to enrol, currently enrolled, or part way through a course/unit of study in period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025*.

c) Have no anti-doping rule violations or match fixing offences at any time.

*All applicants will be required to provide evidence of successfully completed unit or course of study for which the Scholarship was awarded by 31 December 2025, at a pass level or greater.

Applicants who have received an AIS Education Scholarship in previous years are ineligible.

What can the Scholarship money be used for?

Scholarship funds can be used by the applicant as a contribution towards study in an Approved Course. This may include contribution to course fees and study related costs, e.g. textbooks, travel, uniform and academic transcripts.

An ‘Approved Course’ is a recognised Australian University degree or TAFE course from an educational institution that is part of the Elite Athlete Education Network (EAEN). A listing of educational institutions can be found at https://www.ais.gov.au/career-and-education/eaen;

Note that successful applicants will be required to provide evidence to substantiate the eligible course fees incurred or payable by them before any Scholarship funding will be paid.

Additional information

Selection criteria

All applications will initially be assessed by the ASC against the eligibility criteria. Only one application will be considered per athlete.

Eligible applications will then proceed to assessment against the following criteria through a competitive process:

1. Level of detail provided of the course you are enrolled in, and why you selected this course (10%)
2. Demonstrate the requirement of financial support for your educational needs, including the benefits and support gained by receiving financial assistance (20%)
3. Completion of the budget table explaining how the grant amount will be spent (30%)
4. Demonstration of how your participation in study will support your holistic development and unlock your full potential to win well in sport and in life (40%)

Assessment process and scholarship approval

All applications will initially be assessed by the AIS against the eligibility criteria. Only one application will be considered per athlete. Applicants who have received an AIS Education Scholarship in previous years will not be eligible.

Eligible applications will then proceed to assessment against the selection criteria through a competitive process. This assessment will be undertaken by an AIS Assessment Panel, which will comprise representatives from the AIS, high performance system, education network, alumni athletes and independent members.

The Assessment Panel will consider each eligible application on its merits based on how well it meets the selection criteria and how it compares to other applications.

The Assessment Panel will provide recommendations for the consideration of the AIS Director, who will provide the final approval for the award of Scholarships under this program.

How to apply

Before applying for an Athlete Education Scholarship, you will need to read and understand these guidelines, including the Terms and Conditions in Appendix 1.

Only one application should be submitted per athlete.

Applications are to be completed online on the SmartyGrants website, opens in a new tab at by the closing date. Late applications will not be accepted.

To complete the application, applicants need to have the following information:

• current athlete categorisation details
• educational institution and course details
• any supporting documentation to your application e.g. summary of enrolment
• personal bank account details
• residential address

Supporting documentation for your application will only be accepted if it clearly identifies:

• applicant full name
• educational institution
• course name
• confirmation of enrolment
• evidence that study date is within period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

You will receive an automated email receipt if the application is submitted successfully. You are responsible for ensuring the completeness and accuracy of the information within the application. Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code 1995 and may result in your application being excluded from further consideration.

If you find an error in your application after submitting it, you should contact us immediately using the details below.

If we find an error or information that is missing, we may ask for clarification or additional information from you. However, we do not have to accept additional information or requests from you to correct or change your application after the closing time.

If you need further guidance on the application process or wish to withdraw a submitted application, please contact:

Email: AthleteEducationScholarship@ausport.gov.au

Notification and agreement

All applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of their application including:

• any funding amount to be awarded; and
• the specific terms and conditions of any funding.

There is no review or appeal process after the final decision is made by AIS.

Successful applicants will enter into an agreement with the AIS in relation to the Scholarship funding, which will be substantially based on the sample terms and conditions at Appendix 1 to these guidelines.

Disclosure of information

The AIS must treat any personal information according to the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles.

Personal information can only be disclosed to someone for the primary purpose for which it is collected, unless an exemption applies.

Personal information submitted via the online application is collected by the AIS for the purpose of considering applications for and administering the Program.

The personal details of successful applicants (including name, home state, sport, the value of the scholarship awarded and a brief description of the purpose for the scholarship) may be released by the AIS to the public and the media for the use of promotional and educational purposes.

