A Rural Scholar recipient putting her skills to work.
11 FEBRUARY 2026. For a young person growing up in a major city, the path into further study is often straightforward — a local TAFE or university, a short commute, and maybe a part-time job nearby. For a young person growing up on a rural or regional property, that same path can look very different.
Many of these students don't just leave home to study — they leave a working property that still needs them. On top of that, "local" study options are frequently hours away, adding relocation, accommodation, and travel costs onto an already stretched family budget. For rural and regional students, accessing further education isn't simply a matter of enrolling — it's a matter of affording to pursue the opportunities available to them.
This is the gap RAS Foundation's Rural Scholarships are designed to close.
What the scholarships cover
“The Scholarship has made a huge difference to my year by easing a lot of the financial pressure that comes with studying away from home. It has allowed me to make the most of every opportunity available... without constantly worrying about money.”
Rural Scholarships provide direct financial support for the real, practical costs of studying away from home, such as:
accommodation
travel
learning materials, and
day-to-day living expenses.
It's rarely about course fees alone; it's about removing the financial pressure that gets in the way of a student focusing on their studies.
As one current scholar put it, the scholarship eased the costs of travel, accommodation and materials, and allowed them to focus on study "without the added stress of managing these expenses." Another described how it removed the need to work part-time on top of a full study schedule — freeing up time for practical experience and regular volunteering instead. A third said it eased the pressure of studying away from home, helping them make the most of every opportunity available "without constantly worrying about money."
Why it matters
Rural Scholarships aren't just about helping individual students get through a course — they're about making sure where you grow up doesn't determine whether you can pursue further study at all. For students juggling coursework with responsibilities on a family property, this support can make all the difference.
Coolaroo Foundation are proud to support the RAS Foundation’s Rural Scholarships, helping to strengthen futures for young people in regional and rural Australia.
