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. With it gone, students from places like the US, UK, Canada, and Europe no longer have access to a general government-funded scholarship for studying in Australia. Australia Awards Scholarships continue, but only for citizens of eligible developing countries.

Not for Australia Awards Scholarships. Those are restricted to citizens of specific developing countries, and India, China, and the United States are not on the list. Your options instead are the Research Training Program (RTP) for research degrees at individual Australian universities, Destination Australia for study at regional campuses, or the Quad Fellowship if you are in STEM and from a Quad country (Australia, India, Japan, or the US). Check our eligibility page for the full breakdown.

There is no strict age limit set by the central Australia Awards program. That said, some country-specific programs may have their own age preferences or unofficial caps. Always check the guidelines published by your country's managing contractor or embassy. In practice, most selected scholars are between 25 and 45 years old, but being outside that range does not automatically disqualify you.

Not for another Master's under Australia Awards. The progression rule means you must advance to a higher qualification level. If you already hold a Master's degree, you would need to apply for a PhD. Getting the scholarship to do a second Master's is not allowed. This trips up a lot of people who want to switch fields at the same degree level.

Yes. Australia Awards requires a minimum of two years of professional work experience. Fresh graduates are very rarely selected, even if their academic record is exceptional. 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 for details.

Yes, and in many eligible countries, government employees are actually given priority. The scholarship exists to build capacity in developing countries, and the Australian government sees public sector workers as especially likely to put their training to use when they return home. If you work in government, that is a genuine advantage in the selection process, not a barrier.

No. For Australia Awards, the program handles university placement after you are selected. You do not need to contact universities or secure an admission offer beforehand. You nominate preferences, and the program takes it from there. For the Research Training Program (RTP), it is the opposite: you apply directly to the university and need to go through their admission process yourself. See our how to apply page for a step-by-step walkthrough.

You can nominate up to three university preferences in your application, but the final placement is managed by the scholarship program. You are not guaranteed your first choice. Placement depends on available spots, your chosen field of study, and existing agreements between the program and participating universities. If flexibility matters to you, list three universities you would genuinely be happy attending, not just one dream pick and two throwaway options.

It varies by country. Most country programs open between February and April, but this is not universal. Some countries have earlier or later windows. There is no single global deadline for Australia Awards. You need to check your specific country's timeline on the Australia Awards website or through the managing contractor in your country. We cover typical timelines on our deadline and timeline page.

No. Australia Awards accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, or PTE Academic only. Duolingo is not on the list, regardless of how many universities accept it. Make sure you have a valid score from one of the three accepted tests before the application deadline. Some country programs also accept Cambridge English, but check your specific country requirements. See required documents for score thresholds.

It depends on where you live. The stipend is approximately AUD $3,500 per month. In Adelaide, Hobart, or Canberra, that covers rent, food, transport, and some modest social life. In Sydney or Melbourne, where a basic one-bedroom apartment can cost AUD $2,000 or more per month, it is tight. Most scholars in expensive cities share accommodation and many work part-time to fill the gap. Check our benefits page for a full cost breakdown.

Dependent support is technically available, but it is widely considered inadequate. The allowance is roughly AUD $3,000 to $4,000 per year per dependent, which barely covers anything in Australia. On the plus side, your spouse can work on a dependent visa, which helps significantly. Many scholars make the difficult choice to leave their families at home because the numbers simply do not add up. This is one of the most emotionally challenging aspects of the scholarship that nobody talks about upfront.

Yes. Your student visa allows you to work up to 48 hours per fortnight during the academic semester and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. A lot of scholars take advantage of this, especially those based in Sydney or Melbourne where the stipend does not stretch as far. Common part-time jobs include tutoring, hospitality, and campus research assistant positions. Just be careful not to let work commitments derail your studies.

No. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which is included in Australia Awards, does not cover dental, optical, or some specialist treatments. If you need dental work done, you will pay out of pocket, and dental care in Australia is expensive. Some scholars arrange supplementary insurance through private providers to cover these gaps. It is worth sorting this out before you arrive rather than finding out the hard way.

Yes. Australia Awards scholars are required to return to their home country for a minimum of two years after completing their studies. This is a contractual obligation written into the scholarship agreement, not a suggestion or a guideline. If you breach it, the Australian government can pursue recovery of the scholarship costs, and it may affect your eligibility for future Australian visas. Read more about this on our after selection page.

It is not technically prohibited by law, but it directly conflicts with your scholarship obligation to return home for at least two years. Pursuing permanent residency while on Australia Awards sends a clear signal that you do not intend to honor the agreement you signed. It is not recommended. If the program becomes aware of it, it could jeopardize your scholarship standing and create complications you do not want.

The two-year return obligation still applies. Marriage to an Australian citizen does not automatically exempt you from the contract you signed when accepting the scholarship. This comes up frequently in forums, and the answer is always the same: you signed an agreement, and the government expects you to honor it. Life circumstances can be discussed with DFAT on a case-by-case basis, but do not assume marriage is a loophole. It is not.

No. You cannot simply extend an existing Australia Awards scholarship from a Master's to a PhD. The two are treated as separate awards. You would need to complete your Master's, return home, fulfill the two-year return obligation, and then apply separately for a new scholarship for PhD study. There is no fast-track or rollover mechanism, no matter how well you performed during your Master's.

This is very difficult and generally discouraged. Transferring requires extensive approval from DFAT, your current university, and the proposed receiving institution. Requests are rarely approved unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as your program being discontinued or serious welfare concerns. If you are unhappy with your placement, talk to your university liaison officer first. Do not assume a transfer is something you can arrange casually.

PhD extensions are possible but not guaranteed. You need strong justification and approval from both your university and DFAT. The program expects you to complete within the standard funded duration, and going over is treated as an exception, not a norm. If you anticipate delays, raise them early with your supervisor and the scholarship liaison at your university. Last-minute extension requests with weak justifications are regularly denied.