Australia Awards Scholarships

About the Australia Awards Scholarships

The Australia Awards Scholarships is offered by Australian Government (DFAT). Long-term, fully-funded study awards for citizens of partner developing countries to undertake undergraduate or postgraduate study at Australian institutions. Scholarships like this are competitive and rule-bound: meeting every published eligibility criterion is what gets your application read, and missing even one usually means an automatic rejection regardless of how strong the rest of your profile is.

Use the eligibility checker on this page for a quick, personalised read of whether you qualify before you invest hours in the application — then confirm the fine print on the official source, since awarding bodies revise criteria and amounts between cycles.

What the scholarship covers

This award typically covers: Full tuition fees; Return air travel and a one-off establishment allowance; Contribution to living expenses; Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Read the value carefully — "full" funding can still leave gaps (visa fees, travel, or a partner/family), while a partial award may need topping up from savings or part-time work to satisfy a visa's proof-of-funds rule.

Who is eligible

The main requirements are strict gates rather than guidelines: Open only to citizens of participating partner countries; You must not be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia and must apply from your home country; Recipients must return home for at least two years after completing the award. Check each against your own situation honestly before applying — the checker on this page does exactly this and flags where you may fall short.

Deadlines and how to apply well

Key dates: Annual (varies by country) — 2026-04-30. Always confirm the exact deadline on the official source, as cycles shift year to year and some awards close early once funds are committed.

Strong applications are specific and evidenced: tie your goals to what the scholarship is actually for, supply every requested document in the right format, and give referees plenty of notice. A late or incomplete submission is the most avoidable reason good candidates miss out.