Australia Awards Scholarships are prestigious international scholarships offered by the Australian Government, administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to individuals from developing countries, particularly those in the Indo-Pacific region, to undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions. The Australian Awards Scholarships aim to develop the skills and knowledge of recipients to drive change and contribute to the development of their home countries.
The inception of the Australia Awards Scholarships can be traced back to the Colombo Plan, initiated in 1951, which was a collective intergovernmental effort to strengthen economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific. Over the decades, Australia’s commitment to international education and capacity-building evolved, leading to the consolidation of various scholarship programs under the umbrella of the Australia Awards in 2009. This consolidation aimed to streamline and enhance the effectiveness of Australia’s international scholarships and fellowships.
Eligible Countries
Australia Awards Scholarships are available to citizens of participating countries across Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Some of the eligible countries include:
- Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
- Pacific: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis, and Futuna.
- Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Participating Institutions
There are 49 Australian institutions participating in the Australia Awards Scholarships. These are institutions where the recipients of this award can undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate studies. Some of these institutions are: Adelaide University, Bond university, Central Queensland University, Griffith University, La Trobe University, TAFE SA, the University of Sydney, etc
Field(s) of study:
Undergraduate or postgraduate programs that are related to your country’s priority areas for development, which are listed on the participating country profiles.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for an Australia Awards Scholarships, applicants must:
- Be a minimum of 18 years of age on 1 February of the year of commencing the scholarship
- Be a citizen of a participating country (as listed on the Australia Awards website) and be residing in and applying for the scholarship from their country of citizenship
- Not be a citizen of Australia, hold permanent residency in Australia or be applying for a visa to live in Australia permanently
- Not be married to, engaged to, or a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, at any time during the application, selection or mobilisation phases (note: residents of Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau with New Zealand citizenship are eligible but must apply for a Student visa [subclass 500])
- Not be current serving military personnel
- Not have previously received a long-term Australia Award unless they have resided outside of Australia for twice the length of the total time that they were in Australia (for example, a previous awardee who has been on an Australia Awards Scholarship in Australia for four years will not be eligible to apply for another Australia Awards Scholarships until they have resided outside Australia for eight years)
- Not hold convictions of criminal activities (including in their home country), including those relating to Child Protection and PSEAH
- Recipients of the Australian Awards Scholarships, under the Pacific Secondary School Scholarship Program (PSSSP) who have completed their secondary school education in Australia in the year prior are eligible to apply for a long-term Australia Award
- Have satisfied any specific criteria established by the Program Area or the government of the applicant’s country of citizenship (e.g. having worked a certain number of years in an appropriate sector)
- Be able to satisfy the admission requirements of the institution at which the Australian Awards Scholarships is to be undertaken (this may mean that programme areas will need to withdraw an award offer if the recipient cannot satisfy the institution’s admission requirements). This may not be known until Program Areas request a placement at selected institutions.
- Be able to satisfy all requirements of the Department of Home Affairs to hold a Student Visa. This may mean that the Program Area will need to withdraw an award offer if the recipient cannot satisfy the visa requirements
- Not be applying for a scholarship for a course of study at an academic level lower than already achieved (e.g., applying for a Master’s scholarship when they already hold a PhD)
- Applicants must inform the Program Area of any connection or relationship to staff employed at Program Areas (including locally engaged staff at post) or with managing contractors so that the application may be properly and transparently managed.
Benefits of the Australian Awards Scholarships
- Full Tuition Fees: Coverage of all academic costs for the duration of the program.
- Return Air Travel: Provision of a single return, economy class airfare to and from Australia via the most direct route.
- Establishment Allowance: A one-time payment to assist with accommodation expenses, textbooks, and study materials.
- Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE): A fortnightly stipend to cover basic living costs, set at a rate determined by the Australian Government.
- Introductory Academic Program (IAP): A mandatory program prior to the commencement of formal studies, covering information on living and studying in Australia.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): Health insurance for the duration of the scholarship.
- Pre-Course English (PCE) Fees: If deemed necessary, PCE may be provided for students to improve their English language proficiency.
- Supplementary Academic Support: Additional support may be available to ensure a scholar’s academic success or enhance their educational experience.
- Fieldwork (for research students): Eligible research students may receive assistance for fieldwork, including a return airfare to their country of citizenship or within Australia.
How To Apply for Australia Awards Scholarships
Applicants can apply online or by mail (if unable to apply online). It is important to read the how-to-apply page and visit the country-specific pages on the official Australia Awards Scholarships website for detailed and updated information on the application process.
When you register online, you will be required to answer some questions to establish your eligibility. You will then be given a unique registration number, username, and password.
You do not need to submit your application immediately. You can set up a draft application form and update it and your supporting documentation until the designated closing date as on the relevant participating country profile.
Once submitted, your application cannot be changed.
Application Deadline for Australia Awards Scholarships
Applications for the Australia Awards Scholarships for the 2025 close on 30 April 2025 at 11:59 pm AEST.
Important Notes:
- Award Conditions: Applicants who accept an Australia Awards Scholarships will need to sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia declaring that they will comply with the conditions of the scholarship. Scholars are required to leave Australia for a minimum of two years after completing their scholarship. Failure to do so will result in the scholar incurring a debt for the total accrued cost of their scholarship.
Pro Tips:
It is important to read the How to Apply page and visit the country-specific pages and the official website (link found below) for detailed and updated information on how to apply for this scholarship. Also
Dreaming of studying in Australia on a fully funded scholarship? The Australia Awards Scholarships offer you a golden opportunity. For more detailed information, applicants should refer to the official Australia Awards Scholarships page.
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