There are many scholarships and awards available to international students in Australia which can help support you financially with your studies. They are offered by the Australian Government, education institutions, and a number of other public and private organisations.
This article will explain some of the different Awards and Scholarships that are available to international student in Australia and what you need to qualify.
Australia Awards Scholarships
The Australia Awards Scholarships are fully funded scholarships offered by the Australian Government, specifically the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is for students from Australia’s partner developing countries, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. The scholarship allows students to study undergraduate and postgraduate programs at participating universities and TAFE institutions in Australia with the aim of contributing to the development of their home country.
Important: Award conditions state that applicants must sign a contract with Australia to comply with all scholarship conditions. Scholars must also return to their home country for two years after completing their studies.
Scholarship benefits include:
- full tuition fees
- return airfare, to and from Australia
- establishment allowance
- Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE)
- Introductory Academic Program (IAP)
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OHSC), for the student only
- Pre-course English (PCE) fees, if necessary
- academic support
- field work
Who is eligible?
The requirements are different for each country. Applicants are encouraged to review the Country Profile to confirm their eligibility, fields of study that are prioritised, and document requirements.
How to apply?
First, check your country eligibility and the priority fields of study. Second, apply through the Online Australia Scholarships Information System (OASIS), except for the Philippines and Indonesia. Mail applications are also accepted. Applications usually open around February to April, depending on the country. Mail applications are also accepted.
What are the participating countries?
Africa
Africa (Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe)
Asia
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
Pacific
Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna
Private Institutions
Just about every university in Australia offers scholarships to International students. The criteria can vary dramatically depending on the university.
Listed below are some examples of the scholarships offered to international students, to help you get an understanding of what is available to you as an international student studying in Australia.
It is always a good idea to talk to the university’s international student office to find out what is currently available to you and what is required to apply.
University Of Melbourne (Melbourne, VIC)
International Undergraduate Scholarships
The University of Melbourne offers International Undergraduate Scholarships to exceptional students who are enrolling in a bachelor degree. Applicants must be citizens of countries with limited access to international education because of financial constraints. The duration of the scholarship is one or more years, depending on the program.
The scholarship benefit provides a 25% fee remission for the duration of the course.
Important: The scholarship follows the Coursework Scholarships Terms and Conditions, can be deferred to the next year, and requires a minimum average grade of 70% each study period.
Who is eligible?
Applicants must:
- Be a citizen of a country with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of US$10,000 or less according to the data published by the World Bank.
- Applied and satisfies the entry requirements for an Overseas Fee place in a bachelor degree
- Not have formerly taken any tertiary studies, excluding extension studies that part of a year 12 program
- Rank highest based on their final secondary school or foundation studies results. Minimum scholarship selection scores based on each country can be found here.
How to apply?
There is no separate application for the International Undergraduate Scholarship Program. All eligible students are automatically considered for this scholarship, if they have applied for admission beginning in the award year.
Successful candidates will receive a scholarship offer within two weeks of receiving a course offer, while unsuccessful candidates will not be notified.
For further information about this Scholarship please contact Melbourne University.
RMIT Australia
Foundation Academic Scholarship
This scholarship provides financial assistance to outstanding Foundation Studies international students.
If you are an international student commencing Foundation Studies at RMIT, this scholarship could pay a contribution towards your tuition fees. The scholarship pays $5,000 towards your tuition fees. There are 40 available scholarships for 2026.
Who is eligible?
Applicants must:
- be an international student with a valid student visa or applying for a student visa before the start of the program
- have an existing offer letter, either full or conditional, and be a starting student in Semester one or Semester two 2026 intake in any Foundation Studies program
- submit an Expression of Interest
- not currently be a Foundation Studies student
How to Apply?
1. Select an eligible program
2. Submit an application to study at RMIT
3. Submit Expression of Interest (EOI)
4. If successful, you will receive an offer letter with the scholarship details outlined.
For further information about this Scholarship click here.
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney offers a variety of scholarships for international students across undergraduate, postgraduate coursework, and research degrees. Scholarships are based on academic merit, research potential, leadership, financial need, or area of studies.
For more information regarding the different scholarships, click here.
Scholarship benefits may include:
- Full or partial tuition fees
- Living allowance stipend
- Accomodation support
- Overseas health cover
- Flights to Australia
- Textbook allowance
- Research funding
Who is eligible?
Common requirements:
- Must be an international student
- Must apply for an eligible course
- Must meet the academic merit requirements
How to apply?
- Apply for a course
- Receive an offer letter
- Check scholarships available for your course
Note: Some scholarships require separate applications, others automatically consider eligible students
Bond University (Gold Coast, QLD)
Bond University offers a wide range of scholarships for international students at different times of the year. Scholarships are available to all international students applying for undergraduate or postgraduate studies programs.
To find out more click here.
Griffith University (Brisbane + Gold Coast, QLD)
Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarships.
Griffith University offers the Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (GUIPRS) to international students starting or currently enrolled in a Higher Degree Research (HDR) program. The scholarship covers the tuition fees for the duration of the program, and only a limited number of scholarships are available (some may have extra requirements and the scholarship may change depending on the specific award).
Scholarship benefits include:
- full tuition fees (up to 3 and a half years for doctoral candidates; up to 2 years for masters candidates)
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the candidate
- Student Services and Amenities Fee
Who is eligible?
Candidates must:
- Be an international student (not an Australian citizen or permanent resident or New Zealand citizen)
- Be starting or already enrolled in a Higher Degree Research (HDR) program at Griffith University
- Have a Bachelor’s Degree with First Class Honours
- Not already have a degree of the same or higher level as the research degree they are applying for
- Not have studied more than 12 months in the same research program before
- Not have previously received the same scholarship
- Not have had an Australia Awards scholarship given in the last 2 years
- Not have any other scholarship covering tuition fees
How to apply?
Applicants can only apply up to two times in a five-year period to be considered for scholarship ranking and selection process. New applicants are to apply online for a research program, this also includes a section for the scholarship application.
For more information about this program click here.
University Of Canberra (Canberra ACT)
The University of Canberra offers different types of international scholarships designed to reward academic excellence and support students financially throughout their studies. These scholarships typically provide 10% to 30% tuition fee reductions and are available for both undergraduate and post graduate coursework. Most are automatically assessed upon application.
Click here to find out more about these scholarships.
Helpful Links
StudyAssist.gov.au – a national data base of all current scholarships for domestic & international students.
StudyInAustralia.gov.au – an official Australian Government website for international students, including detailed information about government funded scholarships for international students
