Frequently asked questions
Got questions about the application process? You’re in the right place. We’ve pulled together the most common questions future students (and their parents) ask us - from fees, to how to apply, offers and scholarships.
Fees & Financial assistance
Fees cover accommodation, meals, utilities, academic programs, and access to all facilities. The exact amount varies depending on student level (undergraduate or graduate).
Financial assistance is support provided by the College to help residential students meet the cost of living at Ormond.
Funds come from the generous support of alumni and friends of the College, who contribute to our scholarship and bursary programs.
Any student applying for a residential place at Ormond College - undergraduate or graduate, local and international - can apply for financial assistance if cost is a barrier.Your family income must be under $300,000 before tax per year. We also consider your household’s assets and liabilities, such as property, savings, or debt.
No. Returning students can also apply for financial assistance. If your circumstances change or you weren’t eligible previously, we encourage you to apply.
No. Financial Assistance is only available to residential students. If you're on exchange or applying as a non-resident student, unfortunately you’re not eligible. However, Ormond does offer fully funded non-residential scholarships to First Nations students and students from partner organisations including The Smith Family, Skyline Foundation and Western Chances.
Students from a wide range of backgrounds may qualify, depending on individual financial circumstances. Families with an income below $300,000 are eligible to apply. Financial Assistance is awarded on the basis of individual financial need and is calculated using an ability-to-pay model. To ensure equity, financial assistance is available on the condition that other means of financial support have been explored and exhausted.
The ability-to-pay model is a ratio that, in its simplest form, divides the total household income by number of dependants.Income brackets have been determined to allow for the correct analysis of the data. For example, the ability-to-pay figure for a combined household income of $80,000 with 4 dependants will be lower than a combined household income of $200,000 with 4 dependents.
Yes. From 2026, students under 25 will generally be considered financially dependent unless there’s strong evidence of full independence.
We’ll consider both income and assets, including whether those assets can realistically be accessed to pay fees. In some cases, we’ll ask for an interview to understand your situation.
Eligible students can receive scholarships ranging from $7,500 to full fee per year, depending on individual financial circumstances, taking into account both income and assets.
It covers Ormond’s residential fees and charges (including meals and services). It does not cover university tuition, textbooks, or personal expenses but we do include a living buffer in our assessment of what you need to thrive at College.
The awarded amount is deducted from your fees according to your chosen payment schedule (annually, by semester, or by instalments).
Yes. All students at Ormond are expected to contribute meaningfully to the College community. Students receiving Financial Assistance are also expected to attend the Founders and Benefactors lunch and to write an annual thank-you letter to the donor who made their scholarship possible.
If a student doesn’t meet the basic expectations of community contribution or benefactor engagement, their financial assistance will be reviewed.
Start by submitting your application for residency at Ormond. We make all financial assistance offers to future students in conjunction with the offer of residency. Once that’s in, you can access the secure financial assistance application portal. You’ll be guided through either a simplified or detailed pathway based on your situation.
If you or your family already receive Centrelink, you’ll follow a simplified application process. Everyone else will complete a detailed application, including household income, assets, and other funding sources.
No. You submit a single application and the College will match you with the most suitable scholarships or financial assistance packages.
Please refer to our Fees and Financial Assistance web page for key dates.
The following documentation is required:From the student
- Evidence of Centrelink payments (if applicable)
- Information on university or private scholarships you expect to receive (if applicable)
- Current year Notice of Assessment from the Australian Taxation Office for both parents (if applicable)
- Evidence of any Centrelink payments i.e. Family Tax Benefit A and/or B
If you expect to get a part time job whilst at college, we ask that you give an estimate of what you would expect to earn. You can decide how many hours you would expect to work.
Ormond uses a standard model for expenses, recognising the significant degree of commonality between students. The application form factors in a sum to cover personal spending money, bills, course-related costs and health-related costs.The standard model does not allow for expenses such as holiday travel, elite sports, or other similar expenses.It is expected that local students will defer their HECS debt.
Your application is submitted through a secure online portal that meets Australian privacy and cybersecurity standards.
Only authorised members of the Financial Assistance Committee. All information is treated in strict confidence.
Possibly. Some applications - especially those with complex or unclear circumstances - may require a short interview to understand your situation better.
A Financial Assistance Committee consisting of senior members of staff makes the initial allocation. The final decision remains at the discretion of the Master and Head of College.
We make all financial assistance offers in conjunction with the offer of residence. This ensures you have all the information before making a decision.
Late applications will not be considered. If your financial circumstances change after the deadline, please contact us as soon as possible.
Application process
Complete the online application via our How to apply page. The college you select as your first preference receives your application straight away. If you have selected Ormond as your first preference we will receive your application. We will direct you to pay the $75 application fee, and ask you to provide supporting documents including a character reference and personal statement. All applicants will undergo an initial assessment and will be notified whether their application will proceed to the interview stage. The process is designed to assess students' diverse strengths and potential as well as alignment with Ormond’s values and community life.
You can only apply to one college.You are required to list all the other colleges in your order of preference. Your application will go directly to your college of first preference. The other colleges only see your application if you are unsuccessful at your college of first preference and you choose to have your application sent to the Intercollegiate Pool. If you want to attend Ormond College, make sure you preference us as number one!
Yes, you can do this prior to the applications closing date. To do this you must first contact the Intercollegiate Office.
All applicants must be enrolled or intending to enroll full-time in a degree course at the University of Melbourne. Ormond seeks students who are academically capable, community-minded, and eager to contribute to college life.
Ormond requires the following supporting documents:
- Your Statement of Application – this is a short narrative about why you want to come to Ormond College.
- A one page Character Reference – this can be from someone who knows you well and can attest to your good character, maybe a teacher, tutor or sports coach.
- Your University of Melbourne course offer (when available).
Please visit the University of Melbourne website for further information about University offers .
Applications typically open in April for the following academic year. Early applications are encouraged so you will have plenty of time to complete the required steps in the application process. Specific deadlines are published on the Ormond College website.
All applicants will undergo an initial assessment and will be notified whether their application will proceed to the interview stage.
Interviews are conducted online throughout the year.
Please refer to our How to apply page for key dates.
We will let you know if you have been unsuccessful, and you have the option to have your application sent to your college of next preference.
Absolutely. Ormond welcomes applications from international students and values the diversity and global perspectives they bring to the community.
If you are a domestic student under 18 you are still able to apply to Ormond College.
International students coming to study in Australia on an international student visa must be over 18 years of age at the time of entry to be eligible for admission to Ormond College.
Ormond handbook
Want to know more about moving into residence, meals, services and programs? Check out the Ormond Handbook for all the details about life at Ormond.
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