Fully Funded Scholarships in Australia for International Students

Aspirations of studying abroad, particularly in a world-class academic environment like Australia, can often be deterred by the steep costs. Fortunately, Australia offers a wealth of Fully Funded Scholarships specifically designed for international students, making this dream an accessible reality. These prestigious programs, which include offerings from the Australian government, top-tier universities, and various external organizations, typically provide comprehensive financial coverage—often including tuition fees, living allowances (stipends), health insurance, and travel costs. The benefits extend beyond just financial relief, offering a chance to engage with a diverse culture and gain globally recognized qualifications.

In this blog, we provide an extensive guide to the best fully funded scholarship opportunities in Australia, detailing the specific programs offered, their coverage details, and the unique benefits each one provides, alongside crucial application tips and eligibility criteria.

Types of Fully Funded Scholarships in Australia

Fully funded scholarships in Australia for international students generally fall into a few key categories based on the funding source and study level:

Scholarship Type	Description	Common Examples
Government-Funded Programs	Scholarships offered and managed directly by the Australian government for international development and research excellence.	Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS), Research Training Program (RTP)
University-Specific Research	Fully funded awards provided by individual universities, mainly for high-achieving candidates undertaking a Master’s by Research or PhD.	Melbourne Research Scholarships (MRS), ANU PhD Scholarships, University of Sydney International Scholarships
Regional/Targeted Programs	Awards focused on encouraging study in specific regional areas or supporting students from particular countries or research fields.	Destination Australia Scholarships, Rotary Peace Fellowships
Industry/Departmental	Funding secured by a specific faculty, school, or research project, often in collaboration with an industry partner.	Faculty-specific scholarships (e.g., Engineering, Law), HDR (Higher Degree by Research) Project Scholarships

List of Fully Funded Scholarships in Australia for International Students

Here is a list of the most prominent fully funded scholarships in Australia for international students, detailing the program level, financial coverage, and general eligibility criteria.

Scholarship Name	Awarding Body	Program Level	Full Coverage Details (Annual Rates Approx.)	Important Eligibility
Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship	Australian Government (administered by universities)	Master’s by Research, PhD	Full Tuition Fee Offset + Tax-free Stipend (~ $33,511 to $38,154 AUD) + Allowances (relocation, thesis).	High-achieving domestic & international research students. Automatic consideration upon course application at most universities.
Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS)	Australian Government (DFAT)	Master’s, PhD (Coursework & Research)	Full Tuition Fees + Return Air Travel + Establishment Allowance + Living Stipend (~ $34,500 AUD) + OSHC.	Students from developing countries (including India) who aim to contribute to their home country’s development. Highly competitive.
University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships (UMGRS)	University of Melbourne	Master’s by Research, PhD	Full Fee Offset (Tuition) + Living Stipend (~ $38,500 AUD) + Relocation Grant + OSHC (for international students).	High-achieving students enrolling in a research degree. Awarded through a competitive ranking process based on academic merit.
Monash Graduate Research Scholarship (MGRS)	Monash University	Master’s by Research, PhD	Full Tuition Fee Waiver + Annual Stipend (at or above RTP rate) + Allowances (relocation, thesis).	Excellent academic record, research performance, and alignment with Monash’s research focus areas. Automatic consideration.
University of Sydney International Scholarship (USydIS)	University of Sydney	Master’s by Research, PhD	Full Tuition Fee Coverage + Annual Living Stipend (~ $40,000+ AUD/year) + OSHC may be included depending on the package.	Outstanding academic merit and demonstrated research potential. Applicants are automatically considered upon applying for a research degree.
Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI)	University of Adelaide	Master’s by Research, PhD	Full Tuition Fee Cover + Annual Living Stipend (~ $30,000+ AUD/year) + OSHC.	International students with a First Class Honours degree or equivalent, demonstrating outstanding academic excellence.
ANU University Research Scholarship (URS)	Australian National University (ANU)	Master’s by Research, PhD	Annual Stipend (~ $38,154 AUD) + Travel/Removal Allowance + Thesis Allowance + Dependant Child Allowance (Intl. only). RTP Fee Offset covers tuition.	Highly competitive. Applicants are automatically considered for the URS and RTP upon applying for admission to an HDR program.