To view the AIS Privacy Policy visit: https://www.sportaus.gov.au/legal_information/privacy_policy

Conflict of interest

Conflicts of interest for AIS staff will be handled in accordance with the organisation’s Conflict of Interest Policy. Assessment Panel members must also declare any conflicts of interest.

Enquiries and feedback

If you have any questions regarding the Athlete Education Scholarship program, please contact: AthleteEducationScholarship@ausport.gov.au

If you wish to lodge a complaint regarding the program this can be done via AIS complaints form: www.sportaus.gov.au/contacts/complaints

Appendix 1 – Terms and Conditions

1. If the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) decides to offer a scholarship under the Program to the applicant (Scholarship), the Scholarship will be awarded subject to any terms the AIS sets out in the applicant’s letter of offer, these terms and conditions, and the Program Guidelines (as updated from time to time) (Agreement).
2. The AIS will make a single payment of the Scholarship amount to the successful applicant (Recipient) subject to sufficient funding being available to the Program and the Recipient complying with this Agreement.
3. The Recipient must: 
   1. promptly notify the AIS if the Recipient becomes aware that he or she no longer fulfils the Eligibility Criteria (as set out in the Program Guidelines) for receipt of the Scholarship;
   2. successfully complete the nominated unit or course of study for which the Scholarship is awarded (Course of Study) by 31 December 2025, at a pass level or greater;
   3. only use the Scholarship as a contribution towards the cost of course fees for the Course of Study in the period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025;
   4. keep records detailing the use and expenditure of the Scholarship and make them available to the AIS or its authorised representatives on request;
   5. provide by 31 December 2025, a statement and accompanying evidence in the form required by the AIS, verifying that the Course of Study has been successfully completed and that the Scholarship has been spent in accordance with this Agreement. This may include production of the Recipient’s academic transcript for the Course of Study and evidence of expenditure of the Scholarship.
4. The Recipient:
   1. declares and warrants, at the date of agreeing to these terms and conditions, that he or she has not at any time been found to have breached any anti-doping rule or policy applicable to the Recipient, and has not engaged at any time in any conduct that constituted a breach of any anti-doping rule or policy applicable to the Recipient;
   2. agrees to maintain a high standard of personal behaviour expected of an athlete representing Australia; and
   3. agrees not to do anything to bring the Recipient, the AIS, or the Recipient’s National Sporting Organisation into disrepute.
5. Without limitation to any other rights of the AIS, if the AIS reasonably believes, at any time following the award of the Scholarship, that:then the AIS may by written notice, require the Recipient to repay to the AIS, at the AIS’s absolute discretion, all or part of the Scholarship. The amount notified must be repaid within 30 days of any such notice.
   1. the Recipient has provided false or misleading information in the application process;
   2. the Scholarship has been spent other than in accordance with this Agreement;
   3. the Recipient will not complete the Course of Study at a pass level or greater, or has otherwise breached any of its obligations under this Agreement; or
   4. the Scholarship amount is additional to the requirements of the Course of Study,
6. The Recipient must, if requested by the AIS, co-operate with the AIS in relation to promotional and educational initiatives regarding the Program and the AIS’s Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement activities.
7. The personal details of Recipients (including name, home state, sport, the value of the Scholarship awarded and a brief description of the purpose for the Scholarship) may be released by the AIS to the public and the media for the use of promotional and educational purposes.
8. If the Recipient is under 18 years of age, he or she must also obtain agreement of their parent or guardian to these terms and conditions and the Program Guidelines prior to entering this Agreement.
9. The Recipient agrees to indemnify the AIS and its officers, employees and contractors against any claim, loss or damage arising in connection with undertaking the Course of Study, or a breach of this Agreement. This obligation to indemnify the AIS will reduce proportionally to the extent that any act or omission involving fault on the part of the of the AIS, contributed to the claim loss or damage.
10. This Agreement does not create a relationship of employment, or agency between the Recipient and the AIS.
11. This agreement is governed by the law of the Australian Capital Territory.

Further information

If you have any questions regarding the Athlete Education Scholarship program, please email AthleteEducationScholarship@ausport.gov.au.