Australian government scholarships can help international students fund their education in Australia through tuition support, living stipends, travel allowances, and other benefits. For 2027, key options include Australia Awards Scholarships and the Research Training Program (RTP). Eligibility, funding, and application deadlines depend on your country of citizenship, study level, and chosen institution.
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What Are Australian Government Scholarships?
Australian government scholarships are funded through federal programs designed to support international education, research, and development partnerships. Depending on the program, funding may help cover tuition fees, living expenses, travel, health insurance, or other study-related costs.
Three important government-funded scholarship options for international students are:
- Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS): Long-term awards for eligible applicants from participating countries to undertake undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian institutions.
- Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships (AAPS): Scholarships for eligible citizens of participating Pacific countries to study at selected tertiary institutions in the Pacific region, rather than in Australia.
- Research Training Program (RTP): Funding administered by eligible Australian universities for domestic and international students undertaking research master's degrees or research doctorates.
These programs have different purposes and eligibility rules. Australia Awards are not available to citizens of every country, while RTP opportunities depend on the participating university, the research degree, and its selection criteria.
Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS)
The Australia Awards Scholarships program is administered by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It provides eligible applicants from participating developing countries, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, with opportunities to undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and technical and further education (TAFE) institutions.
The program aims to develop skills and knowledge that recipients can use to contribute to the development of their home countries. Selection is competitive, and eligibility requirements and priority fields of study vary by country.
What Does an Australia Awards Scholarship Cover?
Australia Awards Scholarships generally provide the following benefits for the approved scholarship period:
- Tuition fees: Full tuition fees for the approved academic program.
- Travel: A single return economy-class airfare to and from Australia, subject to the scholarship conditions.
- Establishment allowance: A one-time payment to contribute towards initial accommodation costs, textbooks, and study materials.
- Living expenses: A fortnightly Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE), paid at the rate determined by DFAT.
- Health insurance: Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the scholarship recipient during the award period, subject to the applicable conditions.
- Academic support: An introductory academic program and, where approved, additional academic or English-language support.
- Research fieldwork: Eligible research students may receive fieldwork support when the applicable conditions are met.
Benefits are subject to the scholarship's terms and conditions. Review the official Australia Awards Scholarships overview and the current policy handbook before applying.
Who Can Apply for Australia Awards Scholarships?
You must be a citizen of a participating country and meet the eligibility requirements for that country. Depending on the country profile, criteria may include academic qualifications, relevant work experience, English-language proficiency, and a commitment to contributing to your home country's development.
Some countries prioritize particular academic disciplines, professional backgrounds, or applicant groups. Do not assume that every degree level or field of study is available to applicants from your country.
To confirm whether you can apply, consult the official list of participating countries and country-specific eligibility requirements.
How to Apply for Australia Awards Scholarships
- Check your country's eligibility: Review the relevant country profile, including priority study areas and application requirements.
- Confirm the deadline: Check the official Australia Awards opening and closing dates page.
- Prepare your documents: Gather the academic records, identification, employment evidence, references, and other documents specified in your country profile.
- Use the correct application channel: Some countries use the Online Australia Scholarships Information System (OASIS), while others require a different portal or a hard-copy application.
- Follow the scholarship conditions: Read the current policy handbook and understand the obligations attached to accepting an award.
Important for 2027 applicants: The general application round for study commencing in 2027 closed on 30 April 2026 for many participating countries, although some country-specific schedules differed. Check the official dates and contact listed for your country for any applicable exceptions or future rounds.
Australia Awards recipients are generally required to leave Australia for at least two years after completing their scholarship. Review the official award conditions before accepting an offer.
For application instructions, visit the official How to Apply for an Australia Awards Scholarship page.
Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships (AAPS)
Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships support eligible citizens of participating Pacific countries who want to study at selected tertiary institutions within the Pacific region.
Unlike Australia Awards Scholarships, AAPS are not a general scholarship route for studying in Australia. Participating countries include the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. However, the availability of new scholarships and study locations varies by country and program.
The current DFAT program page identifies selected institutions in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, and Wallis and Futuna. It also notes that the Solomon Islands program is not currently offering new AAPS awards for study in the Pacific region.
What Do Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships Cover?
The benefits and conditions of AAPS depend on the applicable program and award. Consult the official Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships page and the relevant country or program contact for details on tuition, travel, living support, and other entitlements.
Who Can Apply for AAPS?
