2026/2027 Australia Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards Scholarships

Location: Australia

Program: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees

Eligibility: International Students

Duration: Same with course

Deadline: April 30, 2026

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP & GET UPDATES ON SCHOLARSHIPS WORLDWIDE

The Australia Awards Scholarships are among the most prestigious and transformational government-funded scholarships in the world, offered by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). For over 70 years — tracing their heritage back to the Colombo Plan of the 1950s — these awards have equipped emerging leaders from developing countries with the skills, knowledge, and global networks needed to drive meaningful change and contribute to the sustainable development of their home nations.

Open to citizens of eligible developing countries, particularly across the Indo-Pacific and Africa, the scholarships support full-time study at any one of Australia’s leading universities or TAFE institutions across all academic disciplines, with priority areas determined by each participating country’s development needs. Upon completion, all scholars are required to return home for a minimum of two years, ensuring that the investment in their education is reinvested directly into their communities and nations.

Benefits of the Scholarship

This scholarship will provide the following to its recipients:

Full tuition fees for the full duration of the programme
Return economy airfare from the scholar’s home country to Australia and back upon completion
Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) — a fortnightly living stipend to assist with day-to-day costs
One-off establishment allowance upon arrival in Australia to assist with settling-in costs
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Fieldwork allowance for research students and coursework Masters programmes with a compulsory fieldwork component
Pre-course English language training where required, covered by the scholarship
Other benefits

Also Check:

2026 University of Winnipeg President’s Scholarship for World Leaders – Canada

4WARD Undergraduate Scholarship – Eastern Michigan University, USA

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following:

Must be a citizen of a participating developing country
Must not be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand
Must not be married to, engaged to, or a de facto partner of a person who holds or is eligible to hold Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency
Must meet the academic requirements of the Australian institution and programme applied for
Must meet English language proficiency requirements: minimum IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 84, or PTE Academic 58 (no communicative skill below 50); scores must be valid on 1 January 2026 – Must not have already completed a qualification equivalent to the Australian qualification being applied for
Must agree to leave Australia for a minimum of two years upon completion of the scholarship

Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements

Also Check:

2026 ICFO Student Research Fellowships – Institute of Photonic Sciences, Spain

2026 Macquarie University Postgraduate Research Scholarships (iRTP & iMQRES) – Australia

Selection Criteria

Candidates for the 2026/2027 Australia Awards Scholarships (applications open in 2026) are assessed holistically against three core dimensions: professional and personal leadership qualities, academic competence, and — most critically — their demonstrated potential to exercise leadership and make a meaningful impact on development challenges in their home country. Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview as part of the selection process, and all applications undergo country-level shortlisting before final decisions are made. Applications from women, people with disability, individuals from marginalized social groups, and public servants are especially encouraged. Country-specific priority development sectors (such as health, education, agriculture, governance, and infrastructure) may also be factored into selection decisions, with preference given to applicants whose proposed field of study aligns with national development priorities.