Also Read: Fully Funded Scholarships in Australia For International Students

Details of Best Fully Funded Scholarships in Australia

Australia offers numerous prestigious, fully funded scholarships for international students, primarily for research degrees, with the following being among the most prominent:

1. Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship

The RTP is a highly competitive, government-funded scholarship administered by universities, primarily supporting students in Higher Degrees by Research (HDR). It offers a full tuition fee offset for the course duration (up to four years for a PhD), meaning the student pays no tuition. Additionally, it provides a non-taxable living allowance (stipend), which is indexed annually (e.g., around AUD $34,752 per annum in 2025), paid fortnightly, for up to 3.5 years of a PhD. The scholarship also includes essential ancillary benefits such as a one-off relocation grant (up to AUD $3,000 for international students) and compulsory Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the student.

Benefits	Full Tuition Fee Offset (up to 4 years for PhD); Tax-Free Stipend (approx. AUD $34,752 p.a. in 2025); OSHC; Relocation Grant.
Eligibility	Must be commencing/enrolled in a research Master’s or PhD at a participating Australian university. Awarded competitively based on academic merit.
Application Process	Apply directly to your chosen Australian university for admission to an HDR program; you are typically automatically considered for the RTP.
Deadline	Varies by University (e.g., Aug 31 / Oct 31)

2. Australia Awards Scholarship (AAS)

The AAS is a prestigious, development-focused full-ride scholarship for citizens of eligible developing countries, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for postgraduate study. It provides 100% full tuition coverage and a comprehensive financial package that includes a fortnightly Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) stipend and a one-off Establishment Allowance upon arrival. Essential travel costs are covered with a single return economy class airfare, and health is secured with Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Furthermore, it covers costs for the Introductory Academic Program (IAP) and, for research students, may include fieldwork allowances.

Benefits	100% Full Tuition; Fortnightly Living Stipend (CLE); Single Return Airfare; Establishment Allowance; OSHC; Academic Support.
Eligibility	Citizen of a participating developing country (primarily Indo-Pacific); Meet minimum English language requirements (e.g., IELTS 6.5); Satisfy country-specific criteria & return to home country for 2 years post-study.
Application Process	Apply online via the OASIS portal; Submit required documents (e.g., Academic/Work history, Development Contribution statement) and may be shortlisted for an interview.
Deadline	30 April (Annually) for the following academic year’s intake.

3. Monash Graduate Research Scholarship (MGRS)

The MGRS (often coupled with the Monash International Tuition Scholarship) is Monash University’s main competitive scholarship package for high-achieving international and domestic research students. The award provides a full tuition fee remission for the duration of the degree (typically up to four years for a PhD) and a generous, tax-free annual living allowance (stipend), generally in line with or slightly above the government RTP rate (e.g., around AUD $33,000 to $39,820 per annum). The scholarship also assists with initial costs through a one-off relocation grant (up to AUD $3,000 for international students) and covers the cost of a single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) membership.

Benefits	Full Tuition Fee Remission (MITS); Tax-Free Living Stipend (e.g., approx. AUD $33,000 p.a.); OSHC; Relocation Allowance.
Eligibility	Must have applied for or be currently enrolled in a Master’s by Research or PhD at Monash. Awarded competitively based on academic record and research potential.
Application Process	Apply for admission to a graduate research course at Monash University. You are automatically considered for all eligible scholarships.
Deadline	Varies by Round (e.g., 31 March / 31 October)

4. University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship (UMGRS) / Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS)

This scholarship represents a combined pool of the Australian Government RTP and University of Melbourne (MRS) funds, automatically awarded to high-calibre international and domestic research candidates. It guarantees a 100% tuition fee offset for the full standard duration of the degree (up to four years for a PhD) and a highly competitive, tax-free living allowance (stipend) (e.g., approximately AUD $38,500 per year in 2025), paid fortnightly for up to 3.5 years of a PhD. To help with the move, it includes a $3,000 relocation grant for students arriving from outside Australia, along with coverage for a single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) membership.

