Applications for the 2026 Long Tan Bursary are officially open, allowing eligible children and grandchildren of Australian Vietnam veterans to apply for financial support for their tertiary education.
What the bursary offers
The Long Tan Bursary provides financial support of up to $12,000, over three years of continuous full-time study, to help cover the costs of university, TAFE or registered training organisation courses. Each year, 37 bursaries are awarded to successful applicants from across the country.
The scheme is funded by the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) and administered on DVA’s behalf by the Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust (AVCAT).
Their legacy endures
Today marks the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, the bursary’s namesake, fought on 18 August 1966, by members of Delta Company, 6th battalion Royal Australian Regiment.
The date is now commemorated annually as Vietnam Veterans' Day, and it is fittingly the day on which applications for the bursary traditionally open.
The scheme was established more than 20 years ago by Vietnam veterans who wanted to see their children and grandchildren supported in pursuing further education.
Who can apply?
To be eligible, applicants must be the child or grandchild of an Australian veteran who served in the Vietnam War between 31 July 1962 and 30 April 1975.
Applicants must be planning to enrol in, or already be enrolled in, full-time post-secondary study — either online or face-to-face — at an Australian university, TAFE college, or registered training organisation. The bursary can be awarded only once per person and is not available for professional training courses, such as those offered by the College of Law.
As part of the application, prospective recipients are asked to write a statement explaining why they believe they should be awarded a Long Tan Bursary. Applications are assessed independently by AVCAT, with DVA taking no part in the selection process, and all applications are treated with strict confidentiality.
Key Dates
- Applications open: 18 August 2026 (Vietnam Veterans' Day)
- Applications close: 31 October 2026
Eligible children and grandchildren can apply via the AVCAT website, with further details also available on the Long Tan Bursary page of the DVA website.
