Study in Australia 2027: Postgraduate Scholarships for International Students

Study in Australia 2027: Postgraduate Scholarships for International Students covers awards for master's and PhD study in Australia. The Australian Government, individual universities and other organisations provide these fully funded and tuition-fee awards for international students.

They are open to international students who meet each award's academic and country rules. Benefits can include full tuition coverage, living stipends, health cover and travel help. Deadlines differ by scholarship, so check the official page. Read on for eligibility, benefits and how to apply.

Scholarship benefits depend on the individual award. Possible benefits include:

• Full tuition-fee coverage
• Partial tuition-fee reductions
• Annual living stipends
• Research allowances
• Relocation allowances
• Overseas Student Health Cover
• Travel assistance
• Academic and research support
• Thesis allowances
• Other study-related expenses

Not every scholarship provides all of these benefits. Some university scholarships provide only a percentage reduction in tuition fees, while research scholarships may combine tuition coverage with an annual stipend.

Postgraduate scholarship opportunities in Australia may be available for:

• Master's degrees
• Master's by research
• Research master's programs
• PhD degrees
• Other higher degree by research programs
• Selected postgraduate coursework programs

The Australian Government's Research Training Program specifically supports domestic and international students undertaking research master's and research doctorate degrees.

Major Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities

Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP):

The Research Training Program is one of Australia's major sources of postgraduate research funding. It supports international and domestic students undertaking research master's and doctoral degrees at participating Australian universities. Applications are made directly to participating universities.

RTP support can include a tuition-fee offset, stipend and allowances, depending on the scholarship arrangements of the participating university.

Australia Awards Scholarships:

Australia Awards Scholarships are prestigious Australian Government awards for students from selected developing countries. They generally support postgraduate study and aim to develop skills and knowledge that contribute to the development of recipients' home countries.

Eligibility and available study fields are country-specific. The 2027 intake included participating countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

University Scholarships:

Australian universities independently offer a large number of scholarships for international postgraduate students. These may provide:

• Full or partial tuition-fee waivers
• Annual stipends
• Research funding
• Living allowances
• Relocation support
• Overseas Student Health Cover in selected awards
• Research-related allowances

The official Study Australia scholarship database currently lists hundreds of postgraduate opportunities, including scholarships at institutions such as ANU, University of Melbourne, Monash University, QUT, Griffith University, Deakin University, University of Western Australia and many others.

Postgraduate scholarships in Australia are available to international students from many countries. However, nationality requirements differ between scholarships.

Some awards are open to international students generally, while others are limited to applicants from selected countries or regions.

For example, Australia Awards Scholarships are available only to citizens of participating countries listed by the Australian Government. The current list includes countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

University-specific scholarships may have their own nationality requirements.

Eligibility varies according to the scholarship and university. Common requirements may include:

• Being an international student.
• Holding the required previous academic qualification.
• Meeting the academic requirements of the chosen postgraduate program.
• Applying for an eligible master's or doctoral degree.
• Meeting English-language requirements.
• Demonstrating strong academic performance.
• Meeting research requirements for research-based scholarships.
• Meeting nationality or residency requirements where applicable.
• Applying before the specified scholarship deadline.

Research scholarships may also require a research proposal, academic references, evidence of research experience and a suitable supervisor.

Applicants should always check the individual scholarship conditions because requirements can differ significantly between postgraduate awards.

Research Training Program in Australia:

The Australian Government Research Training Program is particularly important for international students interested in research master's and PhD programs.

The RTP provides funding to eligible Australian higher education providers to support domestic and overseas students undertaking higher degrees by research. Individual universities administer the scholarships and establish their own application procedures and selection processes.

Because RTP scholarships are administered by universities, applicants should search the scholarship page of their preferred institution for current stipend rates, deadlines and eligibility requirements.

The application process depends on the scholarship.

Step 1: Choose a postgraduate program

Select an eligible master's, research master's or PhD program at an Australian university.

Step 2: Search for scholarships

Use the official Study Australia scholarship database and the university's own scholarship portal to identify relevant opportunities.

Step 3: Check eligibility

Review the scholarship's academic, nationality, English-language, research and admission requirements.

Step 4: Prepare documents

Depending on the scholarship, applicants may need:

• Academic transcripts
• Degree certificates
• CV or résumé
• Personal statement
• Research proposal
• Letters of recommendation
• English-language test results
• Proof of citizenship
• Admission documents
• Publications or research evidence where applicable

Step 5: Apply

Some scholarships require a separate scholarship application, while others automatically consider students after they apply for admission.

For RTP scholarships, applications are made directly through participating universities.

Important Deadlines:

There is no single deadline for postgraduate scholarships across Australia.

Each scholarship and university sets its own application dates. Some research scholarships have multiple rounds during the year, while others operate on annual or continuous application cycles.

For example, the current Study Australia database includes postgraduate scholarships with deadlines ranging from 2026 into 2027.

Applicants should therefore check the official scholarship page before relying on a deadline published elsewhere.

Australia Awards 2027:

Australia Awards Scholarships for the 2027 intake have country-specific opening and closing dates. The Australian Government's official participating-country page provides separate eligibility and contact information for each participating country.

The general Australia Awards application period for many countries has already closed for the 2027 intake, although some Pacific-country programs have separate schedules. Applicants should check their country's official Australia Awards page for the latest status.