Benefits	Full Tuition Fee Offset (up to 4 years for PhD); Tax-Free Stipend (e.g., approx. AUD $38,500 p.a. in 2025); OSHC; Relocation Grant ($3,000 for international).
Eligibility	Must have applied for or be currently enrolled in a Master’s by Research or PhD at the University of Melbourne. Awarded competitively based on academic achievement and research potential.
Application Process	Apply for admission to your graduate research course by the course application deadline; you are automatically considered for the full scholarship package.
Deadline	Varies (often 31 October for key international intake)

Tips for a Successful Fully Funded Scholarship Application in Australia

Here are the important actionable tips for international students seeking a fully funded Australian scholarship, primarily focused on competitive postgraduate research awards (RTP, MGRS, UMGRS, AAS):

• Aim for an academic average of 80% (or High Distinction/First Class Honours equivalent) in your last degree, as scholarship rankings are heavily merit-based.
• Obtain an explicit agreement (usually via email or a formal letter) from a potential supervisor before applying, showing institutional buy-in.
• Develop a concise research proposal that clearly identifies a significant knowledge gap and outlines a feasible, innovative methodology.
• Ensure your proposed research area directly matches the specific university’s strategic research priorities and your chosen supervisor’s expertise.
• Tailor your Statement of Purpose (SOP) to each scholarship, explaining precisely why you chose that university/program and how it fits your long-term goals.
• For the Australia Awards, focus on your leadership potential and a clear reintegration plan detailing how your study will benefit your home country’s development.
• Choose academic referees who can attest to your research capability and intellectual merit, providing them with your proposal and CV well in advance.
• Take IELTS/TOEFL/PTE well ahead of time and ensure your scores meet the minimum, with no band falling below the required threshold.
• Collect, verify, and translate (if necessary) all academic transcripts, publications, and certificates months before the deadline.
• Since most research scholarships (RTP, MGRS, UMGRS) are automatically assessed with your admission application, submitting a complete, competitive application by the earliest round deadline is crucial.

Why Study in Australia?

Australia is a highly attractive study destination for international students primarily due to its world-class education system, favorable post-study work opportunities, and high standard of living.

Here are the important reasons why international students choose Australia:

• World-Class Education: Home to globally top-ranked universities and a rigorous, innovative education system.
• Globally Recognised Degrees: Qualifications are highly respected by employers worldwide.
• Post-Study Work Visas: Clear pathways (Temporary Graduate Visa – Subclass 485) to stay, work, and gain professional experience for 2+ years after graduation.
• High Quality of Life: Cities consistently rank among the world’s most liveable, offering excellent safety, infrastructure, and healthcare.
• Multicultural Environment: Highly diverse and inclusive society, making it welcoming and easy for international students to integrate.
• Work Rights While Studying: Students are allowed to work up to 48 hours per fortnight during studies and full-time during breaks to support living costs.
• Focus on Practical Skills: Courses often incorporate work-integrated learning, internships, and a strong emphasis on research and critical thinking.
• Vibrant Lifestyle: Unique outdoor lifestyle with access to stunning natural environments (beaches, parks, etc.) and a relaxed culture.
• Strong Student Support: Strict government regulations (ESOS Act) ensure high standards of support and welfare protection for international students.
• Scholarship Opportunities: Various government and university scholarships are available to reduce financial burdens.

Also Read: Things to Know Before Going to Study in Australia

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