Australia Awards Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded | Complete Guide for International Students

The Australia Awards Scholarship 2027 is one of the world’s most prestigious and comprehensive fully funded government scholarshipsvoffered by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to outstanding emerging leaders from more than 55 developing countries across Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, providing full tuition fees, return economy airfare, a fortnightly Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) stipend, a one-off establishment allowance, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of study, a mandatory Introductory Academic Program (IAP), supplementary academic support, and a fieldwork allowance for research students — making it one of the most complete scholarship packages available globally. The Australia Awards Scholarship is designed not as a general academic award but as a transformative development programme: scholars are selected for their potential to lead positive change in their home countries upon returning from Australia. Approximately 1,000 scholarships are awarded each year. The 2027 intake application period has now closed (deadline was 30 April 2026). The 2028 intake is expected to open in February 2027. All applications are submitted through the official OASIS portal at oasis.dfat.gov.au.

Key Highlights

Detail Description

The Australia Awards Scholarships programme has its roots in the Colombo Plan of the 1950s — one of Australia’s earliest and most enduring contributions to international development through education. For more than 70 years, the Australian Government has funded the education of emerging leaders from partner nations, and the Australia Awards programme is the continuation of that proud tradition. Administered by DFAT and delivered through country offices and Australian embassies worldwide, the programme funds study at Australian universities — consistently ranked among the world’s finest, with eight Australian universities in the QS World Top 100 including the University of Melbourne (13), University of Sydney (18), ANU (30), UNSW Sydney (19), Monash University (37), University of Queensland (40), University of Adelaide, and others.

The Australia Awards programme is fundamentally a development scholarship, not an academic prize. Scholars are selected not just for academic ability but for their demonstrated leadership potential, their professional track record, and — most critically — the clarity and credibility of their plan to use Australian education to drive development impact in their home countries. This development focus shapes every aspect of the application: from the priority fields of study in each Country Profile to the mandatory Development Impact and Leadership Plan (DILP) required in many countries.

Eligible Countries

The 2027 intake (closed) was open to citizens of the following countries. The 2028 intake is expected to include a similar list:

Benefits

Eligibility Criteria

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of one of the eligible participating countries. Must be residing in and applying from your country of citizenship at the time of application.
• Age: Must be at least 18 years old on 1 February of the year your scholarship commences. No upper age limit specified — but many country-specific profiles require minimum ages (e.g. 25 for most African countries).
• Not Australian/NZ: Must not be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, nor hold New Zealand citizenship. Must not be applying for an Australian permanent residency visa.
• Relationship rule: Must not be married to, engaged to, or in a de facto relationship with an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident at the time of application or during the scholarship period.
• Academic qualification: Must be applying for a higher qualification than you already hold (e.g., must apply for Master’s if you already hold a Bachelor’s). Must not currently be undertaking a similar or higher-level qualification.
• English language: Must submit a valid IELTS, TOEFL iBT, or PTE Academic test result meeting DFAT minimum scores. Test must be valid as of 1 January of the commencement year.
• Development alignment: Proposed field of study must align with your country’s development priority sectors as listed in your Country Profile.
• Work experience: Varies significantly by country — many require 2–5 years of relevant post-graduate professional experience. Check your Country Profile.
• Health and character: Must satisfy DFAT’s standard health and character requirements and hold no criminal convictions including those related to Child Protection and PSEAH.
• University offer not required: You do NOT need a university offer before applying. DFAT/Australia Awards facilitates placement at your nominated institutions after selection.
• Return commitment: Must be willing and able to return to your home country for a minimum of 2 years after completing the scholarship — this is a legally binding contractual obligation.

