Australia Awards Scholarships
🇦🇺 Australia
Masters
- Full tuition fees
- Return air travel
- Establishment allowance
Deadline: April 30 (varies by country)
🇦🇺
Oceania
Scholarships in Australia for International Students
3 verified scholarships · 3 fully funded · Including Australia Awards Scholarships, Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP), Adelaide Scholarship International (ASI)
Australia is a top study destination renowned for its exceptional quality of life, globally recognized institutions, and stunning natural environments. We've compiled 3 scholarship opportunities — including 3 fully funded programs — to help international students fund their education in Australia in 2026.
3
Total Scholarships
3
Fully Funded
2
Degree Levels
2
Open to All Nations
All Scholarships in Australia
Fully Funded
PhD
- Full tuition fee offset
- Annual stipend (AUD 32,192 in 2024)
- Relocation allowance
Deadline: Varies by university (typically August–October)
Adelaide Scholarship International (ASI)
🇦🇺 Australia
PhD
- Full tuition fee waiver
- Annual living allowance (AUD 31,688)
- Overseas student health cover
Deadline: Rolling (check university deadlines)
Why Study in Australia?
Australia hosts the third-largest international student population in the world relative to its size and has eight universities in the global top 100. The combination of high academic quality, strong post-study work rights, and a points-based skilled migration pathway makes it especially popular among Asian and African applicants. Government-funded Australia Awards target citizens of developing Indo-Pacific and African countries with full scholarships; the Research Training Program (RTP) funds thousands of international PhD and research Master's students each year through every public university.
Top Universities in Australia for International Students
These universities anchor the country's scholarship pipeline and are routinely the destination institutions for the funded programmes listed above.
University of Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC
Medicine, law, education; consistently top-ranked Australian university
Australian National University (ANU)
Canberra, ACT
Public policy, physics, international relations
University of Sydney
Sydney, NSW
Engineering, business, veterinary science
University of Queensland (UQ)
Brisbane, QLD
Mining engineering, biotechnology, agriculture
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Sydney, NSW
Engineering, computer science, fintech
Monash University
Melbourne, VIC
Pharmacy, business, IT
University of Adelaide
Adelaide, SA
Wine science, mining, AI; home of Adelaide Scholarship International
University of Western Australia (UWA)
Perth, WA
Marine biology, oil & gas engineering
Tuition and Cost of Living in Australia
Fully funded scholarships normally cover both tuition and a monthly living allowance, but knowing the underlying costs helps you choose between full and partial funding offers.
Annual Tuition (Self-Funded Rate)
- Undergraduate
- AU$25,000–AU$50,000 per year
- Master's
- AU$25,000–AU$60,000 per year
- PhD
- AU$25,000–AU$50,000 per year (almost always covered by RTP or institutional scholarships for funded students)
Medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science are the most expensive at AU$70k–AU$100k/year. RTP scholarships cover full tuition + AU$35,000+ stipend/year.
Monthly Living Budget (AU$1,700–AU$2,800)
- Rent
- AU$900–AU$1,800 (shared accommodation; Sydney and Melbourne at upper end)
- Food
- AU$400–AU$600
- Transport
- AU$120–AU$200 (concession travel cards)
Adelaide, Hobart, and Brisbane are 25–35% cheaper than Sydney/Melbourne. International students at most universities qualify for transit concessions.
Student Visa, Work Rights, and Post-Study Pathway
Visa rules and post-graduation work rights vary dramatically between destinations — for many applicants they matter as much as the scholarship itself.
Student Visa (Subclass 500)
- Visa Fee
- AU$1,600 (2024 rate; raised from AU$710)
- Processing Time
- 4–8 weeks for most countries; can be longer for high-risk assessment levels
- Financial Proof Required
- AU$29,710/year for living costs (2024 update from AU$24,505) plus tuition and travel
- Health Insurance
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory — ~AU$650/year for singles
- Work While Studying
- 48 hours per fortnight during term, unlimited during scheduled breaks
Post-Study Work Rights
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) gives 2–6 years of work rights depending on degree level and where you studied. Regional study earns additional years. After this, the Skilled Migration programme (points-based) offers permanent residency for graduates in occupations on the Skilled Occupation List.
