Support for current and prospective refugee and asylum seeker students

The Refugee Transition program, Asylum Seeker scholarship and the Making Connections program empower students from refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds confidently transition to University life in Australia.

Refugee Transition program

As a student from a refugee or asylum seeker background, you can receive academic and social support during your time at Macquarie so you can adapt to university life and thrive during your studies.

Through the Refugee Transition Program, offered by the Widening Participation Unit (WPU), you will be connected to the Refugee Transition Program Team who will provide you continuous support throughout your studies. You can also access:

  • Tailored Orientation at the beginning of each academic session
  • Tutoring and English language support
  • Financial Needs Grant to assist with the costs of university study
  • Regular meetings with the Refugee Transition Team
  • Referral to services at Macquarie and the local community
  • Internship opportunities
  • Academic mentoring

If you or someone you know would like to become a part of the Refugee Transition Program, please contact Saya Hussain at saya.hussain@mq.edu.au.

WPU initiatives are funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP).

Asylum Seeker scholarship

The Asylum Seeker Scholarship was created in 2016 to support students who are on an asylum seeker visa with the cost of their tuition.

The scholarship covers full tuition fees for any Undergraduate, Foundation or Diploma course at Macquarie. It may be renewed each year subject to satisfactory performance in the course.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • be a holder of a bridging or temporary visa and be currently seeking asylum in Australia;
  • receive a full offer of admission to study at an undergraduate degree at Macquarie University;
  • intend to take up the scholarship in the year it is offered;
  • demonstrate they do not have the financial means to support payment of their studies;
  • submit a personal statement outlining their commitment to study and how this scholarship will benefit them;
  • provide a letter of reference from someone they have known for at least 12 months;
  • be willing to attend an interview.

Application process

Applications for 2022 are open until Friday, 3 December 2021. 

To apply, follow these steps:

  • Submit an application to study at Macquarie University through the Application Manager.
  • Once you are issued a full offer, click the link below to apply for the asylum seeker scholarship

Apply now

If you require assistance with your application, please email transition.support@mq.edu.au or contact 02 9850 7394.

Making Connections program

Many students from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds are keen to study at university to enable pathways to meaningful work but face barriers in navigating the university system. Students can be intimidated by the impersonal nature of accessing online information about their courses and prefer personal contact.

In 2018, the Academics for Refugees network at Macquarie University, pioneered a mentoring program called Making Connections in collaboration with the Widening Participation Unit.

Since the start of the program, it has linked over 40 students with a supportive academic mentor from their faculty to empower students navigate the complexities of university life and feel more at home at university.

For further information, please feel free to contact the Making Connections team at makingconnections@mq.edu.au.