Our aim is to achieve excellence and equity in all aspects of higher education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The School of Indigenous Studies provides a number of offerings, from pathway and diploma courses for Indigenous students, to undergraduate and Master degrees offered to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Certain undergraduate units may be taken as broadening or elective units.

Entry to undergraduate courses for Indigenous students.

The School of Indigenous Studies has extensive experience in offering high quality preparatory courses for Aboriginal and Islander people.

The School assists Indigenous students to gain entry to all undergraduate degrees at UWA through the Provisional Entry Scheme and also through successful completion of the Aboriginal Orientation Course. The School of Indigenous Studies also offers the preparatory UWA Smart Start course on the Albany campus.

Support for Indigenous Students

The School of Indigenous Studies (based at Bilya Marlee) provides a resource centre for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students on campus - this includes students in the Aboriginal Orientation Course, undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The School has a resource library and study room containing most first-year textbooks and a range of books and magazines relating to Aboriginal issues, as well as course outlines, past exam papers and faculty handbooks. It also fosters social interaction on campus and enables staff, students and the wider Aboriginal community to develop a sense of Aboriginal identity and community at UWA.

Other services and facilites at the centre include:

• advice on study options, ABSTUDY, scholarships and cadetships, childcare, accommodation
• tutorial assistance through ITAS (Indigenous Tuition Assistance Scheme)
• private study and tutorial rooms
• computer room with iMac computers, photocopier and printer
• common room and kitchen
• access to telephone and fax.

The Student Services team can advise on ABSTUDY, scholarships, cadetships, childcare, accommodation and financial assistance. 

Academic and course advice

Staff from this team can also assist with academic advice regarding important dates for enrolment, change of courses, adding or changing units, special consideration, approved leave, withdrawal without penalty, graduation and most student issues related to courses. 

Financial Advice

The Student Services team are familiar with ABSTUDY and also cadetships and scholarships. There have been students enrolled at UWA on cadetships with various companies and government departments including Treasury, Australian Customs and Border Control, Australian Federal Police, DEEWR, DFAT, BHP Billiton Iron Ore, Wesfarmers, Woodside, Laing O'Rourke, Ngarda Civil and Mining and Rio Tinto Iron Ore. Many UWA students are also on scholarships both private and Commonwealth scholarships

The Student Services team can also advise on financial assistance (loans) through Student Support Services and the UWA Student Guild.  

Childcare

There are several excellent childcare centres at UWA and a number of students and staff had/have their children at these centres. Students on ABSTUDY/Centrelink benefits may qualify through JET for subsidy. For prospective students wanting childcare at UWA, you will need to book early. See the website for information on these centres:

www.unicareecc.org.au/new/welcome 

www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/childcare 

Accommodation

There are five co-educational residential colleges at UWA:

• University Hall
• Trinity College
• St Thomas More College
• St George's College
• St Catherine's College

Currently, there are over 60 Indigenous students residing in the colleges. Students need to apply by late September prior to commencing university to be fairly confident of being offered a place in one of the colleges. Applications are completed online and students are required to have 2 referee reports (also downloaded from the website for each college).

Students who are eligible for ABSTUDY can request the residential costs option, which means that ABSTUDY will pay all living/residential costs except the contingency fee which is a bond and is repaid to students on leaving college. Students normally sign a contract which commits them to living on college for the academic year. The School of Indigenous Studies supports students especially school leavers from rural/regional WA living in college as it is a safe environment, provides all meals, pastoral care, access to computer facilities, sports and also a great environment to meet people and discover and enjoy university life. As a recipient of the BHP Indigenous Iron Ore Scholarship, students living in one of the colleges will have their college fees paid.  

Accommodation outside of residential college 

Accommodation in the Nedlands/Crawley area and suburbs close to university is fairly expensive. Staff from the Student Services team may be able to assist and give advice. Prospective and current students can also use the Housing service offered by UWA Student Services. 

ITAS (Indigenous Tuition Assistance Scheme)

Students enrolled at UWA are eligible to receive tutorial assistance through ITAS. Students should see the Academic Coordinator/ITAS Coordinator, complete a form requesting tutoring and the Coordinator will match up a tutor from the current register or find a tutor through UWA and the appropriate faculty/department. Tutors are usually final year students, postgraduate students or graduates. 

Undergraduate students are entitled to 2hrs/week/subject to a total limit of 6hrs/week. Extra tuition is available during exam preparation. Tutoring can be on an individual or group basis. The time/day and venue for tuition is negotiable between student and tutor. Students who want to use rooms available through the School of Indigenous Studies should book these with reception.

Generally ITAS is not available to postgraduate students although there is a case where students are approved for tuition in an area where they have little/no background e.g., statistics are specific computer programs.  

Study areas

Bilya Marlee provides students with a number of areas in which to study.

After hours access

Bilya Marlee is open to students from 7.30am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday; access outside these hours is via swipe/using student ID card.

Indigenous Majors

All undergraduate students are able to enrol in two majors as a part of their undergraduate degree. They can choose either the major in Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage,which is offered as a degree specific major  in Arts, or the major In Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing, which is offered in as a degree specific major in Science.

These two majors provide students with a very strong grounding in Indigenous knowledge, histories, cultures, rights, ways of working and health. Completion of the either of these majors will prepare students for a wide range of jobs as well as for further studies at postgraduate level.