Scholarships in Australia for International Students
Australia offers scholarships for bachelor’s degrees, coursework master’s degrees, research master’s programs, PhDs, vocational education and professional training. Funding ranges from small tuition discounts to fully funded packages covering tuition, living expenses, health insurance and travel.
The information below is current as of 26 August 2026. All amounts are in Australian dollars (AUD).
1. Major scholarships
| Scholarship | Study level | Main benefits | Important requirements/status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Awards Scholarships | Bachelor’s and postgraduate | Full tuition, return airfare, establishment allowance, living allowance, health cover and possible English-language support | Restricted to citizens of participating countries. Applications for the 2027 intake closed on 30 April 2026. |
| Australian Government Research Training Program | Research master’s and PhD | Tuition-fee offset, living stipend and sometimes research/relocation allowances | Apply through an Australian university—not directly to the government. The 2027 national stipend range is $35,550–$55,537 per year, but each university sets its actual rate. |
| Sydney International Undergraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship | Bachelor’s | 100% tuition and Student Services and Amenities Fee for up to four years | Approximately 20 awards globally each year. Does not cover accommodation, living costs, flights or health insurance. Currently shown as open with no fixed closing date. |
| Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship | Bachelor’s and coursework master’s | 50% tuition reduction for the standard degree duration | Requires approximately ATAR 99 or an equivalent GPA of 6.7/7. Applications opened on 24 August 2026 and are assessed until allocations are exhausted. |
| Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship | Bachelor’s and coursework postgraduate | 50% or 100% of tuition for the normal program duration | Normally requires at least an 85% previous-study average. Separate application, 300-word statement and two references required. Apply at least one month before the course starts. |
| Griffith Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship | Bachelor’s and coursework postgraduate | 50% of tuition for the entire degree | Minimum equivalent GPA of 6.0/7, admission offer, academic records and personal statement. Deadline for Trimester 1, 2027 is 28 November 2026. |
| UNSW International Student Award | Diploma, bachelor’s and coursework postgraduate | 20% tuition reduction for every year of the program | Available for eligible nationalities starting in 2026 or 2027. Requires an admission offer and a personal statement of up to 500 words. |
| UNSW International Scientia Coursework Scholarship | Bachelor’s and coursework postgraduate | Either full tuition or $20,000 per year toward tuition | Highly competitive; evaluates academics, leadership and extracurricular achievements. Applications open separately for particular intakes. |
| Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship | Bachelor’s | 20% tuition reduction from 2027 for the degree duration | Automatic consideration. Applicants must be from an eligible lower-income country, have no previous tertiary study and receive an undergraduate offer. |
| ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship | Bachelor’s and coursework postgraduate | 25% or 50% tuition reduction for the degree duration | Up to 200 awards; automatic consideration based on academic merit when the relevant admission cycle is open. |
| Macquarie Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship | Bachelor’s and coursework postgraduate | Up to $10,000 toward tuition | Competitive academic-merit scholarship. Country and course conditions may apply. |
2. Fully funded research scholarships
International applicants generally have a better chance of obtaining full funding for a research master’s or PhD than for a coursework degree.
University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship
The Graduate Research Scholarships offer:
Full tuition for up to two years for a research master’s or four years for a PhD.
Living allowance of $39,500 per year at the 2026 rate.
Relocation allowance of up to $3,000 for students moving from overseas.
Single Overseas Student Health Cover.
Automatic consideration after applying for an eligible research degree.
Approximately 600 scholarships across eligible domestic and international candidates.
Selection is based mainly on academic results and research potential.
University of Sydney RTP and international research scholarships
The University of Sydney RTP scholarships can provide international researchers with:
$44,293 per year at the 2027 rate.
100% tuition coverage.
Overseas Student Health Cover.
Relocation and thesis allowances.
Funding for eligible research master’s and PhD programs.
Monash graduate research scholarships
The Monash International Tuition Scholarship covers research-degree tuition and single health cover. International rounds normally close on 31 March and 31 July each year.
A tuition scholarship does not automatically include living expenses. Applicants should also seek a stipend such as the Monash Graduate Scholarship, worth $37,145 per year at the 2026 rate.
3. Scholarships by study level
Undergraduate students
The strongest options include:
Sydney International Undergraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship.
Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Griffith Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship.
UNSW International Scientia Scholarship.
Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship.
ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship.
Full undergraduate scholarships are extremely competitive. A strong applicant will normally need excellent final school results, English proficiency and evidence of leadership or community involvement.
Coursework master’s students
Most coursework master’s scholarships provide a 10%–50% tuition discount rather than complete funding. Strong possibilities include Adelaide, Deakin, Griffith, ANU, UNSW and Macquarie.
