Fully Funded Scholarships in Australia: Study BS, MS & PhD with Full Tuition & Stipend

Studying in Australia offers access to world-class education, cutting-edge research facilities, and globally recognized degrees. However, international student tuition and living expenses can be substantial. Fortunately, the Australian Government and leading universities offer several fully funded scholarships covering tuition waivers, living allowances, health coverage, and airfare for undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD candidates.

Scholarship Overview

• Host Country: Australia
• Study Levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s (Coursework & Research), PhD
• Coverage: Fully Funded (Tuition, Stipends, Airfare, Health Insurance)
• Application Mode: 100% Online
• Eligible Nationalities: Open to international students worldwide

Core Financial Benefits

Fully funded Australian awards generally provide end-to-end support for international students:

• 100% Tuition Fee Waiver: Full coverage of course fees for the duration of the degree.
• Living Allowance (Stipend): Fortnightly or monthly stipends to manage housing, meals, and local transport.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): Full basic medical and hospital insurance coverage.
• Travel Allowance: Return economy-class airfare to and from Australia.
• Establishment / Thesis Allowances: Grants to help cover initial accommodation setup, textbooks, or thesis production.

Top Australian Scholarships to Target

1. Australia Awards Scholarships

Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this prestigious government award targets emerging leaders from developing partner countries. It covers full tuition fees, return air travel, establishment allowance, full living stipends, and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) across undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

2. Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)

Managed directly by individual participating universities, RTP scholarships support domestic and international postgraduate research candidates (Master’s by Research and PhD). Benefits include a full tuition fee offset and a standard annual living stipend.

3. University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships

Offering hundreds of awards annually, Melbourne provides full fee offsets, living allowances (roughly AUD 37,000+ per year), relocation grants, and health cover for Master’s and doctoral research candidates.

4. Monash University Research Scholarships

Monash offers competitive merit-based funding for outstanding international researchers. Successful candidates receive tuition scholarships paired with living stipends for up to 3.5 years of doctoral study.

5. Australian National University (ANU) & Bond University Awards

• ANU: Offers the competitive ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship (tuition fee waivers up to 50%) along with fully funded PhD research grants.
• Bond University: Features the Transformer and International Stand Out Scholarships, offering substantial tuition remissions for bachelor’s and master’s candidates.

General Eligibility Requirements

While exact prerequisites depend on the specific award and institution, applicants must generally meet the following criteria:

• Academic Excellence: High GPA or honors standing in previous qualifying degrees.
• Language Proficiency: Proof of English fluency through recognized tests (typically minimum IELTS 6.5–7.0 or equivalent TOEFL scores).
• Research Readiness (for MS/PhD): A strong research proposal, relevant publications, and prior research experience.
• Country Eligibility: For Australia Awards, applicants must be citizens of participating partner countries and commit to returning home for at least two years post-study.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

1. Choose Your Course & University: Identify an eligible degree program aligned with your previous academic background.
2. Review Funding Routes: Determine whether the scholarship requires an independent application (e.g., Australia Awards through the OASIS portal) or is automatically assessed upon university admission (e.g., RTP and institutional merit awards).
3. Contact a Supervisor (PhD/Research only): Secure tentative supervision approval from a faculty member before submitting formal research admission forms.
4. Prepare Supporting Materials: Gather certified academic transcripts, degree certificates, CV/resume, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and English test scores.
5. Submit Online: Complete and submit the application through the official university portal or government application system before published institutional deadlines.