The dream of a global education faces one major hurdle: finances. Australia is considered one of the premium higher education destinations, where the tuition for international students ranges between AUD 20,000 and AUD 65,000 per year. Additionally, for postgraduate programs and specialised degrees like MBAs, Dentistry, or Veterinary Science, the tuition can exceed AUD 80,000 annually.
For a majority of international students, affording such tuition with additional living costs of AUD 20,000 to AUD 30,000 per year can seem daunting. This is why having a list of some of the top scholarships offered to Indian students for their studies in Australia is important.
Top Scholarships for Indian Students
Below is a list of the top 10 scholarships offered to Indian students for their higher studies abroad.
Australia Awards Scholarships
One of the highly prestigious scholarships offered by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to exceptional leaders and professionals.
Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Master’s and PhD)
Coverage: Fully-funded, airfare, living expenses, and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Eligibility: Indian nationals with a strong leadership background, showing potential to contribute to India’s development in their chosen field.
Deadlines: February 2026 (for 2027 intake)
Destination Australia Scholarship
Awarded by the Australian Government, this scholarship has been designed to attract students to their regional and remote campuses.
Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Coverage: AUD 15,000 per year
Eligibility: International students who enrol in regional and remote campuses (For example, University of New England, Charles Sturt University, etc.)
Deadlines: Depends on individual universities and their admission cycles
Australian Government Research Training Program
The Australian Government provides individual funding to each university to support their research training programs for domestic and international students.
Level: Master’s by Research (MPhil) and PhD
Coverage: Fully-funded, tax-free living expenses every fortnight (AUD 36,000 – 40,000 per annum), and OSHC coverage
Eligibility: Open for domestic and international students, based on competitive academic and research merit, and should not have received any other governmental awards.
Deadlines: Vary according to universities and their timelines.
Sydney Scholars India Scholarship Program
This is a renowned, flagship scholarship program offered by the University of Sydney to support Indian students in their higher education journey.
Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate (MPhil and PhD are not covered)
Coverage: A total of 28 scholarships per year, amounting to a total of AUD 50,000, is disbursed. They include top, mid, and base-tier scholarships.
Eligibility: Must be an Indian passport-holder, must have an unconditional offer, and overall strong profile
Deadlines: Generally open around the start of April and close around the end of May.
Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship
Offered by Deakin University, it is one of the most generous scholarships for International students.
Level: Undergraduate and postgraduate
Coverage: Offers 50% and 100% funding with an opportunity to participate in the Vice-Chancellor’s Professional Excellence Program
Eligibility: Strong academic background in previous qualifications
Deadlines: Open throughout the year, but ideally, applications should be submitted one month before the semester starts.
La Trobe College Excellence Scholarship
This is a merit-based scholarship for international students to pursue their Diploma or Foundation courses to be able to study full-time courses at La Trobe University.
Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Coverage: 20-25% reduction in tuition
Eligibility: academically strong candidates with 70% or above scores in their previous qualifications.
Deadlines: Rolling, but priority is given to February and July intakes.
George Swinburne International Excellence Scholarship
This is another scholarship that awards a student’s high academic performance and is available to international students studying at George Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus.
Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees
Coverage: 30% relaxation on tuition
Eligibility: Must meet the university’s entry requirements and must not hold another college-specific scholarship
Deadlines: Closes around late June for the upcoming intake
Maitri Scholarships
Under the supervision of the Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR), this is one of the most prominent scholarships designed to strengthen the economic and strategic relationship between India and Australia.
Level: Postgraduate Higher Degree by Research (HDR), specifically PhD programs
Coverage: One of the most lucrative funding amounts that ranges from AUD 220,000 to AUD 439,000 per scholar, which can easily cover research, tuition, and living expenses.
Eligibility: Indian citizen starting at an Australian University with STEM-related research underway.
Deadlines: Closes in mid-January.
Additional Scholarships
The above list is not at all exhaustive; many more scholarships offer diverse rewards for a range of courses, including diplomas. Some of them are: University of South Australia International Merit Scholarship, Edith Cowan University International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, the Quad Fellowships, RMIT International Excellence Scholarship, Griffith Remarkable Scholarships, etc.
How to Apply for Scholarships in Australia
- Choose the scholarship you wish to apply to and identify its category, be it university-specific, government-aided, or a research training program, so that you can understand where to apply.
- If it’s a university-specific or an RTP, you may have to apply via the university’s website. In case it is a government-offered award, the Australian government may have a centralised portal.
- Prepare your documents according to your eligibility and the requirements (e.g., language proficiency, acceptance letter (if applicable), transcripts, research proposal, etc.)
- You can use the Study Course Search to shortlist the scholarships available for your profile.
Tips to Secure a Scholarship
- Be early. Scholarships and bursaries are limited in amount, so be proactive.
- Check the deadlines and always submit before time.
- Most university scholarships consider you for their scholarships automatically when you apply for the course. However, for some, you may have to submit a separate application, so be ready with your documents.
Studying in Australia is not as difficult as we once imagined. The process has become even smoother with experts like Global Opportunities, who employ Australian education specialists who can guide you not only about the university applications but also help you in securing scholarships. Connect today to learn about the new regulations and be ahead of your peers.