Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term awards administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

They aim to contribute to the event needs of Australia’s partner countries in step with bilateral and regional agreements.

They provide opportunities for people from developing countries, particularly those countries positioned within the Indo-Pacific region, to undertake full time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions.

The study and research opportunities provided by Australia Awards Scholarships develop the abilities and knowledge of people to drive change and contribute to development in their very own countries.

Benefits

Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for the minimum period essential for the person to finish the educational program specified by the Australian higher education institution, including any preparatory training. The following advantages generally apply:

• full tuition fees
• return air travel–payment of a single return, economy class airfare to and from Australia, via probably the most direct route
• establishment allowance–a once only payment as a contribution towards accommodation expenses, text books, study materials
• Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) – a fortnightly contribution to basic living expenses paid at a rate determined by the department.
• Introductory Academic Program (IAP)–a compulsory program prior to the commencement of formal academic studies covering information on living and studying in Australia
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the award (for award holder only)–provided to cover the scholar’s basic medical costs (aside from pre-existing conditions)
• Pre-course English (PCE) fees–if deemed essential PCE could also be available for students for in-country and/or in-Australia training
• supplementary academic support could also be available to make sure a scholar’s academic success or enhance their academic experience
• fieldwork (for research awards and Masters by coursework which have a research component where fieldwork is compulsory) could also be available for eligible research students for one return economy class airfare via probably the most direct path to their country of citizenship or inside Australia.

Award conditions

Applicants who want to simply accept an Australia Awards Scholarship might want to sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia declaring that they are going to comply with the conditions of the scholarship.

Scholars are required to depart Australia for a minimum of two years after completing their scholarship. Failure to accomplish that will lead to the scholar incurring a debt for the entire accrued cost of their scholarship.

How to use

Information on methods to apply for an Australia Awards Scholarship.

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