Australia Awards Scholarship Benefits
Australia Awards Scholarships remain one of the most generous government-funded scholarship packages anywhere. If you are selected, the Australian government covers virtually every major cost associated with your degree. But "virtually every" is not "absolutely every," and the difference matters more than most applicants realize until they are living in Melbourne trying to find a dentist.
Here is a line-by-line breakdown of what the scholarship actually includes. These figures are updated periodically by DFAT, so treat the numbers below as approximate. The structure of the benefits, though, has stayed consistent for years.
Full Tuition Fees
The Australian government pays your tuition fees directly to the university. You never see a tuition invoice. This covers the full cost of your degree for the standard duration of your program, whether that is a two-year Master's or a three-to-four-year PhD. If you fail subjects or extend beyond the standard duration for reasons within your control, the scholarship may not cover the extra semesters. That is important: failing a unit can mean paying for it yourself, and Australian university unit fees are not small.
Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE)
Currently approximately AUD $3,500 per month, paid fortnightly into your Australian bank account. This is meant to cover rent, food, transport, utilities, and personal expenses. The amount is indexed and adjusted periodically, though it does not always keep pace with actual rent increases in major cities. It is paid for the duration of your studies, including during university breaks, provided you remain enrolled and in Australia.
The name "Contribution to Living Expenses" is deliberate. DFAT does not call it a "salary" or a "full living allowance." It is a contribution. In practice, it covers a modest lifestyle in most Australian cities. In Sydney and Melbourne, it will feel tight. More on that further down.
Return Economy Airfare
The scholarship pays for one economy-class return flight from your home country to Australia at the start of your studies and one economy-class flight back home when you finish. That is it. You do not get to fly home during semester breaks at the scholarship's expense. If you want to visit family during the December or July breaks, that comes out of your own pocket. The ticket is booked through DFAT's travel provider, not by you directly. Upgrades to premium economy or business class are not available.
Establishment Allowance
A one-off payment of approximately AUD $5,000 when you first arrive in Australia. This is meant to help you set up: bond for an apartment, basic furniture, kitchen supplies, bedding, a phone plan, public transport card. It sounds like a lot until you realize that rental bonds in Australian cities are typically four weeks' rent, and four weeks' rent in Sydney for even a modest place can easily be AUD $2,000 or more. Budget carefully. This money needs to stretch across your entire initial setup, and it does not get topped up.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
The scholarship pays for OSHC for the full duration of your visa, including any Introductory Academic Program period. This is mandatory health insurance that all international students in Australia must have. It is arranged for you as part of the scholarship. You do not choose the provider. The coverage is decent for core medical needs, but it has some painful gaps that trip people up badly. We cover those in detail in the next section.
Introductory Academic Program (IAP)
If your English language proficiency needs improvement, or if DFAT determines that you would benefit from academic preparation, you may be enrolled in an IAP before your degree starts. This is typically 4 to 6 weeks of intensive English and academic skills training, though in some cases it can last up to 6 months. The cost is covered entirely by the scholarship. You receive your CLE during this period. Think of it as a buffer zone between arriving in Australia and starting your actual coursework. Not every scholar is required to do it, but if you are, it is not optional.
Fieldwork Allowance (Research Students)
PhD and research Master's students who need to conduct fieldwork as part of their degree may be eligible for a fieldwork allowance. This can cover travel costs within Australia or back to your home country for data collection. The amount and availability depend on your specific research plan, and you typically need to apply for it separately through your university or managing contractor, with justification for why the fieldwork is essential. It is not automatic. You have to demonstrate why you cannot complete your research without it.
Reunion Airfare (Long-Duration Scholars)
If your scholarship duration is two years or longer, you may be eligible for one additional return economy flight to your home country during your studies. This is sometimes called a reunion airfare. It is a single round trip, not an annual entitlement. PhD students on three-to-four-year awards are the most common recipients. The timing is usually at the midpoint of your studies, and it needs to be coordinated with your university so it does not interfere with your academic progress. Again, economy class only.
