Scholarships in Australia

Studying in Australia with a scholarship

Australia has a large international education sector and offers funding through the Australian Government, universities and other organisations. Scholarships are available for different study levels, but students should compare the actual award package carefully because not every scholarship covers the full cost of studying and living in Australia.

Tuition fees vary by university, course and location. There is no single national tuition fee for international students. Some programmes are considerably more expensive than others, especially in areas such as medicine, dentistry and certain professional degrees. The Australian Government’s Study Australia service recommends checking the exact course fee directly with the education provider.

A scholarship may reduce tuition substantially, but students should still calculate accommodation, health insurance, transportation, food, visa costs and other personal expenses before deciding whether an offer is financially realistic.

Australia Awards Scholarships

Australia Awards Scholarships are among the best-known government-funded opportunities for students from eligible developing countries.

They are administered by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and support full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education institutions.

The programme is intended to contribute to development in Australia’s partner countries, so eligibility is not based only on academic performance. Applicants should also pay close attention to their country’s development priorities and selection requirements.

For the 2027 intake, most participating countries opened applications on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026, although applicants must always check the dates for their own country.

Students should not assume that Australia Awards are available worldwide. Eligibility is restricted to participating countries, and each country can have its own additional conditions.

What Australia Awards can cover

Australia Awards are broader than many ordinary university scholarships.

Benefits generally include:

• full tuition fees
• return economy airfare
• a one-time establishment allowance
• a contribution toward living expenses
• Overseas Student Health Cover for the award holder
• an introductory academic programme
• possible pre-course English support where required
• possible supplementary academic support
• eligible fieldwork support for some research programmes

The exact package is governed by the scholarship rules and individual award conditions.

Applicants should still read their country profile because local requirements can differ.

The return-home condition matters

Australia Awards should not be viewed as a migration programme.

Recipients are required to leave Australia for at least two years after completing their scholarship. Applicants who intend to migrate permanently or already hold Australian permanent residency are not eligible under the standard programme.

This condition is important. Students should apply because the programme fits their academic and professional goals, not because they see it as a direct route to permanent residence.

Research Training Program funding

Research students should also pay attention to the Australian Government’s Research Training Program, commonly called RTP.

RTP funding supports domestic and international students undertaking research master’s and doctoral degrees at eligible Australian universities. The funding is distributed to universities, which then manage their own application and selection processes. Students do not apply for RTP directly through the Department of Education.

An RTP award can include one or more forms of support:

• tuition fee offset
• living stipend
• allowances connected with research study

For 2026, the full-time RTP stipend range is AUD 34,315 to AUD 53,608 per year. For 2027, the published range is AUD 35,550 to AUD 55,537. Universities decide the actual stipend they offer within the permitted range.

International students can receive RTP support, but universities may use only a limited portion of their annual RTP allocation for international recipients. Competition can therefore be strong.

University scholarships

Australian universities also offer their own scholarships.

These can include:

• international student merit scholarships
• tuition-fee reductions
• full tuition awards
• research scholarships
• faculty-specific funding
• leadership scholarships
• regional scholarships
• accommodation or living allowances

Some scholarships are automatic when a student applies for admission. Others require a completely separate application.

Applicants should check whether the scholarship requires:

1. a university application first
2. an offer of admission
3. a separate scholarship form
4. academic references
5. a personal statement
6. research supervision
7. evidence of leadership or professional experience

Do not assume that applying to the university automatically means you have applied for all available scholarships.

Admission and scholarship eligibility are not the same

A student can meet the scholarship criteria but still fail to meet the university’s admission requirements.

Australian universities determine their own academic and English-language requirements. These can differ significantly between institutions and courses.

Applicants should confirm:

• whether their previous qualification is recognised
• the minimum academic result required
• prerequisite subjects
• accepted English-language tests
• minimum language scores
• whether professional experience is required
• whether additional portfolio or research documents are needed

Research applicants may also need to identify a suitable supervisor before they can submit a complete application.

Always check the university’s official programme page because general scholarship websites cannot replace course-specific admission rules.

Student visa requirements

Most international students need a Student visa, subclass 500.

Students generally need to enrol with an approved provider and receive a Confirmation of Enrolment before applying for the visa.

The visa process is separate from scholarship selection. Receiving a scholarship does not automatically guarantee a student visa.

