The Australian government, universities, and many other public and private organizations offer grants, scholarships, and bursaries to international students to help them offset their study costs. One can apply for these financial aids to scholarship providers based on their merits, achievements, or financial needs.

Some of the major scholarship programs available for international students in Australia are listed below:

Australia Awards Scholarships

The Australia Awards offer scholarships for full-time study at participating Australian universities and TAFEs. The scholarship covers course tuition fees, return air travel, establishment allowance, contribution to living expenses, etc. Students can apply for this scholarship through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia.

To be eligible for an Australia Award, you must:

• Be a citizen of an Australian Awards priority country (such as Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Fiji and Solomon Islands) and not have dual citizenship with another country.
• Not hold permanent residency in Australia.
• Be aged 18 years or over at the time you commence your scholarship.
• Meet the DFAT prerequisites for your chosen course of study.
• Be able to satisfy the entry requirements for your chosen course of study.

The purpose of the Australian Awards is to promote education ties between Australia and other participating countries. Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, leadership potential and the benefit that would be derived from the education experience in Australia.

Destination Australia Scholarships

The Destination Australia Scholarships are offered by the Australian government to domestic and international students planning to pursue higher education in regional Australia. The scholarship amount is up to $15,000 per student per year. Students pursuing Certificate IV to Ph.D. programs in regional campuses across Australia can receive these scholarships for up to four years.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a domestic or international student.
• Be planning to study in regional Australia at a participating university or institute.
• Have an unconditional offer of admission or be currently enrolled in an eligible course at a participating university or institute.

Destination Australia Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and the benefit that would be derived from the education experience in regional Australia.

Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)

The Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships are offered to domestic and international students planning to pursue full-time research degrees at participating Australian universities. The scholarships cover course tuition fees and a living allowance for the duration of the degree.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a domestic or international student.
• Be planning to study for a research degree at a participating Australian university.
• Have an unconditional offer of admission or be currently enrolled in an eligible course at a participating university.

The RTP Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage and support students undertaking research training that will contribute to the knowledge economy of Australia.

Endeavour Postgraduate Awards

The Endeavour Postgraduate Awards are offered by the Australian government to high-achieving international students planning to pursue postgraduate study at participating Australian universities. The scholarships cover course tuition fees, return air travel, establishment allowance, contribution to living expenses, etc. for the duration of the degree.

You can apply for these scholarships through the Department of Education and Training (DET), Australia.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a citizen of an Endeavour Awards participating country (such as Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, and the United States) and not have dual citizenship with another country.
• Not hold permanent residency in Australia.
• Be aged 18 years or over at the time you commence your scholarship.
• Meet the DET prerequisites for your chosen course of study.
• Be able to satisfy the entry requirements for your chosen course of study.

Endeavour Postgraduate Awards are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, leadership potential, and the benefit that would be derived from the education experience in Australia.

Other Important Scholarships in Australian

Some of the most famous university-level scholarships in Australia include:

University of Adelaide

Adelaide Scholarships International is open to international students applying for admission to Masters by Research or Ph.D. degree programs. They must have completed a 4-year tertiary degree program and not have applied for or enrolled in a research degree program earlier.

The expenses covered by these scholarships are the tuition fees, annual living allowance and OSHC (if applicable). Usually, the scholarship application deadline is January 15 for Semester 1 and April 30 for Semester 2. Actual dates vary from year to year.

La Trobe University

La Trobe Academic Excellence Scholarships for International Students are available for international students applying for UG or PG courses. They must have scored at least 85% in high school or the previous degree program, meet the English language requirements, and meet other eligibility criteria for the course.

Students who win these scholarships get AUD 10,000 to 20,000 payable towards their tuition fee for a maximum of two semesters. Usually, Round 1 of scholarship applications for Semester 1 closes by December of the previous year. Round 2 for Semester 1 scholarship applications closes by January of the same year.

Macquarie University

Macquarie Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarships are available for international students applying for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the following fields:

• Education,
• Engineering,
• Environment,
• Linguistics, and
• Media.

The students must be accepted into the course to receive the scholarship. Students get a one-time scholarship of up to AUD 10,000 payable towards the tuition fee. This scholarship is not renewable. You can only apply for the scholarship once a year. The deadline is usually June 30 of the previous year.

University of Melbourne

Melbourne International Research Scholarships are open to international students who have applied for graduate research degree courses, including Master by Research and Ph.D. degree programs, for the first time. They should be eligible for admission to their chosen program.

The scholarship offers a relocation grant, thesis allowance, living allowance, OSHC as well as paid sick, maternity, and parenting leaves. Usually, the scholarship application deadline is October 31 for Round 1 and May 31 for Round 2.

Monash University

Monash International Merit Scholarships are open to international students applying to its UG or PG courses. Students must have an admission offer letter from the university and meet the course’s general eligibility and English language requirements. This is a merit-based scholarship.

In 2020, 31 scholarships were offered to full-time students. Each student received up to AUD 10,000 one-time payment and it is non-renewable. The scholarship application deadline is usually March 15 of the same year.

University of Sydney

Sydney Achievers International Scholarships are meant for UG and PG applicants who have received an unconditional admission offer from the university. They should also hold a valid visa.

Each scholarship is worth AUD 10,000 per annum. It is renewable every year for students who maintain satisfactory grades in the course.

International Scholarships are meant for Master by Research or Ph.D. degree applicants. The students must be applying for a research course for the first time and must have a portfolio that showcases proven excellence in their chosen field.

These scholarships cover the tuition fees as well as the living allowance for up to 3 years. The scholarship application deadline for the semester commencing in March is July 31 of the previous year. For the semester commencing in July, the scholarship application is December 15 of the previous year.

Why are scholarships offered?

There are many reasons why scholarships are offered:

• To encourage and support students to undertake study or research in a particular area.
• To attract high-achieving students to study or research in Australia.
• To build relationships between Australia and other countries.
• To provide an opportunity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access education.
• To support students from regional and remote areas to access higher education.
• To encourage students to study in regional Australia.

Scholarships may take many forms, such as:

• Full or partial tuition fee waiver
• Living allowance
• Travel allowance
• Research allowance
• Health insurance
• Accommodation allowance
• Books and study materials allowance.

Eligibility requirements vary depending on the scholarship program and the type of scholarship being offered. For example, some scholarships may be based on academic achievement, while others may be based on financial need or community involvement. Some scholarships may also require you to meet certain eligibility criteria, such as being a resident of a specific region or country.

Can you apply for Australian scholarships before applying for the study permit?

Yes, you can apply for Australian scholarships before applying for a study permit. However, you will need to meet the eligibility requirements for both the scholarship and the study program to be considered for the scholarship. In addition, you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency (if required by the university) and have your academic qualifications assessed (if required by the university). If you are successful in receiving a scholarship, you will need to apply for a study permit to come to Australia to study.