NOT Eligible:

• Citizens of countries not on DFAT’s eligible country list
• Australian or New Zealand citizens or permanent residents
• Those married to / engaged to / in de facto relationship with Australian/NZ citizen or PR
• Those already in Australia at time of application
• Those applying for Australian permanent residency
• Those already holding an equal or higher qualification to what they’re applying for
• Those who received a long-term Australia Award within the previous 4 years
• Those with criminal convictions including Child Protection matters

English Language Requirements

Application Timeline

Required Documents

• Passport bio page — valid passport
• Birth certificate or national ID
• Academic transcripts — for all degrees, with certified English translations if originals are not in English
• Degree certificates — certified copies of all qualifications
• English language test result — IELTS/TOEFL iBT/PTE Academic meeting DFAT minimum requirements and valid as of 1 January of commencement year
• CV/Resume — using country-specific template where provided by your country office
• Two referee reports — typically one academic and one professional, using the official Australia Awards referee report template. Check your Country Profile for specific requirements.
• Statement of Service/Employment letter — from current and previous employers confirming work experience (particularly important for Africa and Pacific applicants)
• Proof of citizenship — in the participating country
• Development Impact and Leadership Plan (DILP) — required in most countries. This is the most important document — explains how your proposed study connects to development outcomes in your country. Must NOT be written using AI.
• Letter of No Objection — from current employer (required in some countries e.g. Africa)
• Country-specific documents — as listed in your Country Profile

Application Process

Step 1: Read Your Country Profile — Most Important First Step

Download and thoroughly read your country’s official Australia Awards Country Profile from your country’s Australia Awards website or dfat.gov.au. This document contains the specific priority fields of study for your country, additional eligibility requirements (age, work experience, residency), required documents, and country-specific application instructions. Every country has different requirements — do not assume what applies to another country applies to yours.

Step 2: Check Eligibility and Align Your Field of Study

Verify you meet all general eligibility criteria AND your country’s specific requirements. Most importantly, ensure your proposed field of study is a priority area for your country — applications that align with development priority sectors receive significantly higher consideration. Research Australian universities and identify 1–2 courses (with correct CRICOS codes from cricos.education.gov.au) that match your development goals and your country’s priorities.

Step 3: Prepare All Documents Well in Advance

Start collecting documents at least 3–4 months before the application deadline. Book your IELTS or equivalent English test immediately if you haven’t already — leave enough time for your score to arrive and be valid as of 1 January of your commencement year. Contact referees early and give them the official referee template with clear instructions. Prepare your CV using any country-specific template provided.

Step 4: Write Your Development Impact and Leadership Plan (DILP)

The DILP is the heart of your application — required in most participating countries. It must clearly articulate: (1) what your country’s development challenges are in your field, (2) what you will study and at which Australian university, (3) how your proposed study directly addresses those challenges, and (4) what specific, concrete actions you will take upon returning home to drive development impact. Be specific — “I will improve maternal mortality in rural Zambia through district health system reform” is far stronger than “I want to contribute to national health development.” DFAT explicitly restricts AI use to basic spelling and grammar — the DILP must be written entirely in your own words.

Step 5: Submit via OASIS Before the Deadline

When the application portal opens (~February 2027 for 2028 intake), submit at oasis.dfat.gov.au. Note: Indonesia and Philippines use country-specific portals — check your Country Profile. Register early, save drafts, and submit at least one week before the deadline — OASIS experiences heavy traffic in the final 48 hours and submission failures are common. Applications received after the closing date are not accepted under any circumstances. Applications with missing required documents are automatically rejected.

Step 6: Interview (if shortlisted)

In most countries, shortlisted candidates are invited to a panel interview typically held a few months after the application deadline (May–August). Interviews are competency-based — panels focus on your motivation, development plans, leadership examples, and how your study will benefit your home country. Prepare specific, evidence-based examples from your professional experience that demonstrate leadership and development impact.

Step 7: Await Final Results and Pre-Departure Preparation

Final scholarship selections are announced between September and November of the application year. Successful scholars then go through pre-departure briefings, the mandatory Introductory Academic Program (IAP), and travel to Australia to begin studies from February of the following year. Remember: you must commit to returning to your home country for a minimum of 2 years after completing your scholarship — this is a legally binding contractual obligation, with breach resulting in a debt to the Australian Government of AUD $200,000–$400,000.

The 2-Year Return Rule — What You Must Know

Every Australia Awards scholar signs a binding contract with the Commonwealth of Australia agreeing to return to their home country for a minimum of 2 years after completing their study. This obligation is central to the development purpose of the programme. If you fail to comply — for instance, by remaining in Australia on a different visa after your scholarship ends — you become legally liable for the full accrued cost of your scholarship, which typically amounts to AUD $200,000–$400,000 depending on your programme and duration. This debt is treated as owing to the Australian Government and is actively enforced. The return requirement is non-negotiable and should be considered carefully before applying. If your long-term career plan requires remaining in Australia after study, the Australia Awards is not the right scholarship — consider instead the RTP (Research Training Programme) or university-specific scholarships that do not carry this obligation.

