Australia Awards Scholarships 2027: Applications Are Open, Deadline 30 April 2026

The Australian Government has officially opened applications for the 2027 intake of the Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS), one of the world's most prestigious government-funded scholarship programs. Applications opened on 1 February 2026 and will close on 30 April 2026 at 14:00 AEST. Citizens of eligible developing countries across Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and beyond now have a limited window to apply for a fully-funded opportunity to study at a leading Australian university.

Key Dates at a Glance

What Are the Australia Awards Scholarships?

The Australia Awards Scholarships program is a long-term initiative administered by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It provides citizens of developing partner countries, particularly those in the Indo-Pacific region, with the chance to pursue full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and TAFE institutions.

The program is highly competitive. Applicants are assessed on their professional and personal qualities, academic record, leadership potential, and, most critically, their capacity to drive positive development outcomes in their home countries. Applications from women, people with disabilities, and other marginalised groups are strongly encouraged.

In 2024 alone, the Australian Government awarded nearly 989 scholarships to participants from 55 countries, investing approximately AUD 250 million in the program.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

The Australia Awards Scholarship is fully funded and covers:

• Full tuition fees for the entire academic program
• Return economy-class airfare between the scholar's home country and Australia
• Establishment allowance, a contribution toward accommodation, textbooks and study materials
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
• Fortnightly contribution to living expenses, set at a rate determined by DFAT
• Academic and language support services were needed
• Fieldwork allowance for eligible research or coursework-with-fieldwork degrees

There is no application fee. The scholarship covers costs for the minimum period required to complete the academic program, including any preparatory training.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility is determined by country of citizenship, and detailed criteria vary by country. In general, applicants must:

• Be a citizen of an eligible participating country (see the full list below)
• Meet the academic and English language requirements of the chosen Australian institution
• Demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to development in their home country
• Show that their proposed field of study aligns with their country's development priorities
• Not hold Australian permanent residency or be an intending migrant
• Not have previously received a long-term Australian Award unless the required post-award period outside Australia has been completed

Some countries impose additional conditions; for example, candidates from several African nations must have a minimum of five years' post-graduate work experience. Always check your country's specific profile on the DFAT website.

Award Conditions

Recipients who accept an Australia Awards Scholarship must sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia, committing to comply with all scholarship conditions. Crucially, scholars are required to leave Australia for a minimum of two years after completing their award. Failure to do so will result in the scholar incurring a debt equal to the total accrued cost of the scholarship.

Eligible Countries

The following countries are eligible to participate in the 2027 Australia Awards Scholarships intake. Always verify the opening and closing dates specific to your country on the DFAT website, as some countries have different deadlines.

Note: India is eligible under the Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia program for certain cohorts. Check DFAT for the latest country-by-country details, as eligibility and available fields of study differ.

How to Apply

Most applicants submit their application online through the OASIS portal (Online Australia Scholarships Information System) at oasispartners.dfat.gov.au. Applicants from Indonesia and the Philippines must use their country-specific portals instead of OASIS; links are available on DFAT's country profile pages.

Key steps for a successful application:

• Read the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook in full before applying
• Check your country's specific profile on the DFAT website for local eligibility criteria, priority fields of study, and required documents
• Prepare all supporting documents in advance: academic transcripts, CV, proof of citizenship, English proficiency results, and referee reports
• Compile documents into single PDFs by category (max 2MB per document in OASIS)
• Applications can be saved and edited in OASIS up until the moment of submission on 30 April 2026
• Submit before the deadline; late applications and supporting documents will not be considered

Applications are not assessed on a rolling basis. All submissions are reviewed after the closing date, so there is no advantage to applying early over applying well. Take the time to craft a thorough, high-quality application.

Tips for a Strong Application

The AAS is highly competitive. Here are five practical tips to make your application stand out:

• Demonstrate a clear link between your proposed study, your career goals, and your country's development priorities
• Provide concrete examples of leadership experience and the impact you have already made in your community or sector
• Choose referees who know your work well and can speak to your leadership potential, not just academic ability
• Be specific about how you plan to apply your Australian qualification when you return home; vague plans weaken an application
• Proofread everything carefully. Incomplete or inconsistent documentation is a common reason for applications to be disqualified

Further Information

For full details on the program, country profiles, the Policy Handbook, and the OASIS application portal, visit the official sources below:

Australia Awards Scholarships official website: australiaawards.com.au

DFAT country profiles and opening/closing dates: https://dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards

Study Australia scholarships page: https://studyaustralia.gov.au