Disadvantaged to make up 25% of Melbourne Uni student body

Disadvantaged students are to make up 25 per cent of the undergraduate student body at the University of Melbourne by 2030.

The University of Melbourne will radically change its student profile by enrolling many more students from disadvantaged groups. Photo: David Geraghty

The University of Melbourne has committed to a radical shift in the profile of its student body, aiming to lift the proportion of domestic undergraduates from key disadvantaged groups from 10 per cent to 25 per cent by 2030.

Provost Nicola Phillips said the move, to be announced on Wednesday, was “a significant new direction” for the institution, which ranks first in Australia in all three major global university ranking systems.

By 2030, the university will invest $64m a year in scholarships and other assistance for indigenous students, those from low socio economic status groups and other disadvantaged students who face barriers. Currently only one-tenth of domestic undergraduates at Melbourne are indigenous, from low socio-economic background or from regional and remote areas, and the university aims to raise this to one-quarter of its domestic undergraduate cohort.

The university will announce a new Narrm scholarship program, offering $6,500 a year toward living expenses, to all indigenous and low SES domestic students. Narrm is the Woi Wurrung word for the Melbourne region, meaning “place”.

The scholarship will also be available to some others facing major barriers to enrolling at university which could include a disability, a medical condition, or difficult personal circumstances. The first group of Narrm scholars will start their courses in 2024.

Narrm scholars from regional and remote areas will also be offered a $3,000 allowance to help them relocate.

Nicola Phillips

University of Melbourne chancellor Jane Hansen – who was the first in her family, and the only one in her year level at public high school, to attend university – said she strongly backed the plan.

“Ensuring as many students as are able, but who may not have the means, to attend university is a priority that I deeply support and am closely involved in,” she said.

The university will offer Narrm scholars extensive academic and personal support. They will have a tailored enrichment program to build their sense of belonging and connection, and be offered work placements and professional development.

Professor Phillips said the university had “work to do” in outreach to schools and community groups so that potential students were aware of the opportunity. She said the university also had to ensure that its admission criteria accurately judged the potential of a student, as well as taking their prior achievement into account.

Increasing the number of disadvantaged students at university is expected to be a priority of the federal government’s soon to be announced Universities Accord, and it could offer further funding.