RAS Rural Scholarships provide students with access to education that will prove crucial to the future of Australian agriculture.
The RAS Foundation provides Rural Scholarships to regional students of NSW and the ACT.
Students of financial need, who demonstrate a passion for rural communities and commitment for any career that will ensure the future success of rural and regional NSW and the ACT, can apply for support to enable their further studies.
Scholarships can help rural and regional students from hard-working family farms who need support with costs such as travel expenses, study materials, and other expenses associated with pursuing education away from home.
These scholarships help enable them to achieve their academic goals whilst also fulfilling their responsibilities back home, enabling them to build for their own future successes, and more broadly for Australian agriculture.
Excitingly, the majority of these students bring their new skills home - 83% of scholarship recipients whose locations are known are now living in rural or regional Australia, including 229 scholars in rural and regional NSW and ACT alone*.
*RAS Foundation Report July 2026 - Where are they now? A review of RAS Foundation Rural Scholars 2018-2024
RAS Foundation Rural Scholarships dovetail seamlessly with Coolaroo Foundation’s aim to strengthen futures for young people by enhancing educational access for regional and rural students.
Our country roots and agricultural heritage give us a deep appreciation of the vital role young people play in the future of regional communities. We’re proud to facilitate scholarships that help talented students pursue their ambitions in any field and build their futures in the regions.
“Education is integral for the prospects of children and adults, as it is also for the future of a sustainable agricultural sector in Australia”
We know the difference a scholarship can make to young people in rural and regional areas — especially those whose opportunities are limited by distance. That’s why continuing our support of Rural Scholarships in 2027 was an easy decision.