The Teach and Learn Scholarship (High Demand Subject Areas) is open to approved teachers in NSW government and non-government schools, who hold a current permanent full-time teaching approval with the NSW Department of Education. Applicants will need to check the eligibility criteria to find out if they meet the requirements to apply.

If an applicant is permanently appointed to a NSW public central school or high school and wants to train in one of the available high-demand subjects, they may be eligible to apply and remain in their substantive position. If an applicant does not wish to remain in their current school, they can nominate priority areas on their application where they will be appointed following the completion of their studies.

If an applicant is not currently permanently appointed to a NSW public central school or high school, they will nominate priority areas on their application where they will be appointed following the completion of their studies.

To apply for a Teach and Learn Scholarship (High Demand Subject Areas), an applicant will need to:

1. submit the online application form through IworkforNSW. During the application period an ‘Apply now’ button will be available on the Teach and Learn Scholarship (High Demand Subject Areas) webpage.
2. email the principal's supporting statement to their principal and request that they complete it electronically and email it back to them. This form can be found on the sponsorships forms webpage and should be submitted with the application.
3. email the referee’s supporting statement to one referee and request that they complete it electronically and email it back to them. This form can be found on the sponsorships forms webpage and should be submitted with the application.

Outside the application period, applicants are encouraged to subscribe to be notified when applications open.

Applications for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (High Demand Subject Areas) are now closed. You can subscribe to the mailing list for updates about the program.

An applicant will be required to complete and submit the documents listed below as part of their application:

• a current principal’s supporting statement on the template provided
• a referee’s supporting statement on the template provided
• an official statement of service for any teaching experience in a non-government school stating commencement date, completion date, number of teaching days completed and leave without pay details
• an application for enrolment or evidence of successful enrolment in non-award studies or a postgraduate program
• official transcripts of results for their undergraduate degree for each year of study (B.A., B.Sc., B.Ed., etc.)
• official transcript of results for any postgraduate studies completed.

As part of the application process, applicants will be asked to provide a supporting statement from their current principal along with one other supporting statement from a supervisor or colleague.

An applicant's principal may request a delegate to complete their Principal’s Supporting Statement however, both the delegate and principal must co-sign the form.

If the principal has completed the Principal’s Supporting Statement, a delegate isn’t required to counter sign.

If an applicant is unable to gain a principal’s endorsement they may provide a supporting statement from their most recent supervising stage leader or head teacher. The Employment Programs team in the School Workforce Directorate may seek further information if the application progresses.

A selection panel will review applications shortly after the application is received. An applicant's principal and referee may be contacted when assessing their application. We may also verify the applicant's employment details with the department’s Teacher Recruitment Unit.

Shortlisted scholarship applicants for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (High Demand Subject Areas) will be required to undertake an online interview to identify their capabilities, key knowledge areas and personal attributes to determine their suitability. Interview invitations will be sent by email and will come from a third party provider.

Yes. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified of the outcome via email once the selection process is completed.

If applicants would like feedback on their application, they are advised to contact the Employment Programs team via sponsoredtraining@det.nsw.edu.au.

Successful applicants who are permanently appointed to a NSW public central school or high school are required to sign a Scholarship Agreement with the department, committing them to:

• successfully acquiring additional competencies in a high-demand subject area
• remaining at their school (or the applicant may choose to be appointed to an alternative school) once their studies have been completed for a minimum period of 3 years.

All other successful applicants are required to sign a Scholarship Agreement with the department, committing them to:

• successfully acquiring additional competencies in a high-demand subject area
• accepting appointment as a permanent full-time teacher in a NSW public school on completion of the required studies
• remaining in the permanent full-time teaching position they are appointed to on completion of their studies for a minimum period of 3 years.

For advice on further studies required, please view the subject requirements page.

An applicant's university may also be able to provide guidance regarding subject selection.

Applicants are encouraged to research the subject content requirements for their desired key learning area (KLA) as outlined on the NESA website.

A practicum is required when training in a new teaching subject except when a teacher is already approved as a science teacher and is completing physics subjects or is already academically approved as a TAS teacher and is completing engineering studies subjects.

The Teach and Learn Scholarship (High Demand Subject Areas) can support teachers for a maximum of 2 years.

While engaged in a full-time temporary or permanent capacity, scholars can apply for up to 8 days of paid study leave per academic year (study leave is granted on a pro-rata basis for part-time employees or if scholars are studying for one semester only in the academic year). In addition to up to 8 days study leave, scholars can apply for study leave for the period of their practicum. The study leave day(s) must be approved by a scholar's principal. The scholar's principal can request relief funds be reimbursed to the school if a casual teacher was employed to replace the scholar for the day(s). Teachers will retain their full salary while on study leave.

An application form for study leave and request for relief funds will be provided to successful scholarship recipients.

Study leave is not available for casual teachers.

The financial benefit under the Teach and Learn Scholarship (High Demand Subject Areas) is capped at $20,000 per year of full-time study. The $20,000 is based on a study load of 8 subjects ($2,500 per subject).

Subjects completed prior to commencement of the scholarship will not be supported under the scholarship program.

Successful applicants will receive the first scholarship payment once their scholarship is finalised and evidence of their enrolment into postgraduate studies for Semester 1, 2025 has been received. Subsequent payments will require scholars to provide a copy of their results for the previous semester and their new enrolment details.