English Language Requirements
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band is standard; G8 universities frequently want 7.0+. PTE Academic 58–65, TOEFL iBT 79–100, and Cambridge C1 Advanced are accepted. Some programmes (medicine, education, law) require 7.0 with 7.0 in each band.
Application Timeline for Australia Scholarships
Most scholarship deadlines are 8–14 months before the programme start date. Backwards-plan from your target intake to avoid missing key dates.
- 1
12–15 months before
Shortlist universities; check whether your programme is RTP-funded or has institutional fellowships.
- 2
9–12 months before
Take IELTS/PTE; secure two academic references.
- 3
8–10 months before
Apply to universities (Australia uses rolling admissions; earliest deadlines for Australia Awards close April).
- 4
6–8 months before
Receive offer (CoE) once accepted; apply for Australia Awards through your country's Australian High Commission.
- 5
3–5 months before
Accept offer, purchase OSHC, apply for Subclass 500 visa, secure housing.
How to Win a Scholarship in Australia
Australia Awards are administered by DFAT and bilaterally negotiated — applications go through the Australian High Commission in your home country, not via Australian universities. Deadlines and eligible countries change yearly. Strong applications emphasise development impact and a commitment to return home for two years post-graduation. For research degrees, target supervisors before universities: most PhD funding flows from research grants held by individual academics. RTP scholarships are awarded by each university directly to admitted students — once you have a strong supervisor match, ask explicitly whether they can nominate you for RTP, Endeavour, or institutional equivalents.
Australia Scholarships at a Glance
- Australia Awards funds ~1,500 international students annually from ~40 countries.
- PhD students on RTP scholarships earn AU$35,000+/year tax-free stipend plus full tuition coverage.
- Regional study (outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) earns extra immigration points.
- OSHC is the only mandatory non-academic cost for student visa holders.
Scholarships in Australia by Student Nationality
Find scholarships in Australia tailored to students from your home country. Select your nationality to see specific opportunities and eligibility requirements.
🇵🇰 Pakistani Students 🇮🇳 Indian Students 🇳🇬 Nigerian Students 🇧🇩 Bangladeshi Students 🇰🇪 Kenyan Students 🇬🇭 Ghanaian Students 🇵🇭 Filipino Students 🇪🇬 Egyptian Students 🇪🇹 Ethiopian Students 🇳🇵 Nepali Students 🇻🇳 Vietnamese Students 🇮🇩 Indonesian Students 🇱🇰 Sri Lankan Students 🇹🇿 Tanzanian Students 🇺🇬 Ugandan Students
Explore Other Study Destinations
Considering other countries? Browse scholarships in these popular study destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in Australia
Yes, Australia offers several fully funded scholarships that cover tuition fees, living expenses, health insurance, and sometimes even travel costs. Government-sponsored programs and university-specific awards provide comprehensive funding for international students at all degree levels.
Competition varies by program. Prestigious government scholarships tend to be highly competitive with acceptance rates under 5%, while university-specific funding and partial scholarships are more accessible. Starting your application early and maintaining strong academic credentials significantly improves your chances.
Most English-taught programs require IELTS (6.0–7.0) or TOEFL (80–100) scores. Some programs offer pre-sessional language courses to help you meet the requirements.
Start researching and preparing at least 12–18 months before your intended start date. Most scholarship deadlines fall between October and March for programs starting the following September. Early preparation gives you time to gather recommendation letters, write strong personal statements, and take standardized tests.
Most student visa categories in Australia allow part-time work during term time (typically 15–20 hours per week) and full-time work during holidays. However, many fully funded scholarships provide sufficient living allowances, allowing you to focus entirely on your studies.
TheScholarSphere currently lists 3 scholarship programs in Australia for the 2026 academic year, ranging from fully funded government scholarships to partial university grants. New opportunities are added regularly, so subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
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