Australia Awards are prestigious international Scholarships and Short Courses funded by the Australian Government. Australia Awards equip recipients with the skills and knowledge to drive change and contribute to the economic and social development of their own countries. All recipients of Australia Awards become part of the Australia Global Alumni network, connecting them to Australia and to each other — building an engaged and influential global network of leaders and advocates, and establishing a network of ambassadors for Australia and its first-class education system.
Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term development awards administered by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They aim to contribute to the development needs of Australia’s partner countries in line with bilateral and regional agreements. They provide opportunities for people from developing countries, particularly those countries located in the Indo-Pacific region, to undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian institutions.
For Nepal, Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for master’s degree study in fields agreed with partner governments and aligned with Australia’s development, economic and public diplomacy priorities.
Scholarships applications for Master’s programs commencing in 2025 will open 1 February to 30 April 2024.
Scholarships support programs within these priority development sectors:
- Climate Change
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Economic Development
- Education
- Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion
- Governance
- Natural Resource Management
- Sustainable Infrastructure Development.
Check eligibility criteria including English language test requirements, and prepare to apply.
Eligibility Criteria
Please visit https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/aus-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.pdf for a comprehensive list of general eligibility requirements.
Personal criteria:
- Over 18 years old
- Citizen of Nepal and currently residing in and applying from Nepal
- Not married, engaged to, or a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency
- Not applying for a visa to live in Australia permanently
- Not a current serving military personnel
Study program criteria:
- Proposed study program is within one of the priority sectors offered
- Applying for a Master’s program with proposed course of study not more than two years
- Have not completed a qualification that is deemed to be equivalent to the Australian qualification you are applying for – Scholarships will not be available for courses of study in Australia where the applicant already has achieved that qualification and the qualification is deemed to be equivalent to the Australian qualification at the same level.
Academic and work experience criteria:
- Possess one of the following:
- a minimum four-year bachelor’s degree and minimum three years’ relevant full-time work experience earned after the bachelor’s degree; or
- a three-year bachelor’s degree with at least a one-year master’s degree with a minimum of three years’ relevant full-time work experience earned after the bachelor’s degree; or
- a two-year bachelor’s degree with at least a two-year master’s degree with a minimum of three years’ relevant full-time work experience earned after the bachelor’s degree.
English language test score criteria:
- Possess one the following English language test scores valid on 1 January 2024:
- IELTS (Academic) 6.5 or higher (with all band scores 6.0 or higher)
- TOEFL (Internet-based) 84 or higher (with all subtest scores 21 or higher)
- PTE (Academic) 58 or higher (with all communicative skill scores 50 or higher).
Women, people with disability, members of traditionally marginalised groups and public servants will be considered for eligibility with IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 or higher (with all band scores 5.5 or higher) or an equivalent TOEFL (Internet-based) or PTE (Academic) test score. However, if offered an Australia Awards Scholarship, these applicants must meet the English language requirements of their preferred university and degree before commencing study.
Applicants with disability who require testing accommodations are encouraged to register early for English language tests.
For any clarification, please contact the Australia Awards – Nepal office.
Information sessions and events
Australia Awards – Nepal office organises information sessions for the prospective applicants. Eligible applicants are highly encouraged to participate in one of these sessions. Interested applicants can apply via the following link.
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