Eligibility is restricted to applicants who meet the citizenship, academic, and other requirements of a participating country and the relevant scholarship program. Available courses and institutions also vary.
If you are interested in AAPS, verify that your country and intended institution are included in the current program arrangements before preparing an application.
Research Training Program (RTP)
The Australian Government's Research Training Program supports domestic and international students undertaking eligible higher degrees by research at participating Australian universities.
RTP funding is intended for research master's degrees and research doctorates, such as PhDs. It does not cover ordinary bachelor's degrees or master's coursework programs.
What Does an RTP Scholarship Cover?
Universities can offer one or more of the following forms of RTP support:
- Tuition fee offset: Covers the applicable tuition fees for an eligible research degree under the award.
- Living stipend: Helps eligible recipients meet general living expenses while undertaking research.
- Allowances: May help with eligible additional costs, such as relocation, thesis-related expenses, or overseas student health cover.
Not every RTP recipient receives all three forms of support. The type and duration of funding depend on the award made by the university.
For 2027, the Australian Government lists a base full-time RTP stipend rate of A$35,550 per year and a maximum rate of A$55,537 per year. These are the published base and maximum rates, not a guarantee that every recipient will receive either amount. Universities determine individual offers within the applicable rules.
Check the official RTP program page for current stipend rates and program information.
Who Can Apply for an RTP Scholarship?
International students may be eligible if they are enrolled in an accredited research master's or research doctorate at an eligible Australian university and satisfy the university's selection criteria.
Universities administer RTP applications and select recipients competitively. They may consider academic results, research experience, publications, references, and the fit between your research interests and available supervision or research priorities.
The Australian Government permits eligible universities to use up to 10% of their RTP funding per grant year for international student scholarships. As a result, availability can be limited and varies between institutions.
How to Apply for an RTP Scholarship
- Identify your research degree: Confirm that your intended program is a research master's or research doctorate, rather than a coursework degree.
- Find eligible universities: Explore institutions that offer research in your intended field.
- Check each university's scholarship rules: Review eligibility criteria, supervisor requirements, application documents, funding types, and deadlines.
- Apply directly to the university: Contact its postgraduate research office or scholarship team. RTP applications are not submitted directly to the Department of Education.
- Compare your offers: Check whether each offer includes a tuition fee offset, stipend, allowances, and any relevant conditions.
Read the Australian Government's RTP frequently asked questions for students for more information about eligibility, funding, and application procedures.
Other Scholarships for International Students in Australia
If you are not eligible for an Australia Awards scholarship or an RTP award, you may still have other funding options. Australian universities offer institution-specific scholarships, including awards based on academic achievement, research potential, subject area, or country of citizenship.
To explore alternatives:
- Check the scholarship and international-student pages of your preferred Australian universities.
- Use the official Study Australia website to explore institutions and study opportunities.
- Confirm the scholarship's value, eligible programs, application deadline, renewal conditions, and whether it can be combined with other funding.
Remember that a scholarship may cover only part of your tuition or living costs. Calculate your remaining expenses before accepting an offer, and do not assume that receiving a scholarship automatically satisfies all Australian student visa requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
An Australian government scholarship is a funding award supported by an Australian Government program. Depending on the scheme, it may help eligible students cover tuition fees, living expenses, travel, or research-related costs. Australia Awards and the Research Training Program are two major examples.
No. Australia Awards Scholarships are restricted to eligible applicants from participating countries, while Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships have their own country and program requirements. International students may also apply for RTP scholarships if they meet the requirements for an eligible research degree and the university's selection criteria.
Australia Awards Scholarships generally cover full tuition for the approved program. An RTP fee-offset scholarship covers the applicable tuition fees for an eligible research degree, but RTP recipients may receive a fee offset, a stipend, allowances, or a combination of these. Benefits depend on the specific award, so check the official terms before applying.
For Australia Awards, check your country's eligibility profile and application instructions on the DFAT website. For an RTP scholarship, apply through the eligible Australian university offering your intended research degree. Deadlines and document requirements differ between programs and institutions.
Yes, eligible international students may apply for RTP funding for a research master's degree or research doctorate. RTP scholarships do not cover ordinary master's coursework programs or bachelor's degrees. The university determines its selection process and application deadlines.
Application dates depend on the scholarship and country or university. The main Australia Awards round for many countries for study commencing in 2027 closed in April 2026, although some country schedules differed. RTP deadlines are set by individual universities. Check the relevant official website for current or future application rounds.
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