More than 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975. They came home to a country that didn't always welcome them back. Decades later, the effects of that service still ripple through families - through health, through finances, through the quiet weight of things never spoken about.
The AVCAT Long Tan Bursaries exist specifically for the children and grandchildren of those who served. Funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Veterans' Affairs, these bursaries provide $4,000 to $6,000 per year for up to three years of tertiary study - a total of up to $18,000. Thirty-seven bursaries are awarded each year across Australia.
If your parent or grandparent served in Vietnam, this guide covers everything you need to apply.
What the Long Tan Bursaries are
The Long Tan Bursaries are government-funded education bursaries administered by AVCAT (the Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust). They're named after the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966, one of the most significant engagements of the Vietnam War for Australian forces.
Each year, DVA funds 37 bursaries through AVCAT. The bursaries are worth $4,000 to $6,000 per year and can be held for up to three years, making the total value up to $18,000 per recipient.
The bursaries are specifically for children and grandchildren of Australian Vietnam veterans. This is a narrower eligibility than the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund (which covers descendants of veterans from any conflict) or AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships (which cover descendants of all ex-serving veterans).
Who can apply
Children and grandchildren of Vietnam veterans
Your parent or grandparent must have served in the Australian military during the Vietnam conflict period: 31 July 1962 to 30 April 1975.
These dates are precise. If your ancestor's service fell outside this window - even by a day - the Long Tan Bursaries don't apply. You may still be eligible for AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships or the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund instead.
The grandchild definition - and the 5-of-10 rule
For children of Vietnam veterans, the connection is straightforward: your parent served.
For grandchildren, AVCAT defines eligibility as follows:
- Direct grandchildren - the child of a child of a Vietnam veteran. No additional requirements.
- Step-grandchildren and foster grandchildren - you qualify if you have resided with, or been financially supported by, a child of a Vietnam veteran for at least five of the last ten years. This is commonly referred to as the "5-of-10 rule."
The 5-of-10 rule recognises that many blended and non-traditional families have strong connections to Vietnam veterans, even where the legal relationship isn't a direct bloodline. If you have lived with or been supported by someone whose parent served in Vietnam for at least half of the last decade, you may be eligible.
Means test requirements
Unlike the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund, which uses the broader concept of "necessitous circumstances," the Long Tan Bursaries have a specific means test. You must be receiving or eligible for one of the following:
- Youth Allowance - the standard Centrelink payment for young people studying or in an apprenticeship
- ABSTUDY - the education payment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Austudy - the Centrelink payment for older students (25 and over)
- VCES (Veterans' Children Education Scheme) - the DVA education scheme for children of veterans who died or were severely injured in service
- MRCAETS (Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme) - the equivalent scheme under post-2004 legislation
If you're receiving VCES or MRCAETS, you automatically meet the means test. This is significant - it means the programs stack. You can receive DVA education support and apply for Long Tan Bursaries. See our guide to DVA education schemes for more detail.
Study requirements
You must be enrolled in or commencing full-time tertiary study at a recognised Australian institution. This includes:
- University degrees (undergraduate or postgraduate)
- TAFE courses
- VET diplomas and advanced diplomas
There's no age limit for the Long Tan Bursaries. Unlike the GSF (which requires applicants to be under 25), a 40-year-old grandchild of a Vietnam veteran can apply, provided they meet the other criteria.
How to apply
The single-form system
This is one of the most important things to understand about AVCAT: one application covers both Long Tan Bursaries and all AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships.
When you submit an AVCAT application, you aren't choosing between Long Tan and Sponsored. You fill out one form. AVCAT reviews your application and automatically considers you for every scholarship and bursary you're eligible for - Long Tan, RSL-sponsored, corporate-sponsored, everything in the network.
This is a significant advantage. A single afternoon of paperwork can put you in contention for dozens of scholarships across the entire AVCAT ecosystem. For the full picture of what is available through that one form, see our guides to AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships, RSL and ESO scholarships, and corporate scholarships.
Application dates
Applications open on 18 August (Vietnam Veterans' Day) and close on 31 October (midnight AEDT) each year.
This gives you roughly ten weeks. The choice of 18 August as the opening date is deliberate - it's the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966, which is now recognised as Vietnam Veterans' Day.
Where to apply
Apply online at avcat.org.au/scholarships.
What you'll need
The AVCAT application form will ask you to provide:
- Proof of Vietnam-era service - documents showing that your parent or grandparent served during 31 July 1962 to 30 April 1975. Service records from the National Archives of Australia, discharge papers, or medal entitlement records can all serve this purpose.
