Frequently Asked Questions

No. The Endeavour Leadership Program was discontinued by the Australian government in 2019, and no replacement has been announced. Endeavour was the only broad Australian government scholarship open to citizens of developed countries, so students from the US, UK, Canada and Europe no longer have a general government-funded route to study in Australia. Australia Awards Scholarships continue, but only for citizens of eligible developing countries.

Not for Australia Awards Scholarships, which are restricted to citizens of specific developing countries; India, China and the United States are not on the list. Your options are the Research Training Program (RTP) for research degrees at individual universities and university scholarships; Destination Australia has had no new funding rounds since July 2024. STEM students from a Quad country (Australia, India, Japan or the US) can also look at the Quad Fellowship, but note that it funds study in the United States, not Australia. See the eligibility page for the full breakdown.

There is a minimum: you must be at least 18 on 1 February of the year your scholarship starts. There is no upper age limit in the central Australia Awards rules, though some country programmes may have their own preferences, so check your managing contractor's or embassy's guidelines. Some country profiles apply their own test: Timor-Leste's 2027-intake profile required applicants to be 18 by the 30 April closing date. In practice most scholars are mid-career professionals, but age alone does not disqualify you.

Not normally for another Master's under Australia Awards. The progression rule means you are expected to move up a level, so with a Master's you would apply for a PhD. Getting the scholarship for a second Master's is generally not allowed, which trips up many people who want to switch fields at the same level.

Usually, yes. Work experience rules are set by each country programme, and many require at least two years of professional experience for Master's study. Fresh graduates are very rarely selected, even with exceptional grades; the scholarship is designed for mid-career professionals who will return home and apply their skills. Competitive applicants typically have three to five or more years of relevant experience. See the eligibility requirements.

Yes, and in many eligible countries public servants are effectively prioritised. The scholarship exists to build capacity in developing countries, and public sector workers are seen as especially likely to put their training to use at home. Working in government is a genuine advantage, not a barrier.

No. For Australia Awards the programme handles university placement after selection, so you do not need to contact universities or secure admission beforehand; you nominate preferences and the programme takes it from there. For the Research Training Program it is the opposite: you apply directly to the university and go through its admission process yourself. See how to apply for a step-by-step walkthrough.

You can nominate up to three preferences, but the programme manages final placement and you are not guaranteed your first choice. Placement depends on available places, your field and existing agreements between the programme and universities. List three universities you would genuinely be happy at, not one dream pick and two throwaways.

Each country publishes its own window. In the 2027-intake round most countries ran from 1 February 2026 (9:00 am AEDT) to 30 April 2026 (2:00 pm AEST), with exceptions such as Palau (30 March to 30 June 2026). The 2028-intake round has no published dates yet and is expected to open around 1 February 2027. Check your country's timeline on its Australia Awards website or with its managing contractor. Typical timelines are on our deadline and timeline page.

No. Australia Awards accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic only. Duolingo is not on the list, even though many universities accept it, and neither is Cambridge English. Make sure you have a valid score from one of the three accepted tests; it must still be valid on 1 January of the year you start. See required documents for the score thresholds.

It depends where you live. The Contribution to Living Expenses is A$99.26 a day from 1 January 2026, about A$36,230 a year or roughly A$3,000 a month. In Adelaide, Hobart or Canberra that covers rent, food, transport and a modest social life. In Sydney or Melbourne, where a basic one-bedroom can cost A$2,000 or more a month, it is tight. Most scholars in expensive cities share housing and many work part-time. See the benefits page for a full cost breakdown.

You can, but you pay for them. DFAT's handbook states that the Australian government provides no financial or other support for scholars' dependants: there is no family allowance, and dependants' flights, health cover, schooling and childcare are all your cost. You must declare family at application, and DFAT encourages scholars to come alone first and bring family only after settling in. On the plus side, a spouse on a dependant visa can work, which helps. Many scholars make the hard choice to leave family at home because the numbers do not add up, one of the most emotionally challenging parts of the scholarship that nobody talks about upfront.

Yes. Your student visa allows up to 48 hours per fortnight during semester (more if you are in a research Master's or doctorate) and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. Many scholars use this, especially in Sydney or Melbourne where the allowance does not stretch far. Common jobs include tutoring, hospitality and campus research assistant roles. Just do not let work derail your studies.

No. The Overseas Student Health Cover included in Australia Awards does not cover dental, optical or some specialist treatments. Dental work is paid out of pocket, and dental care in Australia is expensive. Some scholars buy extra cover from private insurers for these gaps; sort this out before you arrive rather than finding out the hard way.

Yes. Australia Awards scholars must leave Australia and return to their home country for at least two years after completing their studies. It is a contractual obligation in the scholarship agreement, not a guideline. If you apply for a visa to return during that period without DFAT support, you may incur a debt to the Commonwealth for the total accrued cost of your scholarship, and it may affect future Australian visas. More on the after selection page.

Doing so directly conflicts with your obligation to return home for at least two years, and under DFAT's rules applying for a visa to remain in Australia during the scholarship or the two-year period can create a debt to the Commonwealth for the accrued cost of your award. It also signals that you do not intend to honour the agreement you signed, and could jeopardise your scholarship standing. Do not do it.

The two-year return obligation still applies. Marriage to an Australian does not automatically exempt you from the contract you signed. The answer in forums is always the same: you signed an agreement and the government expects you to honour it. Circumstances can be discussed with DFAT case by case, but marriage is not a loophole. (Being married to, engaged to or the partner of an Australian or New Zealand citizen or PR during application, selection or mobilisation makes you ineligible in the first place.)

No. You cannot roll a Master's award into a PhD; they are separate awards. You would complete your Master's, return home, fulfil the two-year obligation, then apply separately for a new scholarship. There is no fast track, however well you did.

Very difficult and generally discouraged. A transfer needs approval from DFAT, your current university and the receiving institution, and is rarely granted without exceptional circumstances such as your programme closing or serious welfare concerns. If you are unhappy with your placement, talk to your university's scholarship liaison officer first.

PhD extensions are possible but not guaranteed. You need strong justification and approval from your university and DFAT; finishing within the funded duration is the expectation. If you foresee delays, raise them early with your supervisor and the scholarship liaison. Last-minute requests with weak reasons are regularly refused.