International Students: Scholarships At Australian Universities?

Australia is a popular destination for higher education, attracting students from around the world with its high-quality education, expert faculty, and diverse course offerings. For international students, the costs of studying in Australia can be high, but there are many scholarships available to help offset these expenses. The Australian government, universities, and private organisations all offer scholarships to international students, ensuring that financial need is not a barrier to accessing Australia's top universities.

Scholarships for international undergraduate students

Overview

Australia is a popular destination for international students seeking quality education and research opportunities. The Australian Government and universities offer various scholarships to support international students in their undergraduate studies. These scholarships can cover tuition fees, living expenses, health insurance, and travel allowances.

Government-Funded Scholarships

The Australian Government provides several prestigious and competitive scholarships for international students, including:

• Australia Awards Scholarships (formerly known as Australian Development Scholarships): Offered to students from developing countries, particularly those in the Indo-Pacific region. It covers full tuition fees, return air travel, establishment allowance, contribution to living expenses, and Overseas Student Health Cover.
• Destination Australia Scholarships: Available to both Australian and international students studying in regional Australia. It offers over 1000 scholarships of $15,000 per year for those pursuing Certificate IV to Doctorate-level qualifications at eligible regional campuses.
• Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships: Enables international students to undertake postgraduate research qualifications and gain experience with leading Australian researchers. The scholarship covers tuition fees and health cover costs for two years (Masters) or three years (Doctorate).

University-Specific Scholarships

Many Australian universities offer scholarships to attract international undergraduate students. These include:

• University of Sydney International Scholarships: Covering tuition fees and living allowance for postgraduate research degrees or Master's by Research programs.
• Macquarie University International Scholarships: Providing partial tuition fee scholarships (up to AUD$10,000) for outstanding undergraduate or postgraduate students at Macquarie University North Ryde campus.
• Griffith University Scholarships: Offering full and partial scholarships for international undergraduate and postgraduate students. This includes the Griffith Remarkable Scholarship, covering 50% of tuition fees.
• University of Melbourne Scholarships: The Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarships and Graduate Research Scholarships are available for international students. The latter offers tuition fee waivers, living allowances, relocation grants, and Overseas Student Health Cover.
• University of Adelaide Scholarships: The Adelaide Global Excellence Scholarships for International Students is a competitive award that offers a 50% tuition fee reduction for commencing undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students with excellent academic records.
• Charles Darwin University Scholarships: Charles Darwin University offers 25-50% tuition fee scholarships for international undergraduate or postgraduate students with a record of academic excellence.
• UNSW Scholarships: UNSW provides a range of scholarships and awards to support international undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students, including full or partial tuition fee payment and stipends.
• Deakin University Scholarships: Deakin Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship covers tuition fees (up to 100%) for undergraduate and postgraduate international students.
• Swinburne University of Technology Scholarships: The Swinburne International Excellence Scholarship offers $2500 per year towards course fees for undergraduate and master's students.
• University of South Australia Scholarships: The International Research Tuition Scholarships (IRTS) cover tuition fees for postgraduate research students.
• Monash University Scholarships: The Monash Research Training Program offers scholarships worth up to $29,000 annually for master's and PhD students. Additionally, the Monash International Leadership Scholarship covers 100% of tuition fees for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Bond University Scholarships: International undergraduate students can receive a 50% tuition fee waiver through the Bond University Scholarship.
• Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Scholarships: QUT offers scholarships covering 25% of tuition fees for specific faculties, including Business, Law, Engineering, and Science.
• University of Western Australia Scholarships: The university provides various scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and many of them are automatically assessed without a separate application process.
• La Trobe University Scholarships: La Trobe offers fully funded scholarships for international undergraduate and postgraduate students from India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, based on academic grades, achievements, and extracurricular activities.
• James Cook University Scholarships: The JCU Vice Chancellor's International Student Scholarship provides up to $40,000 per year for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students with an outstanding academic record.
• University of Canberra Scholarships: The Vice-Chancellor's Social Champion Scholarship offers up to $50,000 per year to international undergraduate and postgraduate students who demonstrate a commitment to social engagement and reducing inequalities.

Private Scholarships

In addition to government and university scholarships, private companies, organizations, and foundations also offer scholarships to support international undergraduate students in Australia. These scholarships may be based on merit, financial need, or a combination of both.

Scholarships for international postgraduate students

International students can apply for a range of scholarships to study in Australia. The Australian Government and Australian universities provide scholarships for international students, which can cover tuition fees, living expenses, health insurance, and travel allowances.

