Australia offers more scholarship funding for international students than most competing study destinations. Between government programmes, university-specific awards, and subject-specific grants, a well-prepared applicant can significantly reduce their total cost of study. This page covers every major scholarship available to international students in 2026, including award values, eligibility criteria, and application guidance.
Government Scholarships
Australia Awards Scholarships (Fully Funded)
Australia Awards Scholarships are the Australian Government's flagship international scholarship programme, designed to contribute to the long-term development needs of partner countries, primarily in the Indo-Pacific region. Recipients receive full tuition fees, return economy airfare, an establishment allowance, and a fortnightly contribution to living expenses for the duration of their course.
Eligible countries: Primarily Indo-Pacific nations. Check the Australia Awards website for your country's eligibility and quota
Degree levels: Undergraduate, Master's, and PhD at participating Australian universities and TAFE institutions
Application deadline: April 30, 2026, for the 2027 cycle (country-specific deadlines vary; verify on the official Australia Awards portal)
Destination Australia Programme
The Destination Australia Programme is a government-funded initiative encouraging international students to choose regional Australian campuses. The scholarship provides up to AUD 15,000 per year toward tuition and living costs, applicable to qualifications from Certificate IV through to doctoral level. Applications are submitted through individual participating institutions.
Award value: Up to AUD 15,000 per year
Eligible students: All international students, no nationality restriction
Requirement: Must enrol at a regional campus of an eligible university or TAFE institute
Research Training Programme (RTP)
The Research Training Programme (RTP) provides government-funded scholarships to eligible domestic and international students undertaking research higher degrees (Master's by Research, MPhil, PhD). For international students, an RTP scholarship typically covers full tuition fees and provides a living stipend of approximately AUD 37,000 per year.
University Merit Scholarships
Most Australian universities offer merit-based scholarships open to international applicants, with tuition fee waivers ranging from 15% to 50%. Many of these scholarships do not require a separate application students are automatically assessed upon admission.
University | Scholarship Name | Award Value |
|---|---|---|
University of Melbourne University of Adelaide Curtin University Deakin University UNSW Sydney Monash University | Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship Global Academic Excellence Scholarship John Curtin Global Excellence Scholarship Deakin International Scholarship UNSW International Scholarship Monash International Merit Scholarship | Full fees + AUD 37,000 living stipend (research) 50% tuition fee waiver (UG and PG coursework) 40% tuition fee waiver Merit-based; varies by program AUD 5,000 – 10,000 per year AUD 10,000 per year |
What Most Scholarships Require
Minimum academic achievement of 70%–80% in previous studies (or equivalent CGPA of 4.5/7.0 or above)
Demonstrated English proficiency at the institution's required level
Completed application for admission in the same application cycle
In some cases: a scholarship essay, referee letters, or evidence of community leadership
How Gemini Education Helps With Scholarships
Identifying which scholarships you are eligible for requires cross-referencing your academic background, nationality, chosen course, and target institution. Gemini Education's counsellors conduct a personalised scholarship eligibility assessment for every client.
Next step
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