The Tertiary Access Payment helps regional and remote students access tertiary education with financial support for costs following relocation.
First year students studying a Certificate IV or higher aged up to 22 from regional or remote areas can apply for the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) to help ease the transition to vocational study.
The TAP is a one-off payment of either $3,000 or $5,000, depending on the family home location, designed to help eligible students with the cost of relocating for study. This support can go towards essentials like rent, travel, food and study supplies.
Who can apply?
To be eligible for TAP students must:
- have completed Year 12 (or equivalent)
- be aged 22 or younger
- be in their first year of full-time study
- relocate to an education provider located at least 90 minutes from their family home by public transport
- be moving/have moved away from an inner regional, outer regional, remote or very remote area (as defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard – Remoteness Area classification).
Once the application is complete, Services Australia will ask for evidence confirming enrolment, study load and course title.
Students may also qualify for other payments. Check out the Payment and Service Finder to see what support is available.
Applications for the 2026 TAP payment close 31 December 2026. To check eligibility and apply, visit the Services Australia website.