Applicants should be prepared to provide documents relating to:

• enrolment
• identity
• finances
• health insurance
• English-language ability where applicable
• other circumstances requested by the Department of Home Affairs

The Australian Government provides a document checklist tool because requirements can differ depending on the applicant and course.

Financial capacity

Australia requires international students to demonstrate sufficient financial resources where the requirement applies.

Study Australia currently states that student visa applicants must show at least AUD 29,710 toward living costs, in addition to considering travel and course expenses. Actual living expenses can be higher than the visa minimum.

Applicants with dependants can face higher requirements.

Students should therefore avoid interpreting the visa financial threshold as a realistic annual budget for every city. Rent and everyday expenses can vary substantially between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and regional areas.

Student visa application costs

Visa costs are another expense applicants should plan for.

From 1 July 2026, the standard primary Student visa application charge increased to AUD 2,500, although concessions apply to some applicants and visa categories.

Because visa charges can change, applicants should check the official Department of Home Affairs fee information immediately before applying.

Overseas Student Health Cover

Most international students are required to maintain Overseas Student Health Cover, usually referred to as OSHC, for the required period of their stay.

Study Australia states that applicants who fail to provide the required evidence of OSHC can have their student visa refused.

Some scholarships, including Australia Awards, normally provide OSHC for the award holder. Other scholarships may not.

Students should therefore check whether health insurance is included in their funding package before calculating the real value of the scholarship.

Living costs

Australia can be expensive, particularly in major cities.

Housing is often one of the largest expenses. Costs also depend on whether a student lives:

• in university accommodation
• in a shared apartment
• in private rental housing
• with a host family

Other costs can include:

• food
• public transport
• utilities
• internet and phone services
• textbooks
• course equipment
• insurance
• personal expenses
• domestic travel

The Australian Government provides a Cost of Living Calculator specifically because expenses vary by city and lifestyle.

Students should build their own budget rather than relying on a single figure quoted by a scholarship website or social-media post.

Application timing

Scholarship deadlines can close much earlier than university admission deadlines.

For government programmes such as Australia Awards, the scholarship application follows a defined annual cycle. University scholarships can operate on completely different schedules.

Applicants should keep separate records of:

• scholarship deadline
• university admission deadline
• research supervisor deadline
• document certification requirements
• English test deadline
• visa preparation timeline

Starting early gives applicants more time to obtain academic records and references without rushing.

Australia Awards applications need original answers

There is an especially important rule for Australia Awards applicants.

DFAT's current guidance says applicants may use artificial intelligence only for limited tasks such as spelling, grammar and organising ideas. Applicants must not use AI to write, improve or paraphrase the substantive answers in their scholarship application. Misuse can result in disqualification.

Applicants should therefore write their application responses themselves and make sure the examples reflect their own experiences, achievements and future plans.

This is also a good reason to be cautious about paid services offering to write an Australia Awards application on a student's behalf.

What to check before applying

Before applying for an Australian scholarship, confirm:

• whether your nationality is eligible
• the supported study level
• whether university admission is required first
• whether the award covers full or partial tuition
• whether a living allowance is provided
• whether airfare is included
• whether OSHC is included
• whether dependants receive support
• whether work experience is required
• whether a return-home obligation applies
• whether a research supervisor is required
• the exact scholarship deadline
• the separate university deadline

Read the current official conditions rather than relying on information from an older scholarship cycle.

Avoid scholarship and admission scams

Be cautious about organisations or individuals promising:

• guaranteed Australia Awards selection
• guaranteed university admission
• guaranteed student visas
• government scholarships in exchange for unofficial payments

Australia Awards applications follow formal government procedures, and university scholarships have their own official selection processes.

Use the Australian Government, official university or recognised scholarship-provider website as the final source before submitting documents or paying fees.

Final advice

Australia offers strong scholarship opportunities, particularly through Australia Awards, universities and the Research Training Program.

The best option depends on the applicant's nationality, academic level and goals. A scholarship suitable for a research doctorate applicant may have little relevance to an undergraduate applicant, while Australia Awards eligibility can depend heavily on country-specific rules.

Compare the scholarship package against the full cost of study, read the official conditions carefully and prepare early.

The opportunities listed below provide a starting point for scholarships connected with Australia, but deadlines, benefits and eligibility should always be confirmed with the official provider before applying.

Last reviewed: September 10, 2026