If you're planning to study in Australia with financial support, Australian Scholarship Awards are among the best opportunities available to international students. These scholarships offer fully funded study programs at Australian universities across a wide range of disciplines. In this article, we'll explain everything you need to know about Australian Scholarship Awards, including their benefits, eligibility requirements, required documents, and a detailed explanation of the application process to help you apply successfully.

The Australian Scholarship Awards 2026-2027 are available for undergraduate , master's, and doctoral students . They provide recipients with full tuition fees, travel allowance, living expenses, a start-up allowance, and more.

The Australia Awards invites applications from international students wishing to pursue postgraduate studies at participating Australian institutions. These awards aim to contribute to the development needs of Australia's partner countries, in line with bilateral and regional agreements. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade administers these awards.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of study:  Bachelor's , Master's , PhD
• Institutions: Participating Australian institutions
• Study destination:  Australia
• Areas of focus for opportunities:
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Arts
  • Business and Law
  • Medical and applied sciences
  • Nursing and Midwifery
  • Humanities, Health and Social Sciences
• Program duration:  depends on the chosen degree.

Deadline for submitting applications for Australia Awards grants

The deadline for submitting applications for Australia Awards grants is April 30, 2026.

Click here to check country-specific deadlines.

Scholarship coverage

Australia Scholarship Awards provide recipients with the following benefits:

• Full tuition fees
• Contribution towards accommodation, textbooks, and study materials expenses
• Round-trip air travel - paying for one return ticket, in economy class, to and from Australia, via the shortest possible route
• Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) - A bi-weekly contribution to basic living expenses paid at a rate determined by the administration.
• Fees for the Pre-Course English (PCE) course
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the scholarship (scholarship recipient only) - provided to cover the student’s basic medical costs (excluding pre-existing medical conditions).
• The Introductory Academic Program (IAP) is a mandatory program before starting formal academic studies, covering information about living and studying in Australia.
• Additional academic support may be available to ensure the researcher's success or enrich their academic experience. Eligible students may also be offered the opportunity to undertake fieldwork (for research grants and Master's degree programs that include a research component requiring fieldwork) in exchange for a one-way economy class airfare via the shortest route to their home country or within Australia.

Eligibility criteria for Australian Scholarship Awards

To be eligible for Australia Awards grants, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Required language:  English
• Eligible Countries: Citizens of one of the participating countries in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. See the complete list of participating countries.
• The applicant must be at least 18 years old on February 1st of the year the scholarship begins;
• You must not be an Australian citizen, have permanent residence in Australia, or be applying for a visa to live permanently in Australia.
• To be a citizen of one of the participating countries (as listed on the Australia Awards website) and to be a resident of their country of citizenship and to apply for the scholarship from there.
• The person must remain unmarried, unengaged, and without a de facto partner who holds or is eligible for Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residence during the application, selection, or filling phases (Note: Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau residents who hold New Zealand citizenship are eligible but must apply for a Student Visa [subclass 500]).
• They are only eligible to apply for a long-term Australian award if they have not previously received one and have lived outside Australia for at least twice as long as they previously lived in Australia.
• They must not be current members of the military service.
• Meeting any specific criteria set by the program area or the government of the applicant's country of nationality (for example, working for a certain number of years in a suitable sector).
• The student must be able to meet all the requirements of the Ministry of the Interior to obtain a student visa. This may mean that the program will have to withdraw the scholarship offer if the student is unable to meet the visa requirements.
• Applicants must be able to meet the admission requirements of the institution where the program will be held (this may mean that programs will have to withdraw the grant offer if the recipient does not meet the admission requirements). This may only become clear after programs request placement at selected institutions.
• Not applying for a scholarship for a course of study at a lower academic level than they have already achieved (for example, applying for a scholarship for a master's degree when they already have a doctorate).
• Applicants must inform the program area of ​​any connection or relationship with staff working in program areas (including local staff working in the position) or with administrative contractors so that the application can be managed properly and transparently.

How to apply for Australian scholarship awards:

Please follow the instructions below to apply for Australian Scholarship Awards:

1. Applying online: Go to the Online Australia Scholarships Information System (OASIS). 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 per the relevant participating country profile.
2. Once submitted, your application cannot be changed. We strongly advise applicants applying online to do so well before the closing date. OASIS experiences peak usage in the days leading up to the closing date, and applicants may experience delays.
3. Refer to the applicant’s online user manual if you need help.
4. If you are unable to submit your application online, you can apply by mail. Please check your participating country's profile for contact information to obtain a hard copy of the application form and any other forms, such as reference reports (if applicable).

Website

To learn more about Australian Scholarship Awards, please visit the official website: