Students, do you want to study in Australia but are worried about finances? Do not worry, we got you covered. The good news is that scholarships are available. They provide significant financial support to students seeking to pursue higher education in Australia.

Government Organisations, private entities, and some prestigious universities offer these scholarships to encourage students.

Are you someone who is looking for scholarships and has no idea how to secure one? Read further, as this guide will walk you through the details about scholarships.

Do Scholarships Really Matter?

  • Yes, scholarships play a key role in providing finances to students and make education affordable to all students, irrespective of their background.

  • Some scholarships are fully funded, which covers the entire cost of education, while others are partially funded. Unlike education loans, scholarships are not required to be repaid. 

  • This makes scholarships a lucrative opportunity for students and is the reason for heavy competition.

  • Some scholarships are offered based on the talent and skills of the students. This encourages students to excel in their studies and motivates them to achieve their academic goals. 

Because of the heavy competition associated with the scholarships, only a small percentage of students can secure scholarships successfully. It is recommended for students to have education loans as an alternative option to students for a seamless education loan process.

Types Of Scholarships

Scholarships are classified into different types based on certain factors. The most common types of scholarships are given below.

  • Merit-Based Scholarships

  • Need-Based Scholarships

  • Government Funded Scholarships

  • Private Scholarships

  • Underrepresented Scholarships

  • University Specified Scholarships

Top Scholarships to Study in Australia

  1. Scholarship: Australia Awards Scholarships(AAS)
    Funded by: Australian Government
    Covered: Full Course Fees
    Discipline: Bachelor's degree, Master's Degree, and Doctoral degree
    Eligibility: Meet all the requirements outlined in the AAS policy Handbook
    Application: Click here to Apply

  2. Scholarship: ANU PhD Scholarship
    Funded by:     Australian Government
    Covered: Full Course Fees
    Discipline: PhD degrees
    Eligibility: Must be an Indian citizen, and must meet other eligibility requirements
    Application: Click here to Apply

  3. Scholarship: UTS Humanitarian Scholarship
    Funded by: Australian Government
    Covered: Partial Funding
    Discipline: Bachelor's/Master's degrees in all disciplines
    Eligibility: Must be an Indian citizen and must meet other eligibility requirements.
    Application: Click here to Apply

  4. Scholarship: EIT Equity, Diversity, and Access Scholarship
    Funded by: Australian Government
    Covered: Partial Funding
    Eligible Degrees: Bachelor's/Master's/PhD
    Eligible courses: Engineering and Technology
    Application: Click here to Apply

The Eligibility Requirement to Get Scholarships in Australia

Each scholarship has different eligibility requirements based on the type of scholarship and the provider. However, the basic eligibility requirements to get a scholarship in Australia are given below.

Basic Academic Qualifications

  • A relevant undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree, typically with good grades, has high chances of scholarship approval.

  • For Merit-Based scholarships, academic performance matters. Maintaining a consistent academic record is required to get the scholarships.

Citizenship

  • Some scholarships have citizenship specified in their eligibility criteria. It is recommended to thoroughly study the eligibility requirements before applying for a scholarship.

  • This will reduce the scholarship rejection chances.

Age Requirement

  • Some scholarship providers impose restrictions on the age criteria of students.

  • Oftentimes, students overlook the factor and face rejection later. So, check the age limit while applying for a scholarship.

Letter of Recommendation

  •  Letters of recommendation( if required), typically from a research supervisor or professors, support the efficiency of the students.

  • This is done to demonstrate the research ability of the student.

Standardised Test Score

  • Some scholarships have standard tests to evaluate the eligibility of applicants who applied for scholarships.

  • A good score in these tests can help students to take the edge over scholarship competitors.

Apart from these, other requirements typically depend on the scholarship provider, type of scholarship, etc. Students must make sure that they meet all the eligibility requirements to be eligible for the scholarship.

Documents Required to Get a Scholarship in Australia

Below are the documents required to get a scholarship in Australia.

  • Documents proving the identity/citizenship of the student.

  • Previous academic records(undergraduate/graduate, doctoral degrees, etc) of the students.

  • For Merit-based scholarships, the score cards of standardised tests(if required).

  • For Need-based scholarships, the documentary proof of financial requirements, such as family annual income.

  • A letter of recommendation document, if mentioned by the scholarship provider.

  • Any extra documents as required by the scholarship provider, based on the scholarship type.

How to Apply for Scholarships in Australia

Below are the steps to apply for scholarships in Australia.

Start Early: It is recommended to start the process early, considering the heavy competition for scholarships. 

Research: Not all scholarships match every student. As previously discussed, various scholarships are available to pursue higher education in Australia. Often, students face rejection while applying to the wrong scholarship. For a successful scholarship process, it is important to find a scholarship that suits the student.

Meet the Eligibility Requirement: This should be one of the primary concerns for students before applying for a scholarship. Many scholarship applicants are rejected after the scholarship providers evaluate their profiles and check their eligibility. 

Prepare Documents: Students are advised to keep all the necessary documents ready to avoid rejection. Documents such as academic documents, proof of identity, statement of purpose, etc, are required to be submitted. 

Choose the Right Platform to Apply: Many students make mistakes by approaching the wrong platform. Apply through the official websites of the scholarships, such as the Australian Scholarship Website or WeMakeScholars, for authentic information and application.

Apply on Time: Missing one deadline means waiting another year. Therefore, it is important to keep a check on the deadline and submit before the date expires.

Follow-up: After the application is submitted, a time-to-time follow-up is important to fill in any missing information. Keep a track of the email to know the status of your scholarship application. This reduces scholarship rejections.

Conclusion

Scholarships are an incredible financial support to students who want to pursue their higher education but lack finances. In this blog, we have covered a few of the scholarships that are available to study in Australia. In addition, we have also discussed how to apply along with the documents required for the same.