This is Australia's flagship diplomatic scholarship, administered by DFAT. It is designed to bring future leaders from developing nations to Australia for full-time study, specifically targeting priority development areas agreed upon between Australia and the partner countries.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.0
- Offer Degrees
- Bachelors, Masters, PhD
- Subjects
- Agriculture, Arts, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, History, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Psychology
- Seats Available
- 1,000+ annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- Optional
- Work Experience
- Yes (2 yrs)
- Age Range
- 18 - No Max
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Min. 6.5
- TOEFL
- Optional
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- English
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- See Description
- Monthly Stipend
- AUD 3000/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- Yes / Yes
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- Yes
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
It is arguably the most luxurious government scholarship available. It covers full tuition, a massive establishment allowance (to buy furniture/laptops), return airfare, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and a massive fortnightly 'Contribution to Living Expenses' (CLE) stipend. Furthermore, your spouse and children can join you (though you bear their financial costs).
Application Process
You apply via the OASIS online system. The most brutal filter is the 'Country Profile.' DFAT publishes a profile for every eligible country outlining the EXACT subject areas they will fund (e.g., public health in PNG, mining governance in Ghana). If you apply outside these parameters, you are automatically rejected.
How to Win This Scholarship
You must be a mid-career professional; fresh graduates rarely win this. The application requires extensive essays detailing a highly specific 'Development Impact Plan.' You must explicitly detail how you will use the Australian degree to enact a specific reform in your home country upon your return. DFAT wants tangible diplomatic returns on their investment.
Benefits After Completing Study
Unparalleled prestige in your home civil service or NGO sector upon your return.
The Two-Year Rule is legally binding and heavily enforced. You must sign a contract stating you will leave Australia immediately upon graduation and not return (on any visa type) for at least two years. This is not a backdoor route to Australian permanent residency.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source