MBA, medicine, dentistry and certain clinical degrees are frequently excluded.
Research master’s and PhD students
The best programs are:
Australian Government RTP.
University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships.
University of Sydney RTP and International Stipend Scholarships.
Monash Graduate Scholarships and MITS.
ANU RTP, University Research Scholarships and college-funded PhD positions.
Project-specific scholarships advertised by university departments.
Research applicants need to demonstrate academic excellence, research experience and a close match with the proposed supervisor’s work.
4. General eligibility requirements
Requirements vary, but most scholarships expect applicants to:
Be an international student rather than an Australian or New Zealand citizen.
Meet the academic entry requirements for the chosen degree.
Meet the course’s English-language requirement.
Apply for full-time study.
Receive a conditional or unconditional admission offer.
Have strong previous academic results.
Begin a new degree within the scholarship’s approved intake.
Maintain a required GPA throughout the degree.
Not hold another scholarship that conflicts with the award.
Some scholarships also assess leadership, volunteering, financial disadvantage, nationality, field of study or commitment to community development.
5. Required documents
Prepare the following:
Valid passport.
School or university transcripts.
Graduation certificates.
Certified English translations of documents not issued in English.
IELTS, TOEFL or PTE results when required.
Academic CV or résumé.
Scholarship personal statement.
Two or three recommendation letters.
Evidence of awards, volunteering and leadership.
Admission offer, if required before the scholarship application.
Research proposal and writing sample for research degrees.
Publications, conference presentations or thesis summary for PhD applications.
Universities may have specific certification and translation rules, so check the official page before uploading documents.
6. How to apply
Step 1: Select the degree
Decide whether you want a bachelor’s, coursework master’s, research master’s or PhD. Confirm that the program is available to international students.
Step 2: Shortlist universities
Compare:
Tuition after the scholarship.
Living costs in the city.
Course exclusions.
Scholarship duration.
Whether living expenses and health insurance are covered.
Academic conditions required to keep the scholarship.
Australia’s official Study Australia scholarship search lists more than 1,000 scholarships, grants and bursaries.
Step 3: Apply for admission
Many scholarships require an admission offer first. Others, including several Melbourne and ANU scholarships, automatically consider eligible admission applicants.
Step 4: Submit separate scholarship applications
Where required, submit the scholarship form, personal statement, references and supporting evidence before the scholarship deadline.
Step 5: Apply for a student visa
After accepting your admission offer and meeting payment conditions, the university issues a Confirmation of Enrolment. You can then apply for the Student visa. A scholarship does not automatically guarantee visa approval.
7. Writing a strong scholarship statement
A strong statement should explain:
Your academic achievements.
Why you selected the course.
Why that particular university is suitable.
Your professional goals.
Leadership, employment or volunteering experience.
A problem you want to address in your country or community.
How the degree will help you create measurable impact.
Use specific evidence. For example, instead of writing “I am a strong leader,” describe the project you led, how many people participated and what result you achieved.
For research scholarships, explain the research problem, your proposed methodology, your previous experience and why the chosen supervisor or research group is suitable.
8. Important funding warning
“100% tuition scholarship” and “fully funded scholarship” are not the same:
100% tuition scholarship: Pays university tuition but may not pay accommodation, food, flights, health insurance or visa expenses.
Fully funded scholarship: Usually includes tuition, living stipend and some additional expenses.
Partial scholarship: Reduces tuition by a percentage or fixed amount; you pay the remainder.
Calculate the complete cost before accepting an award. The Australian Government provides an official cost-of-living calculator for this purpose.
9. Important information for Iraqi applicants
For an applicant holding only Iraqi citizenship, Iraq is not currently listed among the countries eligible for the long-term Australia Awards Scholarships for the 2027 intake. University scholarships such as Sydney, Adelaide, Deakin, Griffith, Melbourne, Monash and eligible UNSW awards remain possible.
Iraq is included in some Australia Awards Fellowship activities. However, these are short professional-development programs: individuals cannot apply directly because an eligible Australian organisation must apply and nominate participants.
Recommended plan for a 2027 start
Now–October 2026: Complete English testing, certify transcripts and apply for admission.
Immediately: Apply for Sydney’s full undergraduate scholarship and Adelaide’s 50% scholarship if eligible.
At least one month before starting: Submit the Deakin scholarship application.
By 28 November 2026: Apply for Griffith’s Trimester 1, 2027 Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship.
For research degrees: Contact supervisors and check each university’s 2027 RTP deadline immediately.
Apply broadly: Include several 20%–50% scholarships in addition to fully funded awards.
For a precise shortlist, the necessary details are your nationality, study level, subject, previous GPA or percentage, English score and intended intake.