Objectives:
- Bridge the gap in tertiary education attainment between metropolitan and regional/remote students, as identified by the Australian Universities Accord Final Report.
- Increase the number of regional and remote students accessing tertiary education by helping with relocation costs.
- Support the Government’s Closing the Gap targets by improving participation rates of Indigenous students from regional and remote areas through financial assistance.
Target Beneficiaries:
- Students from inner regional, outer regional, remote, or very remote areas (per Australian Statistical Geography Standard).
- Those who have completed Year 12 or equivalent and are commencing their first year of study in a Certificate IV or higher qualification with a minimum one academic year duration.
- Students relocating to study at a university, non-university higher education provider, or vocational education and training provider at least 90 minutes by public transport from their family home.
- Students enrolled in at least 75% of a full-time study load (or approved concessional load), studying face-to-face or dual delivery.
- Students whose parents/guardians have a combined income of $250,000 or less or are exempt from providing parental income.
- Australian citizens or permanent residents.
- First-year students including those up to age 22 who have taken gap years after Year 12.
Application Process:
- Applications are submitted through Services Australia.
- Applications open from January 1 and close December 31 each year.
- Students must apply within their first year of tertiary study.
- Eligibility and application instructions are detailed in the TAP Program Guidelines 2025-2027.
Key Features:
- Non-indexed, means-tested payment.
- Payment made once in the first year of eligible study.
- Outer regional and remote students receive up to $5,000 in two instalments; first payment six weeks after course start.
- Inner regional students receive a single payment of $3,000 six weeks after course start.
- Supports relocation costs to reduce financial barriers for regional students pursuing tertiary education.
This program aims to make tertiary education more accessible and affordable for regional and remote students, encouraging higher participation and retention in higher education pathways.
For more details, the official TAP guidelines and application information are available at the Department of Education website: https://www.education.gov.au/tertiary-access-payment
