2026/2027 Australia Awards Scholarships
There’s a naming quirk worth clearing up before anything else: the Australian Government itself labels this round “AAS 2027,” referring to the year study actually begins, not the year you apply in which is why you’ll see it described inconsistently as “2026,” “2026/2027,” or “2027” across different sources, even though they’re all describing the same application cycle. For the vast majority of the roughly fifty participating countries, that cycle opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026, 14:00 AEST, so this window has now closed.
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This guide covers the full, complete list of eligible countries (something most secondary sources only partially list), what the scholarship actually funds beyond the headline “fully funded” framing, the return-service commitment that shapes the entire award, and what to prepare now ahead of the next cycle opening.
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What the Australia Awards Scholarship Involves
Administered by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia Awards is a long-running development scholarship programme, formerly known as Australian Development Scholarships, built around a specific philosophy: fund talented individuals from partner countries to study in Australia, then send them home to apply that expertise directly to their own country’s development.
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It’s one of Australia’s central instruments of international development cooperation, funding full-time undergraduate and postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and TAFE institutions. Selection prioritises applicants whose intended field of study aligns with their specific home country’s published development priority areas — this isn’t a scholarship where you can study any subject you like; your course needs to connect to what your country’s profile identifies as a genuine development need.
Australia Awards Scholarships Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Australia Awards |
| Host Country ⇒ | Australia |
| Study Level ⇒ | Undergraduate and Masters |
| Benefits ⇒ | Full tuition, airfare, living allowance, health cover, and additional support |
| Funded by ⇒ | Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Developing countries in the Indo-Pacific region |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | For most countries: 1 February – 30 April 2026, 14:00 AEST, now closed. Palau’s window ran 30 March – 30 June 2026, also now closed |
What the Full Eligible Country List Actually Includes
This scholarship spans a genuinely wide range of participating nations, worth listing in full since most secondary sources only partially cover it: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea, the Gambia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, the Maldives, the Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Palau runs on its own separate, later application window rather than the general schedule above. Worth noting clearly for anyone assuming otherwise: India is not currently on this participating country list, so Indian applicants aren’t eligible under this specific scheme.
What Makes You Eligible for This Scholarship
- You need to be a citizen of one of the participating countries listed above
- You need to meet the specific eligibility requirements published for your country, since these can vary meaningfully from one country profile to another
- You need to apply for an approved full-time undergraduate or postgraduate course, connected to your country’s published development priority areas
- You cannot apply for a scholarship at an academic level lower than one you already hold — for example, you can’t apply for a Master’s scholarship if you already hold a PhD
- Australia Awards excludes training in flying aircraft, nuclear technology, or military training entirely
- You need to disclose any connection or relationship to staff employed at the Program Area or its managing contractors, so your application can be handled transparently
- You need to read, understand, and comply with the full Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook
- You need to agree formally to return to your home country for a minimum of two years after completing your scholarship
- You need to sign a contract directly with the Commonwealth of Australia and comply with every condition of the award throughout your studies
What This Scholarship Actually Covers
- Full tuition fees, for the minimum period required to complete your approved academic programme, including any necessary preparatory training
- Return economy airfare to and from Australia
- An establishment allowance — a one-time payment supporting your initial accommodation setup and study materials
- A Contribution to Living Expenses, paid fortnightly throughout your studies
- An Introductory Academic Program (IAP), completed before your formal studies begin, helping you adjust to Australian academic expectations and university life
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your scholarship
- A Pre-Course English (PCE) fee, where your English proficiency requires additional preparation before your course begins
- Supplementary academic support, where needed during your studies
- Fieldwork support, for eligible research students whose programme requires it
A Firm Rule Worth Knowing About AI Tools
DFAT has set an explicit, strict policy on this: applicants may only use AI tools for basic spelling, grammar, and organising their ideas. AI must not be used to write or improve any actual content within your application, and every response needs to be genuinely your own original work. Misuse of AI tools beyond this narrow allowance can lead to disqualification — this is a real, enforced condition, not a soft guideline, so it’s worth understanding exactly where that line sits before you start drafting your application.
Required Documents
- A completed application form
- Academic certificates and transcripts
- A current CV
- Referee reports, where required by your specific country profile
- Any additional documents specified within your particular participating country’s profile
What the Application Process Requires
- Visit your specific participating country’s Australia Awards page directly, since eligibility details, priority areas, and processes vary genuinely by country
- Confirm your country’s exact opening and closing dates for the current intake
- Review the eligibility requirements, priority development areas, and eligible degree courses specific to your country
- Read the full Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook carefully before you begin
- Access the correct application portal through your specific country profile — note that some countries, including Indonesia and the Philippines, use different application systems from the general online portal, so check your country’s process specifically
- Register on the application portal where applicable, complete the eligibility questions, and upload every required document
- Submit before your country’s specific closing date
- If your country doesn’t offer an online application, obtain a hard-copy application form from your local country office, complete it, and submit it by mail alongside your supporting documents before the deadline
What the Deadline Situation Actually Looks Like
- Most participating countries: Applications opened 1 February 2026, 09:00 AEDT, and closed 30 April 2026, 14:00 AEST — now closed
- Palau specifically: A separate, later window ran from 30 March through 30 June 2026 — also now closed
- Applications and supporting documents received after your specific country’s closing date are not considered under any circumstances
- Next expected cycle: Based on the programme’s consistent annual pattern, expect the AAS 2028 intake to open again around 1 February 2027, closing around the end of April 2027 — always confirm your specific country’s exact dates directly on DFAT’s official opening and closing dates page as the period approaches
What to Do Before the Next Cycle Opens
- Check your specific country’s profile now, well ahead of the next opening date, since eligibility criteria and priority development areas can shift from one cycle to the next
- Read the current Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook in full, since compliance with its conditions is a genuine eligibility requirement, not background reading
- Start gathering academic transcripts and certificates early, particularly if certified translations are needed
- Understand clearly and plan around the mandatory two-year return-to-home-country commitment, since this is a binding condition you formally contract to, not a soft expectation
- If you’re drafting your application with any AI assistance, keep strictly within the permitted use of spelling, grammar, and organisational support only, given how firmly DFAT enforces this specific policy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Australia Awards Scholarship still accepting applications?
No. For most participating countries, the window closed 30 April 2026. Palau’s separate window closed 30 June 2026. Both have now passed for this cycle.
Is India an eligible country for this scholarship?
No. India does not currently appear on DFAT’s list of participating countries for this scheme.
Do I have to return home after completing my scholarship?
Yes. You need to formally agree to return to your home country for a minimum of two years after your scholarship concludes, and this commitment is written into your contract with the Commonwealth of Australia.
Can I use ChatGPT or similar tools to help write my application?
Only for basic spelling, grammar, and organising your ideas. Using AI to write or improve the actual content of your application is not permitted and can result in disqualification.
Do all participating countries apply through the same online portal?
No. Most countries use DFAT’s general online application system, but some, including Indonesia and the Philippines, use different systems specific to their own country profile.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details and figures in this post are verified from official DFAT sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details, including your specific country’s exact dates and requirements, directly on the official DFAT Australia Awards opening and closing dates page. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the Australian Government or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
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