The Macquarie Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship (VCIS) takes up to AUD 10,000 off your tuition at Macquarie University in Sydney. It is open to international students starting a full-time bachelor’s degree or a postgraduate coursework degree such as a master’s, and the bar is a minimum ATAR equivalent of 85 for undergraduates or a WAM equivalent of 65 for postgraduates. It is a one-off tuition reduction, so it does not pay living costs and it does not renew each year.
There is no single closing date. Macquarie takes applications all year and asks students to apply at least two to three months before their session begins, which matters because awards are limited and go to strong applicants who hold an offer. For 2027, Session 1 classes start on 22 February 2027 and Session 2 on 26 July 2027, so a February starter should have the VCIS form in by late November 2026.
Macquarie Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Macquarie University, Sydney (Wallumattagal campus, North Ryde) |
| Value | Up to AUD 10,000, applied to your tuition fee |
| Renewable? | No. It is a single reduction, not an amount paid every year |
| Who can apply | International students (not citizens of Australia or New Zealand, and not Australian permanent residents) |
| Levels | Bachelor’s degrees and postgraduate coursework degrees |
| Excluded courses | Graduate Certificates and the Global MBA |
| Academic minimum | ATAR equivalent of 85 (undergraduate) or WAM equivalent of 65 (postgraduate) |
| Study mode | Full time, on campus |
| How to apply | Online form after you receive an offer; type “VCIS” as the scholarship name |
| Deadline | Rolling. Apply at least 2 to 3 months before your session starts |
| Number of awards | Limited; Macquarie does not publish a number |
Facts in this guide were checked on 25 October 2026 against Macquarie’s scholarship pages, its 2027 session fact sheets and the Australian Government’s Study Australia listing.
What the scholarship pays and what it does not
Macquarie applies the award straight to your tuition invoice. You never receive the money as cash. Most outside listings now describe it as a one-off reduction of up to AUD 10,000, and the official wording is “up to”, so a smaller award is possible.
To put the figure in context, Macquarie’s international tuition for most bachelor’s and master’s programmes runs to tens of thousands of Australian dollars a year, and the exact fee depends on your course. The VCIS covers a slice of one year. Treat it as a discount, then check your full fee on the course page before you count on it.
Costs you still pay yourself
- Living costs in Sydney: rent, food and transport. There is no stipend.
- Student visa (subclass 500) application charge. The Department of Home Affairs sets this fee and changes it from time to time.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which is a visa condition for the whole length of your stay.
- Flights and accommodation, including any deposit for university housing.
- Tuition beyond the AUD 10,000, for every year of your course.
- Conferences and other study costs such as books and equipment.
Your visa application also has to show you can fund your living costs and the rest of your tuition. Home Affairs sets the minimum amount, so check its current figure before you plan your budget around the scholarship.
Macquarie Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship eligibility
You qualify if every point below is true for you:
- International status: you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen and not an Australian permanent resident.
- Course: you are starting a bachelor’s degree or a postgraduate coursework degree. Graduate Certificates and the Global MBA are excluded.
- Study load: you will study full time and on campus.
- Grades: your previous results equal an ATAR of at least 85 (for undergraduate entry) or a WAM of at least 65 (for postgraduate entry).
- Offer: you hold a valid Macquarie offer letter and meet the course’s academic and English requirements.
- Start date: you begin in the session and year written in your scholarship offer letter.
What ATAR 85 and WAM 65 mean if you studied outside Australia
ATAR is the Australian school-leaving rank and WAM is a weighted average mark out of 100 used by Australian universities. Macquarie converts your own qualification to these scales, and it does not publish a full conversion table for the scholarship. Meeting the figure makes you eligible; it does not guarantee an award, because places are limited and Macquarie ranks applicants on academic merit.
If you are unsure where your grades fall, ask the Macquarie admissions team or an official Macquarie representative in your country to check your transcript before you apply. A WAM of 65 roughly corresponds to a credit average in Australian terms, so an applicant with a borderline second-class or C-average degree should ask first.
Edge cases
- You are coming through Macquarie University College (pathway programmes): earlier official terms excluded people who applied to or were enrolled at the university’s international college. Ask Macquarie whether that still applies before you apply.
- You already hold another Macquarie scholarship: earlier terms said VCIS could not be combined with other Macquarie scholarships. Expect to choose one.
- You want to defer: the award is tied to the session in your scholarship letter. Earlier terms ruled out deferral, so if you postpone, plan to apply again.
- You plan to study online from home: the scholarship is for on-campus study.
- You hold a conditional offer: you need a valid offer letter and student number to submit the form. Clear your conditions as early as you can, since the reduction applies once you enrol.
How to apply for the Macquarie VCIS: step by step
- Pick your course: confirm it is a bachelor’s or postgraduate coursework degree and not a Graduate Certificate or the Global MBA.
- Apply for admission: submit the Macquarie online course application with your transcripts, certificates, passport and English test results (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or another test Macquarie accepts).
- Wait for your offer: once Macquarie processes your application, your offer letter shows your Macquarie student number. You need it for the next step.
- Complete the scholarship form: open the online scholarship application or nomination form linked from the official VCIS page. Type VCIS in the Scholarship Name field and enter your student number exactly as it appears on the offer letter.
- Submit early: aim for at least two to three months before your session. For Session 1, 2027 (classes from 22 February), that means late November 2026.
- Watch your email: if you are successful, Macquarie issues a scholarship letter of offer naming the session and year you must start.