Government-Funded Scholarships

The Australian Government offers the following scholarships to international students:

• Australia Awards Scholarships — These are fully funded scholarships for international students, providing full tuition fees, travel allowance, living expenses, and an establishment allowance.
• Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) — The RTP is a flexible funding pool supporting domestic and overseas students undertaking Research Doctorate and Research Masters degrees. The scholarship provides a monthly stipend, offsets fees, and covers allowances to assist students with the ancillary costs of a higher degree by research.
• Destination Australia Program (DAP) — The DAP offers scholarships of up to $15,000 per student, per year to domestic and international students. Students can undertake studies ranging from a Certificate IV through to a PhD for up to four years in regional campus locations across Australia.
• Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) — The ALA is a competitive scheme for postgraduate study in Australia at masters or doctoral level. The awards are open to all fields of study but preference is given to candidates who demonstrate leadership potential and are from the Asia Pacific region, including India.
• Endeavour Awards — This is an internationally competitive, merit-based scholarship program providing opportunities for citizens of the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Europe, and the Americas to study, research, and develop professionally in Australia. Awards include postgraduate awards, research fellowships, and executive awards.

University-Specific Scholarships

Many Australian universities offer scholarships to international students, including:

• Deakin University — Deakin offers several scholarships, including the Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship, which covers up to 100% of tuition fees for international students.
• University of Melbourne — The University of Melbourne has a fully-funded scholarship for high-achieving students undertaking graduate research. The scholarship covers tuition fees, general living costs, living expenses, and Overseas Students Health Cover.
• University of Sydney — The University of Sydney offers international scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate (both research and coursework) studies, with a range of options available.
• University of New South Wales — The International Student Award offers 15% of tuition fees for each year of study.
• Queensland University of Technology — QUT offers a scholarship covering 25% of tuition fees for the first two semesters, or an ongoing scholarship covering 25% of fees for each semester of study in specific faculties.
• University of Western Australia — The University of Western Australia offers scholarships that are automatically assessed and offered, so no application is required.
• University of Adelaide — International students can apply for various scholarships to cover tuition fees and course costs, including a 25% tuition fee reduction for family members if a spouse or sibling has studied at the university.
• Griffith University — Griffith University offers full and partial scholarships to international undergraduate and postgraduate students. These include government research training programs and scholarships for exceptional students.
• Monash University — Monash offers the International Leadership Scholarship, which covers 100% of tuition fees for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• University of Technology, Sydney — UTS offers a 100% scholarship for students enrolling in undergraduate programs in Sydney.
• James Cook University — JCU offers the Vice Chancellor’s International Student Scholarship, providing international students with up to $40,000 per year.
• Bond University — Bond University offers the Abedian Foundation Master of Architecture Scholarship, which is a fully-funded scholarship for students from any country studying the Master of Architecture program.
• University of New England — The University of New England’s International Postgraduate Research Award provides a fully-funded scholarship to research-based postgraduate students, covering tuition fees, Overseas Students Health Cover, and annual stipends.
• University of Canberra — The University of Canberra offers the Vice-Chancellor’s Social Champion Scholarship, providing up to $50,000 per year to international students who demonstrate a commitment to social engagement, sustainability, and reducing inequalities.
• Australian National University — The ANU offers Research Scholarships to local and international students who are conducting research in line with the university’s strategic direction.

Private Scholarships

In addition to government and university scholarships, many private companies, organizations, and foundations offer scholarships to support international students in obtaining a higher education. These can be based on merit, financial need, or a combination of both.

University-specific scholarships

Many universities in Australia offer scholarships to international students, which are designed to attract students to study at their institutions. These scholarships may cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other study-related costs. Some universities also offer scholarships for specific fields of study, such as science, engineering, or business.

Monash University

Monash University offers fully funded scholarships to international students for undergraduate and postgraduate research studies. The scholarship covers an annual living allowance of $35,600, a relocation allowance of $550, and a research allowance of $1,500 per annum.

University of Sydney

The University of Sydney offers international scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate (both research and coursework) studies, with a range of options available. The University of Sydney International Scholarship (USydIS) is a fully funded scholarship that covers tuition fees and provides a living allowance for up to three years, with a possible one-semester extension for PhD students.

University of New South Wales

The International Student Award at the University of New South Wales offers 15% of tuition fees for each year of study for students commencing in 2023 or 2024.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

QUT offers scholarships that cover 25% of tuition fees for the first two semesters or an ongoing scholarship that covers 25% of tuition fees for each semester of study in specific faculties, including Business and Law, Engineering, and Science.

University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia offers many scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, which are automatically assessed and offered, so separate applications are not required.

University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide offers various scholarships to international students to cover tuition fees and course costs. These include a 25% tuition fee reduction for family members if a spouse or sibling has studied at the university, or an AUD $30,000 stipend for airfares and accommodation for an outstanding student from India. The Adelaide Global Excellence Scholarships for International Students is a highly competitive award that offers a 50% tuition fee reduction for commencing undergraduate and postgraduate coursework international students who have demonstrated academic excellence in previous studies.

Griffith University

Griffith University offers full and partial scholarships to international undergraduate and postgraduate students. These include government research training programs and scholarships for exceptional students. The Griffith Vice Chancellor's Scholarships are available for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework studies and cover 50% of tuition fees.

