Australia is one of the world’s best study destinations right now. However, for some students, it can be an expensive destination. But not to worry, today, we’re going to look at scholarships, specifically the Australian Award Scholarship, that aid students to study in Australia for free. This scholarship is given by the Australian government to help developing countries fight poverty and achieve growth. In this 2024, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which administers the Australia Awards Scholarships has $280 million for international students to benefit from this scholarship. It seems great, but what exactly does it offer? Well, it covers almost everything.
How to Study in Australia for Free
With the Australian Award Scholarship, you will be studying practically for free. It includes your plane tickets, so your travel costs are paid by the government. It also covers initial expenses like buying books and other necessary items, your insurance, meaning your health insurance is also paid, and your day-to-day living costs. Isn’t that wonderful? You don’t have to pay for anything. So, let’s see how you can apply for this scholarship, get it, and study for free in Australia.
1. Get to Know the Requirements of this Scholarship
First, you have to apply for and receive this scholarship. And to get this scholarship, you must accept the Commonwealth of Australia government’s terms and conditions. This states that after your studies, you must leave Australia and you cannot come back for at least 2 years. If you break this requirement, you will incur a debt for the total accrued cost of the scholarship.
This part is important because the scholarship is meant to assist developing countries. So, it’s expected that you use your new skills and knowledge to improve your own country. That means you have to leave Australia once you are done.
If you are a student hoping to apply for permanent residence after your studies, this scholarship might not suit you. Its eligibility criteria are very specific. As I mentioned, it’s targeted at developing countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific.
2. Make Sure to Meet the 2024 Deadline
Another important point is the application dates. You need to pay attention to when it opens and closes because this scholarship is only available for three months. For example, this year, it will be open from the 1st of February 2024 to the 3rd of May. For Palau, it’s actually from 1 July to 1 August.
3. Obtain the Australia Awards Scholarship Handbook
I strongly suggest that you download the handbook. The handbook explains all the details and conditions of the scholarship. It helps you prepare all your documents in advance, so when the 1st of February comes, you can start applying right away so that you can study in Australia for free.
4. Begin Your Application for Australia Awards Scholarship
The 4th step is the application process which can be tough with a lot of paperwork, but hard work pays off. You won’t win the scholarship just by writing your name; you need to fill out forms and gather documents. There are different ways to apply.
You can apply online or by mail by posting your application. Now, let’s get into the specifics.
First, visit the Australian government’s website with this link dfat.gov.au Australia awards. Once here, on the right side, you’ll see the Australian Award Scholarship section. Here, you can find all the participating countries. For example, in Asia, there’s Bangladesh and Colombia; in the Pacific, and Fiji; and in Africa, countries like Botswana, Ghana, and Kenya are included.
Check if your country is listed, then look at the opening and closing dates. You can’t apply now, but the application period for this year is from the 1st of February 2024 to the 30th of April. It’s only open for three months, so remember that.
If this is new to you, don’t worry, I will show you how to apply. You can apply by mail or online as I’ve mentioned earlier. It’s also important to check the specific supporting documents required for each country. I strongly suggest downloading the PDF to understand all the details. You can also download the Australian Award Scholarship Policy Handbook from the ‘How to Apply’ section.
Other Scholarships to Study for Free in Australia
So, I have walked you through the Australia Awards Scholarship which will allow you to study in Australia for free. Now, there are some other scholarships on the studyaustralia.gov.au website. There are many scholarships there, but they don’t cover all expenses. They typically offer between $1,000 to $5,000, which can be used for tuition fees, accommodation, or other essential costs during your studies. Let’s see how you can find these scholarships to study for free.
- Visit the ‘studyaustralia.gov.au/‘ website.
- Look at the different scholarship types. Start by checking your eligibility for a particular scholarship at the bottom of the page.
- They’ll ask you a few questions, like which organization you want to apply to, your field of education, and the scholarship you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in Curtin University in Western Australia and want to study accounting, select those options.
- Then, you’ll see all the scholarships Curtin University offers for accounting students.
I also advise you to visit the university’s website and check their scholarship section. If you have already applied to a university, this is really important. Universities such as Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, and the University of Western Australia have scholarship sections on their websites. Why not apply? If you are facing a fee of $16,000 for a master’s degree in Australia, and a scholarship offers you $5,000 each semester, that’s definitely beneficial.
Conclusion
So, we have come to the end, and we talked in detail about the Australia Awards scholarship and the scholarship opportunities via the studyaustralia.gov.au website. These are two active methods you can use to study in Australia for free in 2024.
Read Also: Is Education Free in Australia for Immigrants?