- Accept and enrol: accept the course offer and the scholarship, pay any required deposit, get your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and apply for your student visa.
Session dates for 2027
Session 1, 2027: orientation 15 to 19 February, classes from 22 February. Session 2, 2027: orientation 19 to 23 July, classes from 26 July. Your VCIS has to be in place well before these dates, and a late scholarship decision can push back your visa.
Documents to have ready
| Document | Why you need it | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Macquarie offer letter | Proves admission and gives your student number | Use the number exactly as printed |
| Academic transcripts and certificates | Used to work out your ATAR or WAM equivalent | Send certified English translations of anything not in English |
| Passport | Confirms you are an international student | Check it stays valid for your whole course |
| English test results | Required by most courses | Some applicants are exempt through prior study in English; confirm with Macquarie |
| Proof of completed qualification | Confirms the degree or school certificate you used for entry | Final-year students can apply with results to date |
How Macquarie selects VCIS winners
Selection is based on academic merit. Macquarie does not ask for an essay, an interview or a leadership record for this award, so your grades carry the decision. The competition comes from timing: awards are limited, and an eligible applicant who applies in December for a February start may find the pool already allocated.
That makes the VCIS different from scholarships that rank written statements. Two things are in your control: your marks, and how early you hold an offer. If your average sits just above the minimum, apply the moment your offer arrives.
If your course application asks for a statement
Some Macquarie courses ask for a short statement during admission, and other scholarships you apply for alongside the VCIS may need one. Keep it specific. Open with the problem or subject that drew you to the course, name one or two Macquarie modules or staff whose work you want to learn from, and finish with what you plan to do after graduating. A short example opening: “In my final-year project I mapped flood risk across 40 streets in my home town, and the gaps in that data are why I want to study environmental management at Macquarie.”
If a referee is required, our guide to recommendation letters for scholarships has samples you can share with your lecturer.
After you apply: what happens next
- Assessment: Macquarie checks your offer, your grades against the 85 or 65 benchmark and the remaining places.
- Outcome: you receive a scholarship letter of offer by email if successful. It names the session and year you must start.
- Acceptance: accept the scholarship and your course offer; your CoE will show the tuition after the reduction.
- Visa: lodge your subclass 500 visa application with the CoE, OSHC and proof of funds.
- Keeping it: stay enrolled full time and meet the university’s academic progress rules. Earlier terms warned that a student who withdraws may have to repay the award.
Common mistakes that cost applicants the VCIS
- Applying before you have an offer. The form needs your student number, so an early course application is the first deadline that matters.
- Leaving it to the last month. Awards are limited and the two-to-three-month guide exists because visas take time.
- Choosing an excluded course. Graduate Certificates and the Global MBA do not qualify.
- Typing the scholarship name wrongly. Use “VCIS” as instructed so the form reaches the right team.
- Assuming it is yearly. Budget for full tuition from your second year onward.
- Deferring after you win. The award is linked to a specific session.
Macquarie VCIS compared with other Australian scholarships
| Scholarship | Value | Who it suits | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macquarie Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship | Up to AUD 10,000 off tuition, one-off | Good students who want Sydney and can fund most of the cost | This page |
| Deakin University scholarships | From 20% tuition reductions up to 100% tuition through Deakin’s Vice-Chancellor’s award, plus research stipends | Students comparing Melbourne and Geelong campuses | Deakin University scholarships |
| La Trobe Humanitarian Scholarship | Full tuition plus AUD 5,000 a year | Refugees and asylum seekers already in Australia on eligible visas | La Trobe Humanitarian Scholarship |
| New Zealand options | Varies by university | Students who also want to compare study in New Zealand, including routes without IELTS | Scholarships in New Zealand without IELTS |
Who should apply, and who should look elsewhere
Apply if your grades clear the 85 ATAR or 65 WAM bar comfortably, you can pay the remaining tuition and living costs from family funds, a sponsor or savings, and Macquarie has the course you want in Sydney. The VCIS takes a real amount off your first bill for little paperwork, and I would apply for it as soon as the offer lands.
Look elsewhere if you need a full scholarship. AUD 10,000 will not make Australia affordable for someone without other funding, and the visa requires you to prove the rest. In that case, government awards such as Australia Awards or fully funded research scholarships are a better use of your time.
FAQ
Is the Macquarie Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship fully funded?
No. It is a partial tuition scholarship of up to AUD 10,000, applied once to your fees. It does not cover living costs, visa fees, OSHC, flights or accommodation.
What is the deadline for the Macquarie VCIS 2027?
There is no fixed date. Macquarie asks you to apply at least two to three months before your session, so aim for late November 2026 for Session 1 (from 22 February 2027) and late April 2027 for Session 2 (from 26 July 2027).
Can master’s students get the Macquarie VCIS?
Yes, if the degree is a postgraduate coursework programme and you have a WAM equivalent of at least 65. Graduate Certificates and the Global MBA are excluded.
Do I need a separate essay for the Macquarie Vice-Chancellor’s scholarship?
No essay is listed. You complete a short online form with your student number and “VCIS” as the scholarship name, and Macquarie selects on academic merit.
Sources and updates
This guide uses Macquarie University’s Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship page and earlier versions of its terms, Macquarie’s 2027 study abroad fact sheet for session dates, and the Study Australia scholarship listing. The Scholars4Dev listing was used as a starting point; it still described a July 2026 start, which we updated to the 2027 sessions. Macquarie can change the value, exclusions or process at any time, so read the official VCIS page before you apply. Last checked 25 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