Deakin University

Deakin University offers several scholarships for international students, including the Deakin Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship, which covers up to 100% of tuition fees for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The Deakin Vice-Chancellor's Meritorious 100% Scholarship is another option for international students from India, providing a full tuition fee waiver.

La Trobe University

La Trobe University offers fully funded scholarships to international students from India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Students are selected based on academic grades, other academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and social activities.

University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)

UTS offers a 100% scholarship to international students enrolling in undergraduate programs in Sydney, covering all tuition fees for the duration of the course.

University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne offers the Graduate Research Scholarships for high-achieving students undertaking graduate research. The scholarship covers 100% tuition fees, general living costs, living expenses, and single Overseas Students Health Cover.

James Cook University (JCU)

JCU offers the Vice Chancellor's International Student Scholarship, providing up to AUD $40,000 per year for the minimum course duration.

University of New England (UNE)

UNE offers the International Postgraduate Research Award (IPRA), a fully funded scholarship for research-based postgraduate students. The scholarship covers tuition fees, single Overseas Students Health Cover, and annual stipends.

University of Canberra

The University of Canberra provides the Vice-Chancellor's Social Champion Scholarship, offering up to AUD $50,000 per year to cover tuition fees, on-campus accommodation, and a financial allowance. This scholarship is for international students who demonstrate a commitment to social engagement, sustainability, and reducing inequalities but lack the resources to study overseas.

Australian National University (ANU)

ANU offers the ANU University Research Scholarships to high-achieving local and international students conducting research in line with the university's strategic direction. This merit-based scholarship is valued at AUD $34,000 and includes travel and removal allowances, dependant child allowance, and paid medical, maternity, and parental leave.

Bond University

Bond University offers the International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship, providing a 50% tuition fee waiver. Additionally, the Abedian Foundation Master of Architecture Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for students from any country studying the Master of Architecture program.

Macquarie University

Macquarie University offers the Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship, providing a partial tuition fee scholarship of up to AUD $10,000 for outstanding students pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees.

These are just a few examples of the many university-specific scholarships available for international students in Australia. Each university will have its own set of scholarships with varying eligibility criteria and application processes. It is recommended to visit the websites of individual universities to explore the specific scholarships they offer and their requirements.

Government-funded scholarships

The Australian Government offers a range of scholarships for international students. These are offered for specific undergraduate or postgraduate courses and are designed to attract international students to study at Australian universities.

Destination Australia Program (DAP)

The DAP is a government program that funds eligible tertiary education providers to offer scholarships of up to $15,000 per student per year to domestic and international students. Students can undertake studies ranging from a Certificate IV through to a PhD for up to four years at regional campuses across Australia.

Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)

The RTP is a flexible funding pool supporting domestic and overseas students undertaking Research Doctorate and Research Masters degrees. Applications should be made directly to a participating university. The scholarship provides a monthly stipend, offsets fees, and covers allowances to assist students with the ancillary costs of a higher degree by research.

Australia Awards Scholarships

Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term awards administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They provide opportunities for people from developing countries, particularly those in the Indo-Pacific region, to undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions. The scholarships generally cover return air travel, an establishment allowance, contribution to living expenses, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and more.

Private scholarships

Private companies, organisations, and foundations in Australia offer scholarships to international students to support their higher education. These scholarships are typically awarded based on merit, financial need, or a combination of both. Here are some examples of private scholarships available for international students in Australia:

American Australian Association Scholarships

The Graduate Education Fund offers support of up to US$40,000 to Australian, Indigenous Australian, American, and Indigenous American individuals pursuing full-time graduate-level study. This scholarship can be used for Master's, PhD, or Postdoctoral Research at accredited educational institutions in Australia or the USA. Two scholarships are offered each year.

Tafe Queensland International Scholarships

TAFE Queensland Scholarships are available as merit scholarships and access and equity scholarships. Merit scholarships are awarded based on outstanding academic merit or strong work performance, along with the desire to secure employment in the industry related to the scholarship. Access and equity scholarships provide access to study at TAFE Queensland and are awarded to students who demonstrate a genuine interest in and commitment to their career and identify with one of the access and equity categories.

Rotary Peace Fellowship Program

The Rotary Peace Fellowship Program is a fully-funded scholarship for international students pursuing Master's or PhD studies. It covers tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship and field-study expenses. The scholarship is offered at universities in the USA, Japan, UK, Australia, Sweden, and Thailand.

Ashok Khurana Scholarship for Outstanding Indian Student

This scholarship, established by Professor Ashok Khurana, supports the education of an outstanding Indian student pursuing full-time postgraduate studies at the University of Adelaide. The scholarship offers a stipend of A$30,000, payable towards the recipient's airfares, living expenses, and tuition fees. The successful applicant will also receive a 50% reduction on tuition fees for the duration of their program.

Global Academic Excellence 50% International Scholarship

The University of Adelaide offers this highly competitive scholarship to commencing undergraduate and postgraduate international students who have demonstrated academic excellence in their previous studies. The scholarship provides a 50% reduction in international tuition fees.

Frequently asked questions