Scholarships in Australia

The majority of international students in Australia pay full fees for their studies, However, there are a number of scholarships available to assist students with the cost of their education.

A scholarship may cover the full cost or a portion of your tuition fees or cover other costs such as accommodation or living expenses.

The scholarship search allows you to view a range of scholarships available to international students. It is important to read through eligibility criteria carefully to make sure you include everything that is required — you may need to supply supporting documents, such as academic transcripts or a personal statement.

Some scholarships are automatically awarded to students based on their academic results and do not require students to fill out an application. While it is a good idea to apply for scholarships, you should not rest all your hopes on receiving a scholarship, keeping in mind that most international student scholarships are based on academic merit and are very competitive.

The major scholarships programs available for international students

1. Australia Awards

The Australia Awards aim to promote knowledge, education links, and enduring ties between Australia and our neighbours through Australia’s extensive scholarship programs. The program brings together scholarships offered by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT), the Department of Education and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Read more about Australia Awards.

2. Destination Australia

The Destination Australia Program (DAP) is the Australian Government’s new mobility program for domestic and international students to study in regional Australia. Over 1000 scholarships will be available each year to support both domestic and international students studying at regional campus locations in qualifications from a Certification IV level and above. Australian tertiary institutions will be able to apply for scholarships of up to $15,000 per student, per year.

Destination Australia 2020

The Destination Australia Program in 2020 provided 1180 scholarships through 35 providers at 81 locations in regional Australia.
Applications for the Destination Australia Program grants for 2021 scholarships are open to eligible tertiary education providers until 7 July 2020.

Destination Australia 2021

Higher education and vocational education providers with a campus in regional Australia may be eligible to apply for scholarships of up to $15,000 per year for students to study at that campus from 2021.

Over $17 million in grants is available in 2021 to support scholarships for up to four years ($4.24 million per year for four years), announced by the Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minster for Education on 12 May 2020.

In 2021, the program will help regional and remote Australian education providers and communities to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing students and economic activity to the local area.

Education providers apply for scholarship grants through a competitive grants process. The Community Grants Hub manages the Destination Australia 2021 grant round. The online application form must be completed and submitted electronically.

The Destination Australia Program defines a regional location as any area outside of Major Cities of Australia, in line with the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Australian Statistical Geography Standard Remoteness Structure.

Destination Australia Program 2021 guidelines sets out eligibility, application and other requirements for the grant round.

Destination Australia Guidelines

3. Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)

From 1 January 2017 the Research Training Program (RTP) replaced the International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) program. Find out more about the Research Training Program at the Department of Education website. Applications for these scholarships are made directly to a participating university.

4. Australia APEC Women in Research Fellowship

The Australia APEC Women in Research Fellowships are open to high-achieving female researchers from APEC economies for research opportunities in partnership with Australian education and research institutions. The fellowships aim to support women’s economic empowerment in the APEC region and raise the profile of female role models in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Read more about the Australia APEC Women in Research Fellowship.

5. Provider scholarships

Australian education providers regularly offer scholarships to qualifying international students, based on academic merit. Consult with the admissions team or international office at the provider you are applying to for further advice and information.

Use the scholarship search tool to find out what scholarships you might be eligible for.