2026 ADA Dental Student Study Grants (First Nations) and (Hardship) open
- Grants and awards
Equipping the next generation of dentists is a key focus of the ADA, with these grants playing a key role in helping dentistry students achieve their career goals.
The 2026 ADA Dental Student Study Grants (First Nations) and (Hardship) are now open for applications from Australian citizens or permanent residents who are enrolled as full-time students in an Australian dental degree that qualifies them to practise as a dentist.
Students, who need to be ADA members (there is no cost for this; if not currently a member this must be done via the relevant ADA Branch prior to lodgment of the application), must currently be in at least the second year of their degree and are only eligible to receive two scholarships during their time at university.
This year, there are changes to the configuration of the grants with the following available:
- 5 x $5,000 First Nations grants
- 20 x $2,500 Hardship grants
Applications open Monday 2 February 2026 and close 11:59pm, Friday 3 April 2026.
Visit for more information and to lodge your application
ADA Dental Study Grants (First Nations) aim to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who are enrolled as full-time students in an Australian dental degree that qualifies them to practise as a dentist and are currently in at least the second year of their degree. Five grants, each worth $5000, are awarded each year.
ADA Dental Student Study Grants (Hardship)
The ADA will issue up to 20 grants worth $2,500 each to dental students who are experiencing hardship. Examples of hardship include, but are not limited to, caring for dependents or family members, residing in a rural or remote area for 5 years immediately prior to study, financial hardship, personal or family illness, disability, trauma, or you or your family are refugees.
This grant stream is an amalgamation of the previous Rural and Remote and Hardship scholarships.
Applicants will be judged based on answers to application questions regarding financial, accommodation and hardship circumstances.
Twenty ADA Dental Study Grants (Hardship) of $2,500 each are available in 2026.
Twenty grants worth $2500 each for dental students undergoing hardship.
Meet previous recipients of these grants:
Latisha’s journey into dentistry is a powerful story of passion, perseverance and purpose. Starting out as a dedicated dental assistant, she took bold steps to further her education. First completing a Bachelor of Oral Health, and now graduating with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
A proud Mudburra and Jingili woman raised on Larrakia Country, Latisha brings a strong cultural identity to her work and has been a beacon of support and leadership for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Savannah Kanters, Tachae Douglas-Miller and Davis White are three newly qualified Indigenous Australian dentists who recently attended the UQ Indigenous Graduation Sashing Ceremony. Savannah is a Djabugay and Iman woman from Woorabinda in Central Queensland, born in Rockhampton, who has always been a strong advocate for Indigenous oral health and culturally safe care. She will be working with Queensland Health providing public dental care in 2026 while continuing as a tutor for UQ dental students. She is keen to pursue further advocacy roles for her people in future. Tachae is a proud Ngunnawal woman with a deep passion for Indigenous oral health and a long-term dream of becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. She will be studying Medicine in 2026. Davis is from the Kunja mob through his father’s side, with family connections across Cunnamulla, Kowanyama and Lockhart River, and he’ll soon be travelling throughout Western Australia to provide public dental care as he works toward specialising in orthodontics.
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