- Proof of relationship - birth certificates or other documents establishing that you're a child or grandchild of the veteran. Step-grandchildren will need evidence of the 5-of-10 residency or financial support requirement.
- Evidence of means test eligibility - proof that you're receiving or eligible for Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY, Austudy, VCES, or MRCAETS.
- Academic records - current transcript and confirmation of enrolment or offer letter.
- Personal statement - about your circumstances, your goals, and how the bursary would support your education.
Making your Vietnam-era service connection clear
The critical piece of evidence is proof that the veteran served during the Vietnam conflict period. Service records from WWI and WWII are often accessed through the National Archives, and Vietnam-era records may be available through Defence or the NAA depending on the individual's service history.
The challenge with military service records is that they're dense, abbreviation-heavy documents. Dates are in military format. Unit names are abbreviated. Postings are coded. For a bursary assessor, a clear and readable summary of the veteran's service history is far more useful than a raw record they need to decode themselves.
A Decode My Digger service record decode takes the original record and translates every element into plain language. For $59, you receive a Word document and Excel spreadsheet showing exactly when and where the veteran served - including whether their service falls within the 31 July 1962 to 30 April 1975 window.
This is the kind of document that removes doubt from an application.
When you'll hear back
AVCAT notifies applicants of outcomes between late February and March of the following year. If you apply in August-October 2026, expect to hear back around February-March 2027.
Long Tan Bursaries vs AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships
If you're the descendant of a Vietnam veteran, you're likely eligible for both Long Tan Bursaries and AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships. Here's how they compare.
| Feature | Long Tan Bursaries | AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships |
|---|---|---|
| Funded by | Australian Government (DVA) | 36+ individual sponsors |
| Value per year | $4,000-$6,000 | $4,000-$6,000 |
| Duration | Up to 3 years | Up to 3 years |
| Total max value | $18,000 | $18,000 |
| Veteran service | Vietnam only (1962-1975) | Operational or 3+ years FT |
| Means test | Youth Allowance/ABSTUDY/Austudy/VCES/MRCAETS | Financial hardship (income and assets) |
| Application form | Same form | Same form |
The good news: you don't need to choose. One application covers both. AVCAT will assess your eligibility for Long Tan and for every Sponsored Scholarship in the network.
Long Tan Bursaries vs the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund
The GSF and AVCAT operate independently. You can - and should - apply to both.
| Feature | Long Tan Bursaries | GSF |
|---|---|---|
| Value | $4,000-$6,000/year, up to $18,000 | $8,000 (one year) |
| Duration | Up to 3 years | First year only |
| Veteran service | Vietnam only | Any conflict, WWI-present |
| Age limit | None | Under 25 |
| Means test | Youth Allowance/ABSTUDY/Austudy/VCES/MRCAETS | Necessitous circumstances |
| Application window | 18 Aug - 31 Oct | 1 Jan - 28 Feb |
A Vietnam veteran descendant under 25 in necessitous circumstances could apply to the GSF in January, receive $8,000 for their first year, then apply to AVCAT in August for $4,000 to $6,000 per year in years two and three. The total across both programs could exceed $26,000.
Can Long Tan Bursaries be combined with other support?
Yes. The Long Tan Bursaries can be received alongside:
- Gallipoli Scholarship Fund - different program, different application
- Legacy Education Support - contact your local Legacy club. Full guide →
- DVA education schemes (VCES/MRCAETS) - these are government entitlements, not scholarships. Receiving them also qualifies you for the Long Tan means test. Full guide →
- University-specific scholarships - check with your institution
Always check with each provider to confirm their stacking policy, as this may change from year to year.
What if you aren't a Vietnam veteran descendant?
If your ancestor served in a different conflict, the Long Tan Bursaries don't apply to you. You should look at:
- Gallipoli Scholarship Fund - $8,000, first year, descendants of veterans from any conflict
- AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships - $4,000 to $6,000/year for up to 3 years, operational service or 3+ years FT required
- Legacy Australia Education Support - if a veteran parent/partner has died or been wounded, ill, or injured as a result of service
For the full picture, see our complete application guide and searchable scholarships database.
Next steps
- Confirm your ancestor's Vietnam-era service dates (31 July 1962 to 30 April 1975)
- Check your means test eligibility (Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY, Austudy, VCES, or MRCAETS)
- Get the service record decoded to produce clear evidence of Vietnam-era service
- Apply at avcat.org.au/scholarships when applications open on 18 August
- Also apply to the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund when their window opens on 1 January
Data sourced from AVCAT and the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Last verified 8 June 2026. Verify all dates, values, and eligibility criteria directly with AVCAT at avcat.org.au before applying.