Status: Ongoing.

Deadline: 1st May 2023.

About the Program?

Australian Awards Scholarships are a key component of the Australian Government’s development assistance program for Africa, offering postgraduate education, training, and professional development opportunities for eligible African candidates. To be eligible, applicants must have earned at least a Second Class pass by 2024. There are two categories of awards: one for Masters level studies in Australia, and the other for short-term, targeted professional training courses in Australia and/or Africa in various development-focused sectors. Upon returning to their workplaces, Australia Awards Scholarships Alumni are expected to make active contributions to the development of their home countries.

To be taken at: African or Australian Universities

Priority Fields:

• Agriculture/Food Security

• Education

• Health

• Public Policy (including public sector management, public sector reform, trade, international diplomacy)

• Environmental Management

• Natural Resource Management (including mining related subjects)

• Technical and Vocational Education & Training (available for Short Courses only)

• English

• Energy (including Natural Gas and Oil Technology)

• Infrastructure

• Natural Resource Management

• Transport (including Ports, Roads and Airports Management)

Who is Eligible?

Eligibility for Masters Scholarship or Short Course Award:

1. Must be at least 18 years old on February 1st of the scholarship year.
2. Must be a citizen of a participating country and residing in that country.
3. Cannot be a citizen of Australia, have permanent residency in Australia, or apply for a visa to live in Australia permanently.
4. Cannot be married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship with a person who holds Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency.
5. Cannot be current serving military personnel.
6. Cannot have previously received a long-term Australia Award unless they have resided outside of Australia for twice the length of their stay in Australia.
7. Cannot have a criminal record, including child protection and PSEAH-related offenses.
8. Completed secondary school education in Australia are eligible to apply for a long-term Australia Award (for PSSSP recipients).
9. Must meet specific criteria established by the program area or the applicant’s country of citizenship.
10. Must satisfy admission requirements of the institution and visa requirements of the Department of Home Affairs.
11. Cannot apply for a scholarship for a lower level of study than already achieved.
12. Must inform the program area of any connections or relationships with staff employed at program areas or managing contractors.
13. Exceptions to the requirement to apply from their country of citizenship: applicants working for their government in a third country or applicants residing in the immediate region.

English language requirements:

1. Academic IELTS with a score of at least 6.5 and no band less than 6.0.
2. Internet-based TOEFL score of at least 84 with a minimum of 21 in all subtests.
3. PTE Academic overall score of 58 with no communicative skill score less than 50.

Australia Awards Scholarships

• Offered for the minimum period necessary to complete academic program specified by the Australian higher education institution, including any preparatory training
• Benefits:
  • Full tuition fees
  • Return air travel (single economy class airfare)
  • Establishment allowance (for accommodation expenses, textbooks, and study materials)
  • Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) at a determined rate
  • Introductory Academic Program (IAP)
  • Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of award (excludes pre-existing conditions)
  • Pre-course English (PCE) fees (if deemed necessary)
  • Supplementary academic support
  • Fieldwork (for eligible research students with compulsory fieldwork)
• Award conditions:
  • Applicants must sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia to comply with scholarship conditions
  • Scholars must leave Australia for a minimum of two years after completion.

How to apply

Information on how to apply for an Australia Awards Scholarship.