Australia Awards Masters Scholarships for Africa: Australian Government Funding

African candidates can apply for Australia Awards scholarships to fund Masters study in Australia. The award is offered by the Australian Government and covers study at participating Australian institutions. If you are an African graduate aiming for a postgraduate qualification in Australia, this is the scheme to check against your profile.

• Host: Australian Government
• Level: Masters Degree
• Study destination: Australia
• Deadline: around November-December 2016, depending on your country program
• Awards: number not specified
• Covered: full tuition fees, return air travel, establishment allowance, contribution to living expenses (CLE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), etc.

Teaching takes place at participating Australian higher education institutions and technical colleges.

Priority fields are set per country, so the list depends on where you apply from. Examples of priority fields include Agriculture and Food Security; Health; Natural Resource Management including Mining and Mining Governance; Public Policy; and Water and Sanitation.

Not specified.

The award is open to candidates from: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia.

Benefits generally include full tuition fees, return air travel, an establishment allowance, a contribution to living expenses (CLE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and other items. In plain terms, tuition is paid, your flights are covered, and you receive both a settling-in amount and ongoing help with living costs, plus health cover for your time in Australia.

Generally, you must be at least 25 and not more than 50 years of age at the date of your application. You must have at least three (3) years’ relevant post graduate work experience. You possess, as a minimum, a Bachelors degree (or the equivalent) from a recognized Institution of at least 4 years in length. You must not already hold, or be studying for, a Masters degree. You must be willing to make a formal commitment to return to your current employment following completion of the award.

You must meet the country specific eligibility criteria and the general minimum eligibility criteria for Australia Awards Scholarships. Refer to the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook.

This suits African professionals with a Bachelors degree, several years of relevant work experience and a clear plan to return to their current employer after the degree. It fits people who do not yet hold a Masters and who fall within the stated age range.

Because priority fields differ by country, check your own country program before you invest time in an application.

Applications for the Australia Awards Scholarships 2027 Intake are now closed. Applications for the 2028 Intake will open in February 2027.

Check the open and close dates for your country, and select your country of citizenship/residency from the list of participating countries for specific information on eligibility, priority areas and how to apply. Each Country Program has different timelines but deadline falls around November-December 2016.

Visit the official website (link found below) for detailed and updated information on how to apply for this scholarship.

• Who can apply for these awards? Candidates from the African countries listed in the target group who meet the age, degree, work experience and other eligibility conditions.
• What does the scholarship cover? Generally full tuition fees, return air travel, an establishment allowance, a contribution to living expenses (CLE) and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), among other items.
• When is the deadline? Timelines vary by Country Program, but the deadline falls around November-December 2016. Applications are currently closed.
• How do I apply? Select your country of citizenship or residency from the participating countries list to get that country's eligibility, priority areas and application steps.
• Can I apply if I already have a Masters? No. You must not already hold, or be studying for, a Masters degree.

• Read the official policy handbook and your country program page before starting, since rules differ by country.
• Gather degree transcripts, proof of work experience and identity documents early.
• Check whether your intended field appears among your country's priority fields.
• Confirm the open and close dates for your own country rather than relying on a general deadline.