Australia Awards Scholarships

By Writer Last updated Feb 22, 2024

Applications for the Australia Awards Scholarships are now open to international students worldwide who wish to enroll for their academic studies in an Australian University. This is an excellent opportunity for you if you’ve been dreaming of studying in Australia on a fully-funded scholarship.

The Australia Awards Scholarship is the official Australian Government Scholarships program that opens the doors for international students to study in Australia. Moreover, the Australia Awards Scholarship is aimed at students and professionals from developing nations across the globe. It offers financial support to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs in multiple Australian Universities. Read on to learn more about this scholarship program. Also, you can access the opportunity by checking if you are eligible and knowing the application date range for your country.

Nonetheless, this article will explain everything you need about the Australian Awards Scholarships. From scholarship benefits to eligibility requirements, how to apply, and other important information on the scholarship program.

About the Australian Awards Scholarship Program

The Australian Awards Scholarships are long-term awards by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and are available to students from developing countries to undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities.

Australia Awards Scholarships, formerly known as Australian Development Scholarships (ADS), provide opportunities for people 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.

Moreover, the Australia Awards is the cornerstone of the Australian Government’s development assistance program for Africa. It provides access to postgraduate education, training, and professional development opportunities for suitably qualified Africans from eligible countries. On their return to the workplace, Australia Awards Alumni are expected to contribute to the development of their home countries.

Furthermore, they aim to contribute to the development needs of Australia’s partner countries in line with bilateral and regional agreements. The study and research opportunities provided by Australia Awards Scholarships develop the skills and knowledge of individuals to drive change and contribute to development in their own countries.

Scholarship Summary

Moreover, here’s an overview of Australia Awards Scholarships:

Scholarship Sponsor(s):

Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Host Institution(s):

Any of the Participating Australian Institutions

Scholarship Type:

Full funding scholarships

Study Level:

Bachelors/ Masters/Ph.D. Degrees

Field(s) of Study:

Undergraduate or Postgraduate Programmes related to your country’s priority areas for development are listed on the participating country profiles. However, Australia Awards are not available for training in areas related to flying aircraft, nuclear technology, or military training.

Scholarship Value:

See the scholarship benefits section below for details

Number of Awards:

Not specified

Eligible Nationalities:

Citizens of one of the participating developing countries in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. See the complete list of participating countries.

Deadline:

1st May 2023 (annual)

Scholarship Benefits

Furthermore, the Australia Awards Scholarships program will provide the scholarship recipients with the following inclusions:

Australia Awards Scholarships are available for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian higher education institution, including any preparatory training. The following benefits generally apply:

full tuition fees
return air travel–payment of a single return, economy class airfare to and from Australia via the most direct route
establishment allowance–a once-only payment as a contribution towards accommodation expenses, textbooks, study materials
Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) – a fortnightly contribution to basic living expenses paid at a rate determined by the department.
Introductory Academic Program (IAP)–a compulsory program before the commencement of formal academic studies covering information on living and studying in Australia
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the award (for award holder only)–provided to cover the scholar’s basic medical costs (except for pre-existing conditions)
Pre-course English (PCE) fees–if deemed necessary, PCE may be available for students for in-country and in-Australia training
supplementary academic support may be available to ensure a scholar’s academic success or enhance their academic experience
fieldwork (for research awards and Masters by coursework with a research component where fieldwork is compulsory) may be available for eligible research students for one return economy class airfare via the most direct route to their country of citizenship or within Australia.

Eligibility Requirements for the Australian Awards Scholarships

However, applicants must meet the following criteria below to be eligible to apply for Australian scholarships. The requirements are as follows: The 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) be residing in and applying for the scholarship from their country of citizenship;
applicants must 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 mobilization 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 currently serving military personnel;
applicants must 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 Scholarship 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 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 award is to be undertaken (this may mean that Program 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 Department of Home Affairs requirements 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 Ph.D.); and
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.

Moreover, you can read the complete eligibility criteria in the Australia Awards Policy Handbook (PDF)

How to Apply

Furthermore, you can follow the step-by-step guide below to apply for the scholarship program:

Firstly, check the opening and closing dates for your country. And then, select your country of citizenship/residency from the list of participating countries for specific information on eligibility, priority areas, and how to apply.
Secondly, applications can be made online or by mail (if unable to apply online).
To apply online, you must go to the Online Australia Scholarships Information System (OASIS).

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Additional Notes

Moreover, reading the how to apply page and visiting the country-specific pages is important. And the official website for more detailed and updated information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Moreover, some countries encourage and allow you to apply online, while others require hard-copy applications. See your participating country profile for opening and closing dates and more information.

Official Website

In conclusion, please refer to the official website of the scholarship provider using the link below for more information on the eligibility criteria and application instructions for the Australia Awards Scholarships.

Official Website