Bursaries and Scholarships
Purpose
With support from our community, SMTC is fortunate to be able to offer scholarships and bursaries to support both current teachers and aspiring educators in pursuing Montessori education through its AMI Diploma programs. This fee relief helps make Montessori teacher training more accessible and contributes to the growth of Montessori education.
Available Scholarships and Bursaries
- Victorian Teachers Bursary Fund
Established in 2021 with a generous donation from the Peninsula Montessori Parents Association, the Victorian Teachers Bursary aims to support current and future Victorian primary teachers by offering bursaries for SMTC’s AMI Diplomas in the 3-6 and 6-12 age-levels. Bursaries between $3,000–$5,000 are available and must be applied toward SMTC course tuition fees.
- Aspiring Montessori Educators Bursary
Established in 2024 with a generous donation from a long term member of our Montessori community in Australia, this bursary aims to attract educators from outside Montessori into the Montessori sector by covering either half or the full amount of their SMTC AMI Diploma tuition fees.
Eligible applicants must be self-funding their SMTC AMI Diploma course and seeking to become an educator in the Montessori school or centre during or on completion of the AMI Diploma.
Applicants should not hold a permanent role in a Montessori school or centre at the time of application. Applicants must demonstrate a solid interest in Montessori and show a long term intent to remain in the Montessori sector for the future.
Eligibility
- Common Terms for All Scholarships or Bursaries
To be eligible to be considered to receive any SMTC scholarship or bursary, an applicant must be:
- an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident;
- in a position to complete the course by its scheduled end date;
- able to demonstrate that the scholarship or bursary will significantly assist their ability to
undertake and complete the course; - must not be receiving another SMTC scholarship or bursary for the same course fees.
Applicants may have been awarded a previous SMTC scholarship or bursary (but not for an AMI Diploma in the same age-level) and may be a previous SMTC scholarship or bursary applicant.
- Specific Terms for Each Scholarship or Bursary
Victorian Teachers Bursary Fund
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate commitment to working as a teacher in a Victorian primary school in the 3-6 or 6-12 age levels.
Aspiring Montessori Educators Fund
- Applicants must demonstrate a solid interest in Montessori and show a long term intent to remain in the Montessori sector for the future. Applications must also demonstrate an intent to work in a Montessori school or centre as a teacher upon completion of the course.
- Applicants must not be employed in any Montessori school on a permanent basis at the time of application.
- Applicants receiving material course fee funding/benefit from a school/centre or other source will not be considered.
- If applicants obtain a permanent role in the Montessori sector during the course and the School or Centre has a policy of sponsoring all of part of their fees, 25-50% of the bursary (at the School or Centre’s discretion) should be repaid to SMTC to enable this bursary to sustain into the future.
Application Process
- Apply for the relevant AMI Diploma.
- Submit a completed scholarship or bursary application form.
- Provide supporting documentation as per each scholarship or bursary or bursary’s requirements.
- Applications are reviewed by an SMTC selection committee, and decisions are based on merit, alignment with the scholarship or bursary’s requirements and purpose and alignment with SMTC’s overall mission.
Supporting Documentation
Documents to be included with each application include:
- proof of identity
- proof of citizenship or permanent residency
- personal statements as outlined in the application form
- a statement about how the scholarship or bursary will significantly assist the student’s ability to
undertake and complete the course - letters of support if requested by SMTC
SMTC may request further information from applications, at its absolute discretion, such as other supporting documents like letters from employers, personal statements, and proof of financial need if it considers these helpful and relevant to a decision.
Conditions of Award
- Scholarships or bursaries are applied to reduce SMTC tuition fees for the relevant AMI Diploma courses.
- Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress and complete their course within the designated timeframe.
- Deferral without prior approval or dismissal or withdrawal from the course, including on grounds of material unsatisfactory academic performance or misconduct, may result in the scholarship or bursary being revoked. The amount of the revoked scholarship or bursary immediately becomes a debt owing by the student to SMTC in accordance with our Fees, Cancellation and Refund policy which must be paid unless SMTC determines otherwise.
- Scholarships or bursaries may not be reinstated once terminated, except in the case of SMTC error.
Deferral and Termination
- Deferral would generally be to the next course offered by SMTC in the age-level however this will depend on the circumstances as outlined in the Handbook for the course.
- Deferrals and withdrawals must be approved in advance and may require payment of scholarship or bursary funds. In the event of dismissal or withdrawal from the course, the amount of the scholarship or bursary becomes a debt owing to SMTC in accordance with our Fees, Cancellation and Refund policy which must be paid unless SMTC determines otherwise.
- Misconduct or false information will result in the immediate termination of the scholarship or bursary and will require the recipient to immediately repay the amount of the scholarship or bursary as a debt due to SMTC.
Application Submission
Applications for scholarships or bursaries should be submitted by the specified closing dates noted on the website, with electronic documentation sent to SMTC’s Managing Director at [email protected].