🇦🇺 Australia · Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in Australia — government, university, and international programs.
Quick answer
Australia's best-known government scholarships are the Australia Awards (funded by DFAT, largely for students from developing countries) and Destination Australia (for study in regional Australia), alongside the Research Training Program for HDR students and many university scholarships. Explore options on Study Australia and each university's site, and apply by their deadlines.
Australia's headline government scholarship is the Australia Awards, administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for emerging leaders from eligible developing countries. Domestically, the Research Training Program (RTP) funds higher-degree research for international students through universities. The official Study Australia portal is the starting point, and each university offers its own international scholarships.
- Australia Awards Scholarships (DFAT) cover full tuition, return airfare, living allowance and Overseas Student Health Cover for applicants from eligible developing countries.
- Australia Awards recipients must leave Australia for at least two years after their studies, or repay the scholarship cost.
- The Research Training Program (RTP) supports master's-by-research and PhD places (tuition + stipend) and is administered by the universities.
- Individual Australian universities offer merit and country-specific international scholarships — check each provider's scholarship pages.
Step-by-step
- 1
Map the funding landscape
Map Australian funding: Australia Awards (DFAT), Destination Australia, the Research Training Program and university awards, via Study Australia.
- 2
Check eligibility and deadlines
Confirm eligibility (level, nationality, grades, language) and note that scholarship deadlines are often months before course start.
- 3
Prepare your documents
Prepare transcripts, a language-test score, reference letters, a strong personal statement and (for research) a proposal.
- 4
Apply to the scheme and university
Submit the scholarship application and, where required, a separate university/admission application by each deadline.
- 5
Interview, results and acceptance
Attend any interview or selection stage; if awarded, formally accept the scholarship and your study place.
- 6
Handle visa, funds and conditions
Apply for your student visa, arrange disbursement, and note any conditions such as progress requirements or a return/service obligation.
Checklist
- Funding sources identified (government / university / private)
- Eligibility + deadlines confirmed
- Transcripts + language test + references
- Personal statement / research proposal
- Scholarship + university applications submitted
- Interview / selection completed
- Offer accepted + funding terms understood
- Student visa + disbursement + any bond/return rules
Official authorities
- Australia Awards Scholarships (DFAT)
Australian Government scholarships for emerging leaders from developing countries.
- Study Australia (Australian Government)
Official study portal — scholarships, courses and how to apply.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Australia Awards?
Prestigious DFAT-funded scholarships, largely for students from eligible developing countries, covering tuition and living costs.
Is there funding for research degrees?
Yes — the Research Training Program supports domestic and international higher-degree-by-research students at Australian universities.
What is Destination Australia?
A program offering scholarships to study at education providers in regional Australia, for both domestic and international students.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Australian Government — Australian Government's official entry point — quick access to all department services
- Dept of Home Affairs — Student/work visas, skilled migration (189/190/491 subclasses), and citizenship applications
- Australian Tax Office (ATO) — TFN application, tax refunds, GST, superannuation, and personal income tax lodgment