Scholars will not receive a scholarship payment for subjects completed prior to the commencement date of the scholarship.

The total maximum amount payable to recipients of the scholarship is $20,000 per year of study and will be paid via electronic funds transfer (EFT) directly into the scholar's nominated bank account.

Scholarship funds will be included alongside the scholar's regular pay and are subject to tax. Scholars will be eligible to receive the full $20,000 per year of study if they are completing a minimum of 8 subjects per year while on scholarship. If they do not complete a minimum of 8 subjects per year, they will be paid a pro-rata amount, that being $2,500 per subject studied while on scholarship.

The department will not provide an allowance for subjects previously failed and reattempted, or subjects for which the scholar receive advanced standing or academic credit.

The following payment scenario is an example based on course requirements where 8 subjects are to be completed:

1. Up to $10,000 paid once the Employment Programs team receives confirmation of the scholar's enrolment in approved subjects. This is based on evidence of enrolment in at least 4 subjects.
2. Up to $10,000 paid once the Employment Programs team receives confirmation of the scholar's successful mid-way completion of approved subjects and evidence of enrolment into at least 4 more subjects for the following semester.

Alternatively, if a scholar will be completing subjects over 2 years, their training allowance payments will be paid on receipt of evidence of enrolment each semester and paid at a rate of $2,500 per subject.

Scholars who are permanent or temporary teachers can apply for study leave while completing a practicum.

Temporary teachers must be engaged in temporary employment at the time they are required to complete their practicum to be eligible.

Teachers on approved study leave will retain their salary for the period of their practicum. A scholar's principal can request for relief funds to be reimbursed to the school if a casual teacher was employed to replace the scholar while on study leave.

An application form for study leave and a request for relief funds will be provided to scholars if they are successful in being offered a scholarship.

Study leave for university requirements is not available to casual teachers.

A scholar will not receive a training allowance for subjects completed prior to the commencement date of the scholarship or for subjects they receive advanced standing or academic credit for during their studies.

The training allowances payable to scholars will be paid in the regular pay cycle and taxed accordingly.

Any money paid to a scholar by the department must be declared as assessable income on annual income tax returns. Scholars will have tax withheld from their annual training allowance. HECS-HELP repayments may also be withheld.

If a scholar has any taxation questions it is recommended that they seek independent financial and/or taxation advice.

It should be noted that if scholars withdraw from the scholarship program or breach the terms and conditions of their scholarship agreement and incur a liability, that the amount repayable is calculated based on the gross amount paid under the scholarship.

If a scholar is permanently appointed to a NSW public central school or high school, they can select to remain in their current school.

If a scholar is not currently permanently appointed to a NSW public central school or high school, or if they are and wish to be appointed to an alternative school, they will be asked to select either 'Anywhere in the State' or individual school education areas where they would like to be appointed on completion of their studies.

If scholars select to be appointed 'Anywhere in the State', they are agreeing to be appointed to a school in one of the following school education areas: Albury, Armidale, Bankstown, Batemans Bay, Bathurst, Blacktown, Bondi, Bourke, Broken Hill, Campbelltown, Central Coast, Clarence/Coffs Harbour, Deniliquin, Dubbo, Fairfield, Granville, Griffith, Hornsby, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Liverpool, Maitland, Moree, Mount Druitt, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Orange, Parramatta, Penrith, Port Jackson, Port Macquarie, Queanbeyan, Ryde, Shellharbour, St George, Sutherland, Tamworth, Taree, Tweed Heads/Ballina, Wagga Wagga, Windsor or Wollongong.

If scholars select individual school education areas, they will be required to select a minimum of 3 areas from the list of non-coastal rural priority areas or Sydney metropolitan priority areas.

The non-coastal rural priority locations include: Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Bourke, Broken Hill, Deniliquin, Dubbo, Griffith, Maitland, Moree, Muswellbrook, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.

The priority metropolitan locations include: Bankstown, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Granville, Liverpool, Mount Druitt and Windsor.

If an applicant is successful in gaining a scholarship, the areas they select will be stipulated in the Teach and Learn Scholarship (High Demand Subject Areas) Agreement.

NSW public schools are grouped into 10 geographic locations called regions. Each region has a number of 'areas' for the purpose of staffing schools. Applicants are encouraged to download and view the NSW public schools by staffing area spreadsheet resource. A scholarship holder is considered an employment applicant and therefore when selecting areas as part of their scholarship application, schools to which they are considered for appointment will align with the 'areas' for the purposes of staffing schools.

Upon successful completion of the required post-graduate studies, scholars will be appointed to a full-time permanent teaching position in a NSW public school in one of the nominated locations in line with the Scholarship Agreement. If scholars are already appointed to a central school or high school and select to remain in their current school, their 3-year service commitment period will commence following the completion of their studies.

Scholars may be notified of their appointment as early as 2 school terms prior to the anticipated completion of their required post-graduate studies, or earlier, depending on available vacancies at the time.

A scholar's appointment will be in the subject area they are being sponsored for. The location of the scholar's permanent appointment is non-negotiable.

Yes. On completion of their studies and appointment to a permanent position, scholars may be eligible for a wide range of benefits and incentives. The benefits vary from school to school. Use the department's benefits calculator to find out about the benefits and incentives that are available to teachers at individual schools.