What OSHC Actually Covers (and the Gaps)
Overseas Student Health Cover sounds comprehensive. It is not. The name gives the impression of full medical coverage, and for the most common health needs, it works fine. But OSHC is not equivalent to the Medicare coverage that Australian citizens get, and it is nowhere near the level of a premium private health insurance plan. Here is what it actually does and does not cover.
✓ What OSHC Covers
- • GP visits: Bulk-billed or partially reimbursed visits to general practitioners. You will still need to pay a gap in many cases, typically AUD $20-40 per visit.
- • Hospital treatment: Medically necessary hospital admissions, surgery, and specialist treatment as an in-patient. Shared ward, not private room.
- • Emergency ambulance: Ambulance transport in emergencies. This is actually a big deal because ambulance costs in states like NSW and QLD can be AUD $1,000+ without cover.
- • Prescription medicines: Partially covered under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme equivalent for OSHC holders. You pay a co-payment.
- • Pathology and diagnostic imaging: Blood tests, X-rays, and similar when referred by a doctor.
✗ What OSHC Does NOT Cover
- • Dental: Not covered at all under standard OSHC. A basic filling in Australia can cost AUD $200-300. A root canal can easily exceed AUD $1,500. This is the gap that surprises the most people.
- • Optical: Eye tests and glasses are not covered. Budget AUD $300-500 if you need new glasses during your time in Australia.
- • Pre-existing conditions: Treatment for conditions you had before arriving may be subject to waiting periods or exclusions, depending on the OSHC provider.
- • Extended psychiatric care: Initial mental health support may be partially covered, but ongoing or intensive psychiatric treatment often hits coverage limits quickly.
- • Physiotherapy and allied health: Generally not covered, or only partially covered with large out-of-pocket costs.
The dental problem is real
Get your dental work done before you leave home. Seriously. Multiple scholars report arriving in Australia, needing dental care within months, and facing bills of AUD $500+ for routine procedures that would cost a fraction of that in their home countries. If you can, get a full dental checkup, cleanings, any needed fillings or extractions done before departure. Your future self will thank you. The same advice applies to eyeglasses: bring a spare pair and an updated prescription.
Extending OSHC to dependents
You can add your spouse and children to your OSHC policy, but the scholarship does not always pay for it. In many cases, dependent OSHC is at your own expense. The cost varies by provider and number of dependents, but expect AUD $2,000-4,000 per year for a family. You must have OSHC for dependents who are on your visa. It is not optional for them either; it is a visa condition.
Dependent Support: The Painful Truth
This is where the scholarship's generosity runs into a wall. Australia Awards does provide some support for dependents, but the allowance is universally described as inadequate by scholars who bring their families. If you are married with children and thinking about bringing them along, read this section carefully and do the math before making promises to your family.
Dependent allowance
The scholarship provides approximately AUD $3,000 to $4,000 per year per dependent. That works out to roughly AUD $250-330 per month per person. In Australia, where a litre of milk costs AUD $2.50 and a basic pair of children's shoes costs AUD $40-60, that amount does not go far. It is meant as a "contribution," not as full support. The dependent allowance does not scale with Australian living costs the way your CLE does. You are expected to cover the shortfall yourself.
Many scholars look at the dependent allowance, calculate what it actually buys, and make the difficult decision to leave their families at home for the duration of their studies. It is one of the hardest parts of the scholarship for people with young children.
Spouse work rights
Your spouse, if they come to Australia on a dependent visa, can work up to 48 hours per fortnight (two weeks). This matches the student visa work conditions. It is enough to take on part-time or casual work, and many scholar spouses do. But finding employment in Australia without local experience and qualifications can be difficult, especially in smaller cities. Cleaning, hospitality, and aged care are the most accessible sectors. Professional roles in fields like accounting, law, or engineering often require Australian recognition of overseas qualifications, which takes time and money.
