Australia's biggest needs-based scholarship scheme for low-income university students will provide a record level of assistance - more than $4 million - in 2015 at QUT in Brisbane thanks to larger scholarships.
The QUT Equity Scholarship Scheme gives more than 2000 scholarships and bursaries to students each year - and next year individual scholarships will rise to $3500 (up from $2500), with bursaries going up to $1500 (from $1000).
Another 30 scholarships worth $5000 each will be available exclusively for students from regional and rural areas.
Research by Universities Australia released last year found two-thirds of Australian university students lived below the poverty line, with financial stress on the rise.
The QUT scheme is one of the nation's biggest university equity scholarship programs and is based solely on financial need, with applicants' school or university marks not influencing selection.
The scholarships are open to school-leavers and mature students planning to enrol at QUT, as well as students already studying at the university.
People interested are encouraged to apply by November 7 if they want to find out the outcome by late December, or by February 6 to find out in early March. Visit www.qut.edu.au/equity-scholarships.
QUT Equity Director Mary Kelly said the university was strongly committed to funding equity scholarships and making education affordable to all.
"It was timely to raise the scholarship values as this had not been done for some years and it will provide even more assistance for financially-struggling students," she said.
"We want all students to have a chance to complete their degrees not distracted by financial worries."
Ms Kelly said QUT's attrition analysis had shown that the program had a big impact on enabling students to stick with their studies when money was tight.
"Our own research has found these scholarships make a crucial difference and that scholarship holders have lower drop-out rates than other students," she said. "The vast majority say their scholarship made the difference between staying at university or leaving."
Regional students who apply for a QUT Equity Scholarship will automatically be considered for 30 larger $5000 scholarships - 24 Tim Fairfax AC Learning Potential Fund Scholarships and six Dr Laurie Cowled Learning Potential Fund Scholarships.
"These scholarships are made possible by generous donations from philanthropists and are part of the university's perpetual fund - the Learning Potential Fund," Ms Kelly said.
QUT nursing student and equity scholarship holder Stephanie Moller, from Childers in the Wide Bay region, said her Tim Fairfax Learning Potential Fund Scholarship had made a big difference to her life.
"It's amazing - receiving the scholarship has been a blessing," she said.
"Moving from a quiet little bush town to the city is a big adjustment in itself. My family isn't wealthy and getting the scholarship meant I can breathe a bit easier. Going to university would have been a lot harder and a lot more stressful without it."
Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, media@qut.edu.au
