AUSTRALIA: Australia Awards Scholarships in Africa 2025

The Australia Awards Africa Programme is inviting applications for the Australia Awards 2025 academic year Intake.

Australia Awards scholarships provide citizens of qualifying African countries with the opportunity to acquire a Master’s degree at an Australian tertiary institution.

The Australia Awards are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of global leaders in developing countries.  Through study and research, recipients develop the skills and
knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia. 

These scholarships focus on developing the skills and knowledge required to influence change in partner countries and help build enduring human resource capacity within mutually agreed development sectors in Australia. 

Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disability and other marginalised groups.

More general information about the Australia Awards, Australia’s aid programme, and studying in Australia can be found at the following links:

• https://www.dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards/australia-awards-scholarships
• https://australiaawardsafrica.org/ 

Degree level

Master’s

Deadlines

Closing date: 30 April 2024 (11:59 PM AEST)

Applications and/or supporting documents received after the closing date will not be considered.

Fields of study

The priority areas of study for eligible African countries in this application round are:

• Agriculture and Food Security
• Climate Change
• Mining and Energy
• Foreign policy and international security
• Gender, disability, and social inclusion

Who can apply?

Australia Awards applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook, available at: https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/australia-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook

Applicants must:

• Be a citizen of South Africa or other eligible country;
• Be 25 years or older by 1 February 2025;
• Have at least 5 years of post-graduate work experience, working in a field relative to their study;
• Minimum academic requirement: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
• Must not already hold a Master's Degree;
• Must be a mid-level to senior-level professional;
• Must demonstrate a clear vision of how the knowledge gained through the scholarship will be used to improve policy, practice, or reform in their home country;
• Have satisfactory English language proficiency to enable full participation in a training course delivered in English;
• Not have previously received a long-term Australia Award; and
• Must satisfy all requirements of the Australian Government for the appropriate student visa (subclass 500).

What the Scholarship Offers

• Return air travel–payment of a single return, economy class airfare to and from Australia, via the most direct route;
• A once-off establishment allowance on arrival as a contribution towards accommodation expenses, text books, study materials;
• Full tuition fees;
• Contribution to living expenses;
• Introductory Academic Programme (IAP) – a compulsory programme prior to the commencement of formal academic studies covering information on living and studying in Australia;
• Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of the scholarship – for basic medical costs;
• Pre-course English (PCE) fees – if required;
• Supplementary academic support (tutorial assistance) if required, to improve a student’s performance for academic success;
• Fieldwork allowance for research students and masters by coursework which have a compulsory fieldwork component.

All applications must be made online on the Online Australia Scholarships Information System (OASIS). Applicants must submit all the relevant supporting documents listed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook by 30 April 2024

Supporting documents:

• Passport (Proof of Citizenship);
• Undergraduate Degree Certificate;
• Undergraduate Academic Transcript;
• Curriculum Vitae;
• Employer Referee Report;
• Academic Referee Report and
• Proof of English Language Proficiency.

Successful candidates will be required to produce original documents for certification.

Completed application forms and supporting documentation must be submitted by the deadline specified.

Contact

For queries please contact Australia Awards Africa via email at enquiries@australiaawards.org or refer to Frequently Asked Questions.

Telephone: +27 67 421 6340 (Australia Awards Africa)

Documents and links

2025 Intake – Masters Brochure

Application and Selection Process

Search and compare courses 

Online Pre-Application Form

Masters Pre-interview Information

Online Application Platform

How to apply for an Australia Awards scholarship

Participating institutions

Referee report template

Frequently asked questions

Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook

OASIS Applicant User Guide

Note

Please note that this opportunity is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Applicants are required to undertake their own research into programmes and institutions and are responsible for ensuring that the qualifications will be recognised in South Africa by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority and the relevant professional bodies. If there are any discrepancies in the details provided, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details provided above. No additional financial support will be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.