Apply for a Playford Trust 2026 Scholarship
Start achieving your potential early on with a prestigious Playford Trust Scholarship. Applications are now open for over 70 scholarships valued from $4,000 to $10,000 per year. Undergraduates through to PhD are welcome to apply.
Playford Trust Scholarships can provide financial support while you undertake your studies, as well as help reduce your HECS debts. Many of these Scholarships include work experience, expanding your network, and potential for employment opportunities.
Applications close on 16 January 2026.
Scholarships
1st year
Playford Trust/Dean Brown Agricultural scholarship | 1 @ $5000 x 1 year | First-year student enrolled at Adelaide University studying Agricultural Science, Agribusiness, or another comparable discipline
Playford Trust/St Mark's College Residential STEM Scholarships | 2 @ $8000 x 1 year | Undergraduates commencing their residency at St Mark’s and studying science, engineering, mathematics or technology
Playford Trust/The Andy Thomas Foundation Aerospace Scholarships | 8 @ $5000 x 1 year | First-year undergraduates on an aerospace or space science and astrophysics study pathway at Adelaide University
Playford Trust/ Commonwealth Hill Trust Rural STEM scholarships | 4 x $5000 x 1 year | First-year students from rural and regional South Australia who intend to study science, engineering, mathematics or technology (STEM) subjects, with an interest in the areas of primary production and supporting technologies/sciences | Work placement opportunity
Rural and regional
Playford Trust/Aquinas College Residential STEM Scholarship | 1 @ $8000 x 1 year | Undergraduates commencing their residency at Aquinas and studying science, engineering, mathematics or technology
Playford Trust/Lincoln College Residential STEM Scholarship | 1 @ $8000 x 1 year | Undergraduates commencing their residency at Lincoln and studying science, engineering, mathematics or technology
Playford Trust Rural & Regional STEM Scholarships | 6 @ $5000 x 1 year | First-year undergraduates studying science, engineering, mathematics or technology | Home base in rural or regional South Australia
Playford Trust/ Commonwealth Hill Trust Rural STEM scholarships | 4 x $5000 x 1 year | First-year students from rural and regional South Australia who intend to study science, engineering, mathematics or technology (STEM) subjects, with an interest in the areas of primary production and supporting technologies/sciences | Work placement opportunity
Playford Trust/St Ann's College Residential Scholarships | 3 @ $10,000 x 1 year | Undergraduates commencing and/or continuing their residency at St Ann’s and studying in one of the Trust’s priority areas
2nd year and 3rd year
Playford Trust/Show Society Foundation “Excellence in Agriculture/Horticulture” Scholarships | 3 @ $5000 x 1 year | Second-year or third-year student studying a science-related degree in areas of importance to the agricultural industry
Playford Trust/Capral Aluminium Scholarship | 1 @ $10,000 x 1 year | Third-year student studying mechanical, mechatronic, metallurgical, chemical or electrical engineering | Work placement opportunity
3rd year, 4th year, final year, Honours or Masters
Playford Trust/Codan Scholarship in Electronic Engineering or Signal Processing | 1 @ $10,000 x 1 year | Third-year, fourth-year or Honours student studying electronic engineering, signal processing or physics, and having an interest in sensing systems | Work placement opportunity
Playford Trust Resources Sector Engineering Scholarships | up to 10 @ $10,000 x 1 year | Third-year and fourth-year students studying in any core engineering discipline and specialising in mining or energy resources | Supported by BHP, Hillgrove Resources, Iluka Resources, Peak Iron Mines, Santos, the Government of South Australia and SACOME |Work placement opportunities
Playford Trust/CEEC International Minerals Efficiency ESG Scholarship | 1 @ $10,000 x 1 year | Honours or Fourth Year student studying science, geoscience, mining engineering, chemical engineering (minerals processing), civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering or environmental engineering
Playford Trust/Peak Iron Mines Scholarship | 2 @ $10,000 (Honours or fourth year) or 1 @ $10,000 (Honours or fourth year) and 2 @ $5000 (First, second or third year) | Students in mining engineering, geology, geoscience, or environmental sciences | Work placement opportunities
Playford Trust Honours Scholarships | 14 @ $7000 x 1 year | Honours students studying in one of the Trust’s priority areas | 8 scholarships supported by Adelaide University
Playford Trust/Aurecon Scholarship | 1 @ $10,000 x 1 year | Final-year student studying electrical engineering or civil and business/commerce (or similar second degree), or fourth year in electrical or civil engineering | Work placement opportunity
Playford Trust/AusIMM Minerals Industry Scholarships | up to 3 @ $9000 x 1 year | Honours or fourth-year student studying geoscience, mining engineering, chemical engineering or environmental engineering
Playford Trust/BHP Minerals Industry Honours Scholarship | 1 @ $10,000 x 1 year | Honours student studying geoscience, mining engineering or chemical engineering | Work placement opportunity
Playford Trust/Coopers Brewery Honours Scholarship | 1 @ $10,000 x 1 year | Honours student studying agricultural science and related sustainability practices or Honours student in the field of barley breeding science or yeast fermentation studying at the Waite Research Institute | Work placement opportunity
Playford Trust/GSA Scholarship in Earth Sciences | 2 @ $4000 x 1 year | Honours student or equivalent studying earth sciences
Playford Trust/Seeley International Scholarship | 1 @ $10,000 x 1 year | Honours or Masters student studying electrical, electronic or mechanical engineering, artificial intelligence (or computer science, majoring in artificial intelligence), information technology or other relevant discipline | Work placement opportunity
Playford Trust/WSP Engineering Scholarship | 1 @ $10,000 x 1 year | Honours or fourth-year student studying civil, structural, mechanical or electrical engineering or environmental studies | Work placement opportunity
PhD
Playford Trust PhD Scholarships | 4 @ $26,250 over 3.5 years | Students undertaking a PhD in one of the Trust’s priority areas
Read about our 2025 Playford Trust Scholarship recipients in Student News.