Children and schooling
This varies by state, and it matters a lot. Some Australian states provide free public schooling for dependent children of scholarship holders. Others charge international student fees, which can be AUD $5,000-10,000+ per child per year. You need to check the rules for the specific state where your university is located. Do not assume it will be free just because you are on a government scholarship. Contact the state education department directly before making plans. Childcare for younger children is even more expensive: expect AUD $100-150 per day in most cities, with limited subsidies available to international students.
You must declare dependents at application time
If you plan to bring dependents, you need to declare them in your original scholarship application. Adding dependents after you have been awarded the scholarship is difficult and sometimes impossible. If you get married or have a child between submitting your application and arriving in Australia, you will need to notify DFAT immediately and hope that the change is approved. Do not assume you can sort this out later. Planning for dependents starts at the application stage.
The Living Costs Reality
The CLE of approximately AUD $3,500 per month is the same regardless of which city you study in. Whether you are in Hobart or in the heart of Sydney, the stipend does not change. But the cost of living absolutely does. This is the single biggest factor that determines whether your scholarship feels comfortable or stressful.
Sydney & Melbourne
The expensive ones
Adelaide, Hobart & Canberra
More manageable
Part-time work
International students in Australia on a student visa (subclass 500) can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during semester and unlimited hours during scheduled university breaks. Most scholars take advantage of this, especially those in expensive cities. Common roles include tutoring at the university, hospitality, retail, and delivery services. University tutoring pays the best, typically AUD $40-50 per hour for postgraduate tutoring work.
Be realistic about your capacity though. A full-time Master's or PhD is demanding. If you are spending 15 hours per week at a cafe plus 40+ hours on your coursework, something will suffer. Some scholars manage the balance well. Others end up extending their degree. Factor in what that extension might cost if the scholarship does not cover it.
Research Training Program (RTP) Benefits
The RTP is a completely different animal from Australia Awards. It is a government block grant given to universities, which then allocate the funding to individual research students. The benefits are more focused and less comprehensive.
Covers the cost of tuition for the standard duration of your research degree. Paid directly to the university.
Approximately AUD $32,192 per year (2024 rate), tax-free. Paid fortnightly. This works out to about AUD $2,683 per month.
That is it. No airfare. No establishment allowance. No health cover (you must arrange and pay for your own OSHC). No dependent allowance. No IAP. The RTP is essentially tuition plus stipend. Everything else is your responsibility.
The stipend is also lower than the Australia Awards CLE. At approximately AUD $2,683 per month versus roughly AUD $3,500 per month, the difference is about AUD $800 per month. Over a three-year PhD, that adds up to nearly AUD $30,000 less in total living support. Some universities offer top-up scholarships to supplement the RTP stipend, but these are competitive and not guaranteed.
The advantage of the RTP is that it is open to students from all countries, there is no return-home obligation, and you apply directly to the university rather than going through DFAT. For students from countries not eligible for Australia Awards, the RTP is often the best option for funded research study in Australia. See the eligibility page for details on who qualifies for which stream.
Destination Australia Benefits
Destination Australia is the most stripped-back of the government-funded options. It provides up to AUD $15,000 per year to students who study at eligible regional campuses. That is the entirety of the scholarship. There is no tuition coverage, no airfare, no health insurance, no establishment allowance, and no stipend beyond the annual payment.
The AUD $15,000 is meant to contribute to living costs in regional areas, where the cost of living is generally lower than in major cities. In practice, it helps, but it does not cover a year of living expenses on its own. You would still need other funding sources, whether that is personal savings, part-time work, or a separate university scholarship.
The program is designed to attract students to regional Australia. Places like Bathurst, Rockhampton, Launceston, or Wagga Wagga. These are not the cities most international students dream of, but they offer something the big cities cannot: lower rent, smaller class sizes, and a closer connection to local communities. Some scholars who studied in regional Australia describe it as one of the best decisions they made, even if it was not their original plan.
