Equity schemes

Equity schemes (formerly SEAS) adjusts your selection rank by considering circumstances that may have affected your education. This gives you a better chance of getting an offer for the course you want.

How does it work?

You’ll receive ATAR-related adjustments depending on the impact to your education. Adjustments can increase depending on whether the impact is severe, moderate or slight. You might be eligible for multiple adjustments, depending on your circumstances. The adjustments are made to your combined study scores and your ATAR is recalculated. The maximum available adjustment at Monash is 20 aggregate points (up to 10 ATAR points).

Monash uses this adjusted ATAR during the selection process.

Eligibility

You must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or hold one of the following visas:

  • Permanent Humanitarian visa
  • Temporary Protection visa
  • Bridging visa A or Bridging visa E, and have applied for a refugee or humanitarian visa
  • Safe Haven Enterprise visa

You must also satisfy requirements for at least one of the following equity schemes categories:

Equity schemes categoryCriteria
Mature age Aged 21 years or older on 1 January 2026
Indigenous Australian Identify as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Residential and school location

If you live in a low socio-economic area, you may receive consideration based on your home address provided in your application.

If you attend a school in a regional or remote area or reside in a regional or remote area you may also receive consideration based on the information in your application.

If you attended a Monash listed under-represented school you may be eligible for the Monash Guarantee.

Please refer to the Equity Schemes (SEAS) estimate calculator to determine your eligibility based on your address and/or school location.

Non-English speaking background Born outside Australia in a non-English speaking country and arrived in Australia in the last ten years (after 1 January 2016)
First in Family You are the first in your immediate family to attend university (immediate family includes siblings, parents/carers and grandparents).
Difficult life and family circumstances

Circumstances affecting your senior secondary schooling, such as:

  • being a refugee or asylum seeker
  • long-term serious illness or death of a family member
  • abusive living environment: physical, psychological or emotional abuse over extended period
  • experiencing out of home care
  • natural disaster such as drought, bushfire or flood
  • circumstances that relate to your sexuality, gender identity or gender expression such as gender affirmation, discrimination or bullying.
Financial hardship

Financial hardship (low income) or excessive financial obligations, demonstrated by any of the following:

  • you or your family receive an income-tested Centrelink benefit that proves financial disadvantage (e.g. Youth Allowance, Abstudy, Health Care Card or Family Tax Benefit A)
  • you or your family are facing financial hardship or excessive financial obligation but do not receive a Centrelink benefit (e.g. living on a farm suffering from drought or floods)
  • you reside at a low income address, according to the SEIFA Index of Education and Occupation (IEO). To check if your address qualifies, use the Equity schemes (SEAS) Calculator.
Living with a disability or medical condition A disability, impairment or medical condition that has affected your studies, leading to disadvantage in your preparation for tertiary study

How is my ATAR adjusted?

Your ATAR will be adjusted to reflect the circumstances that have affected your education. Our Equity schemes (SEAS) Calculator will give you an estimate of your equity schemes-adjusted ATAR.

How do I apply?

VTAC applications for 2026 entry (Semester one)

Apply for equity schemes and scholarships through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) before the closing date, Monday 13 October 2025 at 5pm. For more information, see the VTAC website.

See the supporting documents table for requirements or visit the VTAC website

Equity schemes category Supporting documents required
  • Mature age
  • Indigenous Australian
  • Residential and school location
  • Non-English speaking background
  • First in Family

No supporting documents are required. Information from your application will be used to assess your eligibility for these categories.

The William Cooper Institute will reach out to Indigenous Australian applicants to confirm your eligibility.

Difficult life and family circumstances
  • An impact statement outlining your circumstances and how they have affected your preparation for tertiary study, and
  • A statement of support from someone with knowledge of your circumstances, such as a medical practitioner, lawyer, counsellor, teacher, religious or community leader
Financial hardship

If you receive a Centrelink benefit, provide one of the following:

  • Centrelink Reference Number (CRN), or
  • Customer Access Number (CAN), or
  • hard copy evidence of the benefit you receive.

If your parents/guardian receive a Centrelink benefit, you must provide a hard copy of their Centrelink statement listing your name and combined family income.

If you and/or your family don't receive a Centrelink benefit, provide:

  • an impact statement outlining how your financial circumstances have negatively affected your preparation for tertiary study, and
  • a statement of support from someone with knowledge of your financial circumstances, such as a lawyer, social worker, or accountant.
Living with a disability or medical condition
  • An impact statement about the nature and time period of your condition, outlining how it has negatively affected your preparation for tertiary study, and
  • A statement of support from someone with knowledge of your condition such as a health professional or educational practitioner.