Scam Warning

How to Apply

Also Check

• 📌 Chevening Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded UK Government Master’s Scholarship
• 📌 Commonwealth Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Master’s and PhD in the UK
• 📌 Fulbright Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded US Government Scholarship
• 📌 Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Postgraduate at Cambridge

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Australia Awards Scholarship 2027?

The Australia Awards Scholarship is a prestigious fully funded government scholarship offered by the Australian Government (DFAT) to outstanding emerging leaders from 55+ developing countries across Asia, Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. It covers full tuition, return airfare, fortnightly living stipend (CLE), establishment allowance, OSHC health cover, Introductory Academic Program, and supplementary academic support for the full duration of study at an Australian university. ~1,000 scholarships are awarded annually. The 2027 intake is closed — the 2028 intake opens ~February 2027. Apply at oasis.dfat.gov.au.

2. When does the Australia Awards Scholarship application open?

The 2027 intake application period opened 1 February 2026 and closed 30 April 2026 — it is now closed. The 2028 intake is expected to open in February 2027, following the consistent annual cycle. The portal is at oasis.dfat.gov.au. Start preparing now — a strong Australia Awards application takes months to develop, particularly the Development Impact and Leadership Plan (DILP).

3. Which countries are eligible for the Australia Awards Scholarship 2027?

The 2027 intake was open to citizens of 55+ countries including (Asia): Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam; (Pacific): Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and many others; (Africa): Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and many others. The 2028 list is expected to be similar. Check dfat.gov.au for the official 2028 country list when announced.

4. What does the Australia Awards Scholarship cover?

Full tuition fees, economy class return airfare, a one-off establishment allowance upon arrival, fortnightly Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) stipend, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full scholarship duration, compulsory Introductory Academic Program (IAP), supplementary academic support, fieldwork allowance (research students), visa costs, and disability accommodations. NOT covered: family travel or living costs (family can accompany on student visa but must be self-funded).

5. Do I need an IELTS for Australia Awards?

Yes — a valid English language test is required. Minimum scores: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 (or TOEFL iBT 84 with 21 in each sub-test, or PTE Academic 58 with 50 in each skill). Reduced minimum of IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5) applies to women, people with disability, and marginalised groups in some countries. Your test must be valid as of 1 January of your commencement year. Note: your chosen Australian university may require a higher score than the DFAT minimum.

6. Do I need a university offer to apply for Australia Awards?

No — you do NOT need a university admission offer before applying for the Australia Awards Scholarship. You apply for the scholarship first, then DFAT and Australia Awards facilitates your university placement at one of your nominated institutions after you are selected. You should research courses (using CRICOS codes from cricos.education.gov.au) and nominate up to two preferred courses in your application, but you do not need to have applied to those universities before submitting your scholarship application.

7. What is the 2-year return rule for Australia Awards?

All Australia Awards scholars must sign a binding contract with the Australian Government agreeing to return to their home country for a minimum of 2 years after completing their studies. Failure to comply — for example, remaining in Australia after scholarship completion — results in a legal debt of the full scholarship cost to the Australian Government, typically AUD $200,000–$400,000. This rule is central to the development purpose of the programme and is actively enforced.

Final Thoughts

The Australia Awards Scholarship is one of the world’s most comprehensive, prestigious, and transformative fully funded scholarships for emerging leaders from developing countries. With full tuition, airfare, living allowance, health cover, and access to some of the world’s finest universities — combined with a 70-year tradition of building the next generation of global development leaders — it is genuinely life-changing. The 2027 intake is now closed. But if you missed it, the 2028 intake opens in February 2027. The time to start preparing is right now — research your country’s priority fields of study, take your IELTS, begin writing your Development Impact and Leadership Plan, identify your referees, and have every document ready before the portal opens. Many successful Australia Awards scholars applied 2–3 times before being selected — persistence, preparation, and a specific, credible development story are the keys. Visit dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards and your country’s official Australia Awards website for all official information. Apply at oasis.dfat.gov.au.