*Australia Awards – Masters Level and Fellowships

Scholarship Overview

• A cornerstone of the Australian Government’s development assistance program for Africa, it provides access to postgraduate education, training and professional development opportunities for suitably qualified Africans from eligible countries.
• The Australia Awards promote development in Africa through education and training. Currently, there are three award types, namely:

• • Australian Awards Scholarships – Masters Level, to undertake higher degree studies in Australia at Masters level.
  • Africa Fellowships, offers opportunities for short post-graduate training delivered in Australia and/or in Africa for up to three months.
  • Australia Awards Fellowships, managed from Canberra, these aim to develop leadership, address priority regional development issues, and build partnerships and linkages between Australian organisations and partner organisations in developing countries, including countries in Africa.

Host Schools

• The host school for the Awards is any university in Australia that offers courses listed on the  Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS), which is the official Australian Government website that lists all Australian education providers that offer courses to people studying in Australia on student visas.
• For more information, students may also visit Study in Australia, a website that likewise lists all institutions that international students can choose from for the scholarship.

Fields of Study

• Australian Awards Scholarships – Masters Level
  • Focus sectors for Masters Awards reflect areas which have been identified as priorities by partner governments and in which Australia is recognised as having world-leading expertise and experience. Current priority sectors include: Agriculture and Food Security; Health; Natural Resource Management including Mining and Mining Governance; Public Policy; and Water and Sanitation.
• Africa Fellowships
  • The training targets experienced employees from African public, private and non-government organisations (civil society) in the following fields: Agriculture; Health; Mining; Public Policy, including International Diplomacy, Organisational Development, Trade, and Public-Private Partnerships.
• Australia Awards Fellowships
  • The goal of the Australia Awards Fellowships program is to develop appropriately trained current and aspiring leaders in priority areas, who, in the short- to medium-term, will be in a position to advance key regional policy objectives and increase institutional capacity of partner countries.

What does the scholarship cover?

Australia Awards Scholarships generally cover the following fees and entitlements:

• Full tuition fees
• Return air travel
• Establishment allowance
• Contribution to living expenses
• An Introductory Academic Program
• Overseas Student Health Cover
• VISA expenses.

Subject to requirements and eligibility, Australia  Awards Scholarships may also cover:

• Pre-course English language training fees
• Supplementary academic support
• Fieldwork (for research purposes only)
• Reunion airfare (for unaccompanied awardees)

How many scholarships are given?

• The number of scholarships awarded each academic year has yet to be confirmed

Which countries are targeted?

• Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte D’Ivoire
• Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana
• Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaw, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria
• Republic of the Congo, Republic of Guinea, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan. Swaziland
• Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia

Am I Eligible to Apply?

To be eligible to receive an Australia Awards Scholarship, applicants must:

• Be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of commencing the scholarship
• Be a citizen of any participating country listed above  and be residing in and applying for the scholarship from their country of citizenship
• Not be married, engaged to, or a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, at any of the application, selection or mobilisation phases
• Not be current serving military personnel
• Not be applying for a visa to live in Australia
• Not be applying for another longterm Australia Award unless they have resided outside of Australia for twice the length of the total time that they were in Australia
  • For example, a previous awardee who has been on an Australia Awards Scholarship in Australia for four years will not be eligible to apply for another Australia Awards Scholarship until they have been home for eight years.
• Have satisfied any specific criteria established by the applicant’s country or government of citizenship
• Be able to satisfy the admission requirements of the institution at which the award is to be undertaken. Otherwise, the award offer will have to be withdrawn.
• Be able to satisfy all requirements of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for an AusAID Temporary Visa (subclass 576). Otherwise, the award offer will have to be withdrawn.

How to I Apply – Next Steps

• It is important that applicants read and fully understand and comply with the relevant Country or Regional Profile before submitting an application as application procedures vary per country.
• Applicants will need to supply a number of documents to support their scholarship application including, but not necessarily limited to:
  • A certified copy of original formal degree graduation certificate (i.e. testamur) and, if not in English, a certified translation of the degree
  • A certified copy of original formal academic transcript/s and, if not in English, a certified translation copy of the transcript/s
  • A certified copy of a citizenship document (e.g. passport or national identity card)
  • A certified copy of original birth certificate and, if not in English, a certified translation
  • A curriculum vitae (CV) briefly detailing work history and responsibilities (and research experience, if relevant to the
  • application)
  • Referee reports: at least one academic referee report and at least one other referee report (e.g. a work supervisor). Masters by Research or PhD applicants should provide two academic referee reports.
  • A certified copy of original English language test (IELTS OR TOEFL) results certificate valid until 1 January of the year in which the studies will commence.
  • PhD candidates only—evidence (e.g. letter or email communication) that the applicant has received in-principle support for their research topic from a potential supervisor.
  • PhD candidates only—if an Australia Awards Scholarship is awarded, an additional research proposal for Post to submit to institutions

Closing Date

• The Country and Regional Profiles detail the opening and closing dates for applications and which method of application is acceptable for that country or region.  Please check your country for specific deadlines.

How do I get more information?

• For a more detailed information of Australia Awards scholarships program, download the Scholarship Handbook
• For more information on the application process