Studying abroad in Australia can be a life-changing experience. You’ll have the opportunity to receive top education, enjoy a cosy lifestyle and, if you want, get a job after graduation. However, studying in Australia as an international student is not cheap. The tuition fee alone is costly. For undergraduate degrees, the annual tuition fees can go from AU$20,000 to AU$45,000, whereas the tuition fees for postgraduate students range from AU$22,000 to AU$ 50,000. Not to mention the living costs you’ll have to get ready while planning to study in Australia.
Luckily for you, there are scholarships that you can apply for and that can help ease your financial burden.
In this blog post, we’ve put together a list of the best scholarships for international students who wish to study in Australia and how to apply for them.
Top Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students
There are four scholarships in Australia that are some of the best choices for Indian students. Winning one of them can make your life in Australia much easier. They are:
- Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships
- Australia Awards Scholarships
- Destination Australia scholarships
- GyanDhan scholarships
Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships
Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships, or the Australian Government RTP scholarships, provide international postgraduate students with extinguished academic performance with up to AU$124,000 of tuition fee offset or living costs stipend.
RTP scholarships are typically awarded to students twice a year, in February and November. To be able to apply for this scholarship, you must:
- be an enrolled postgraduate research student
- has proven academic success and research potential
Australian Award Scholarships
Australia Awards Scholarships are also awarded by the Australian government in the hope of strengthening the ties between Australia and partner countries, especially the ones in the Indo-Pacific region. Australian award scholarships are granted to both international undergraduate and postgraduate students who study at Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions.
Australian award scholarships offer benefits that allow the scholarship winner to complete their studies. The benefits could include but are not limited to: full tuition fees, a return air-travel payment, a one-time allowance (used for accommodations, textbooks, etc.), part of the living costs, Overseas Student Health Cover, etc.
However, there are some binding terms of this scholarship. Winners are to sign a contract and have to leave Australia for at least 2 years after graduation.
Destination Australia Scholarships
Destination Australia Scholarships are provided by the Commonwealth government, aiming to help international students that live and study in Australia.
It offers AU$15,000 per student per year to support them in living and studying in Australia. However, the Destination Australia Scholarships are not available for students of all courses and regions. Before you apply for it, make sure to check the Destination Australia Scholarship website to know if you’re eligible.
GyanDhan scholarships
GyanDhan scholarships are merit-based and awarded to Indian students has an undergraduate degree from an Indian Institute and plan to study in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand & Germany at the postgraduate level. It offers INR 1 Lakh to a student of selection each year and is a one-time scholarship award.
How to Apply for Scholarships to Study in Australia
Applying for scholarships is similar to applying for any programmes that you’re interested in. It takes time and effort. But, in the end, you find your time and effort worthy. To prepare for your scholarship application, here’s what you need to do:
1. Carefully read the application requirements
Each scholarship has different required documents that you need to submit when you apply for it. Thus, it’s very important to read the application requirement page of each scholarship you have your eyes on.
Make a list of them to help you keep track of preparation. Common scholarship application requirements include:
- Your personal information
- A scholarship essay or Statement of Purpose
- Proof of your academic success
- Standardised test results (such as TOEFL, GRE, etc.)
- Letter of Recommendation
2. Check your eligibility
Another important thing to do when applying for scholarships to study in Australia, other foreign countries, is to check if you’re eligible to apply for it. Some scholarships only accept applications from people of certain backgrounds. For instance, GyanDhan scholarships only accept people who are incident residents and plan to study at a postgraduate level in a number of countries.
3. Apply within the deadline
Last but not least, make sure you submit your application on time. Being punctual is viewed with great importance, and scholarship application is no exception.
Tips for Applying for Scholarships
Scholarship competitions are fairly intense. To increase your chance of being selected as a scholarship winner, you can follow the tips below:
1. Create a separate email account for scholarship applications
One benefit of having a single email account dedicated to scholarship applications is that you are less likely to miss important emails from the scholarship provider. This can help your application go more smoothly.
2. Write a good Statement of Purpose
Explain to the selection committee why you deserve to have the scholarship and how it will help you advance in your field in a clear and creative way. Catch their attention and they will listen to you.
3. Start your application early
Starting your scholarship to study in Australia earlier means you have more time to prepare for the required documents and are less likely to panic because the deadline is looming over you. If you start late and panic, you will probably make mistakes in your applications that can be easily avoided. So, don’t wait until the last moment to start your application.
Let Intake Help You with Scholarships Applications for Australian Universities
If you want to learn more about scholarships to study in Australia for Indian students, don't hesitate to contact us. Our advisors are experts in all study abroad matters, including scholarship applications. Let us walk you through various kinds of scholarships and find the most suitable one for you.