You apply through the participating education provider, not through a central government portal. Each institution manages its own allocation and selection process.
Quad Fellowship Benefits
The Quad Fellowship is a joint initiative between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, with recent expansion to include citizens of ten Southeast Asian nations. It funds graduate study in STEM fields. The fellowship provides a financial award to support tuition and living expenses, though the exact package depends on which Quad country you study in. If you study in Australia, the fellowship amount is designed to complement other funding you may receive from the university.
Beyond the financial support, the Quad Fellowship includes networking events, leadership programming, and connections across the four Quad nations. It is as much a professional network as it is a funding source. The cohort model means you join a group of fellows from multiple countries who meet regularly throughout the fellowship period.
The application process is separate from Australia Awards and RTP. You apply through the Quad Fellowship portal, managed by Schmidt Futures. This is a newer program, and the specifics of the financial package continue to evolve. Check the official Quad Fellowship website for the most current benefit details.
What Is NOT Covered
This is the section that should exist on every scholarship website but almost never does. People make assumptions about what a "full scholarship" includes based on the label alone. Here is what Australia Awards, despite being one of the most generous government scholarships in the world, does not pay for.
Textbooks and course materials
Australian university textbooks are expensive. A single prescribed textbook can cost AUD $100-200. Across a full degree, you might spend AUD $500-1,500 on required readings. Some are available as cheaper e-books or through the university library's reserve collection, but do not count on that for every subject. This cost comes entirely out of your CLE.
Laptop and equipment
You need a laptop. The scholarship does not provide one. Prices in Australia are generally higher than in the US or Asia for equivalent hardware. Budget AUD $1,000-2,000 if you need to buy one after arrival. Some universities have laptop loan programs, but these are temporary solutions. If you already own a decent laptop, bring it. If you are a research student who needs specialized equipment or software, check with your university about what they provide through their labs.
Conference travel
Presenting at academic conferences is expected for PhD students and encouraged for Master's students. The scholarship does not cover this. Some universities have separate conference travel grants, and your school or faculty may have a small pool of funds you can apply for. But attending an international conference can easily cost AUD $2,000-5,000 when you factor in registration, flights, and accommodation. Plan for this early in your degree so you can apply for university funding well in advance.
Dependent airfares
Your own return airfare is covered. Your spouse's and children's flights to and from Australia are generally not. Depending on where you are flying from, this can be a significant cost. A family of four flying from East Africa or South Asia to Australia and back could spend AUD $5,000-10,000 on economy tickets. Some country programs may offer partial support, but do not assume this is included. Check with your country's Australia Awards office specifically.
Extra tuition for failed or repeated subjects
If you fail a subject and need to repeat it, the scholarship may not cover the additional tuition fees. This varies depending on the circumstances and whether DFAT considers the failure to be within your control. Failing due to documented medical issues is treated differently from failing because you did not do the work. The worst-case scenario is paying for a repeated subject out of pocket while still needing to cover your living expenses. Australian university subjects cost AUD $3,000-5,000 each. That is not a bill you want to face on a scholarship stipend.
Dental, optical, and allied health
As covered in the OSHC section above, these are not included in your health cover. Budget separately or get everything done before you leave home. A wisdom tooth extraction in Australia can run AUD $300-500 per tooth. An eye exam plus new prescription glasses: AUD $300-500. These costs add up fast.
Quick Comparison Across Scholarship Streams
| Benefit | Australia Awards | RTP | Destination Aus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full tuition | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Living stipend | ~$3,500/mo | ~$2,683/mo | $15K/yr total |
| Return airfare | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Establishment allowance | ~$5,000 | ✗ | ✗ |
| Health cover (OSHC) | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| English program (IAP) | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Return-home obligation | 2 years | None | None |
| Open to all countries | ~55 countries | ✓ | ✓ |
Ready to apply?
Now that you know what is covered, check the application process and make sure you have all the right documents ready before the deadline.