Australia Award scholarships are now open for Pakistani applicants. If you want to be a leader in your field and want to make a difference in Pakistan, you can benefit from these scholarships. For the session of 2023, the application portal is open now and will remain open till 29 April 2022. The program allows you to benefit from the Australian institutions by having all possible funding and support for your studies there.
Australia Award Scholarship Application link
You can apply for this scholarship program at https://oasis.dfat.gov.au/
Australia Awards benefits
Australia Awards scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian education institution, including any preparatory training. Scholarship recipients will receive the following:
- full tuition fees
- contribution to living expenses
- introductory academic program
- overseas student health cover for the duration of the scholarship
- supplementary academic support
- fieldwork allowance for research students and masters
- by coursework which has a compulsory fieldwork component
- return air travel
- a one-off establishment allowance on arrival
Australia Awards Scholarships application dates
For study commencing in Australia in 2023:
- Opening date: 1 February 2022
- Closing date: 29 April 2022 (11:59 PM AEST)
General eligibility requirements to apply for Australian Award scholarships
As an applicant, you must fulfill the following requirements to be eligible for the Australian Award Scholarship program:
- You have a tertiary qualification at least equivalent to an Australian Bachelor’s degree
- Your proposed Master’s degree (16 years of education) course is two years or less in duration
- You have worked in Pakistan for at least 5 years preceding 29 April 2022
- You meet any pf the the following English language requirements:
- an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic) overall score of 6.5 or above (with no individual band less than 6.0) – or an overall score of 6.0 with no individual band less than 5.0 for those living with a disability.
- TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) score of at least 84, with a minimum of 21 in all sub-tests; or
- a Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) overall score of 58, with no communicative skill score less than 50?
Country-specific conditions
In addition to the eligibility requirements, candidates from Pakistan must also meet the following conditions:
- be a Pakistani citizen currently residing in Pakistan and applying for the scholarship from Pakistan
- not be a citizen of Australia, hold permanent residency in Australia, or be applying for a visa to live in Australia permanently
- not be more than 45 years of age at the time of submitting the application
- People with a disability who meet the eligibility criteria may submit an application with an IELTS score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.0, but if they are selected, they must re-sit an English Language Proficiency test
- (to be arranged by Australia Awards – Pakistan) and achieve the required score before they can take up their scholarship
- submit a Development Impact Plan, which outlines clear objectives and motivations to contribute to development in Pakistan
- return to Pakistan at the completion of their study for at least two years
- satisfy Australian Government requirements for international student visas for entry to Australia (health, character etc.)
- be able to provide a Police Security Clearance Certificate at the time of visa application
- not hold another scholarship
- not have held a foreign scholarship in the 24 months preceding the application (calculated from the date of arrival back in Pakistan to the closing date for receipt of applications)
- be applying to commence a new course of study and not be seeking support for a course already commenced in Australia (ongoing study programs will not be supported)
- be able to take up the Scholarship in the year for which it is offered
- have outlined a case that is clear about their objectives and motivation to make a contribution to development in Pakistan
- apply for courses that fall within the priority development sectors identified for Pakistan
- satisfy the admission requirements of the Australian tertiary institution and the course to be undertaken
- have an academic background relevant to the proposed study in Australia
Important Note: You can contact the Australia Awards – Pakistan Country office if you are unsure whether your qualification is accredited and accepted by the Australia Awards.
Contact details Australia Awards— Pakistan Office Australian High Commission Diplomatic Enclave – 1, Sector G-5, Islamabad. Telephone:+92-51-8355500 Email: info@australiaawardspakistan.org
Priority fields of study for Australia Awards Scholarships
Australia Awards scholarships will be offered to professionals working in sectors that support Pakistan to achieve sustainable development with a particular focus on the empowerment of women and girls, water security,
agriculture, infrastructure, and inclusive economic development. Currently, the following subjects are considered priority fields of study in this scholarship program:
- Agriculture and Rural Development
- Business Management (including MBA)
- Development Studies
- Disaster Management/Preparedness—Environmental Policy/Climate Change Adaptation
- Disability Studies
- Economics
- Education
- Energy and Renewables
- Finance
- Food Security
- Gender Studies
- Human Rights
- Integrated Water Resources Management (including Engineering)
- International Trade
- International and/or Human Rights Law
- International Relations
- International Law
- Mining (including Engineering)
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Policing and Counter-Terrorism
- Public Policy and/or Administration
- Public Health & Nutrition policies
- Sanitation and Clean Drinking Water
- Women’s Studies
Australia Award selection process
The selection process functions as under:
- Applications will be shortlisted after eligibility checking
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
- The selection process includes an interview. Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria:
- academic competence
- potential outcome, specifically the contribution to development outcomes in Pakistan
- professional and personal leadership attribute including relevant work experience.
- Successful candidates will be notified no later than August 2022
- Awardee travel will be subject to meeting the requirements imposed by the Australian Government, as determined by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, and must meet the requirements imposed by State and Territory governments.
Preparatory training
Successful applicants will be required to attend:
- course counseling
- pre-departure briefing
- university’s Introductory Academic Program
- other required preparatory study on arrival in Australia.
Application support kit