FAQ

The Australian Government has appointed Palladium International as the Managing Contractor of Australia Awards Africa.  Palladium is responsible for the administration and logistical management of the Australia Awards Africa program. If you have a specific question that is not addressed on the website, please contact Palladium by directing your queries to .

Australia Awards Africa supports master’s degrees in the following priority sectors:

• Climate change
• Agriculture and food security
• Mining and energy
• Foreign policy and international security
• Gender, disability and social inclusion.

Applicants may chose to select any masters level course at a qualifying institution Australia Awards—Participating Institutions | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au).

Applications in any other field of study will not be considered.  Applicants must also have five years post-graduate work experience in one of the fields listed above to be eligible to apply.

The following website may be helpful for you to research an appropriate degree: https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/

Currently, the Australia Awards program offers:

• Australia Awards Scholarships
• Short Course Awards

For more information on the types of Awards, go to https://australiaawardsafrica.org/awards/types-of-awards/

The Australia Awards Africa program does not support primary or secondary studies.

Australia Awards Scholarships are only offered to selected candidates to undertake postgraduate studies. Candidates applying must already hold a Bachelor’s degree.

PhD scholarships are currently not offered under the Australia Awards program.

Applications opened on 1 February 2024 and will close on 30 April 2024.

On the Australia Awards Africa website, click on the “Apply for an Award” button. to check your eligibility. If you meet the eligibility criteria for your country, and if applications are open you will be directed to the online platform where you will be able to complete your application.

You can only apply for a scholarship if you are a citizen of an eligible country, and you meet the eligibility criteria. 

The following countries are eligible for the current round of applications:

Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Yes, you may apply if you meet the eligibility criteria for an award, however, it will not guarantee that you will be awarded an Australia Awards Scholarship. You are, however, not required to have an offer of admission to apply for the scholarship. Should you be successful in receiving an Australia Awards Scholarship, the program will apply to your university of choice in Australia, on your behalf.

Australia Awards Scholarships

Entitlements include the following: 

• The full costs of tuition fees for up to two years 
• An economy class flight to and from Australia. Note: Excess baggage and travel insurance charges are not covered 

• An approximate annual stipend of AUD34,500 to cover living expenses while in Australia (note this is NOT a lump sum payment)
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which covers basic medical costs 
• A once-off Establishment Allowance of AUD5,000 to assist with the costs of starting life in Australia and commencing the course (e.g., course books and materials, rental deposits, household items, etc.) 
• Scholars, whose families remain in their home country, may be entitled to a reunion airfare allowing them to travel home, midway through the course. This is only available to scholars whose course is for two years or longer. 

Short Course Awards

Entitlements include the following: 

• The full costs of tuition fees for the duration of the course 
• Mobilisation travel from the home country to the course delivery location(s), and return to the home country Note: Excess baggage and travel insurance charges are not covered 
• Visa expenses 
• A modest per diem 

• Accommodation 
• Medical insurance for the duration of the short course. 

Australia Awards offers support to all women, particularly those who may face difficult circumstances or barriers to their full participation in the program. This support is offered at all award stages. Women who believe that they may need support should discuss their requirements with their Palladium   Awards Officer early in the process.  For more information on the support provided to women, go to “Approach to Gender Equality”. 

The Australian Government’s strategies provide a framework that ensures equal opportunities for women to participate in all Australia Award Activities. 

The Australian Government’s strategies Promoting Opportunities for All: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and Australian Aid: Promoting Prosperity, Reducing Poverty, Enhancing Stability provide a framework that ensures equal opportunities for women to participate in all Australian aid programs. Australia Awards is keen to ensure that women participate equally in the program and have equal opportunities to benefit from the Awards. Women are encouraged to apply and will be supported, as applicable, at all stages of the scholarship.

In addition, the Women in Leadership Network, which comprises female alumni, has been established to support those women wishing to participate. The network also gives peer support to female scholars. For more details, please email

Successful candidates of the Australia Award Scholarships can apply for their spouse and children to join them in Australia by applying for dependent visas. This is usually only possible after scholars arrived in Australia, commenced their course and with the approval of the University.  The program will explain the entire process during the Pre-departure Briefing.

It is important to note that Australia Awards does not provide additional financial support for scholars’ family to travel to or live in Australia.

Short Course Awards participants cannot apply for a visa for their dependents.

Australia Awards scholars are required to attend a Pre-Departure briefing, usually held in October of the year before they go to Australia. This briefing provides essential information and advice about living and studying in Australia. These events are held in a number of locations across Africa. The program will cover the cost of one’s attendance if the event is not held in one’s home city. Spouses are encouraged to attend the pre-departure briefings. However, this will be at their own cost. 

Short Course Awards participants are encouraged to read all the pre-departure material that they are sent by the training provider, research host institution in Australia, or Palladium. 

Scholars with a disability or chronic illness, as well as pregnant individuals, are encouraged to notify Palladium before mobilising to Australia. This will ensure that the required information and support is provided while in Australia. 

In addition, scholars are encouraged to conduct their own research on life in Australia.  

Australia Awards receives a large number of scholarship applications. We are only able to provide general feedback and will not be in a position to provide individual feedback to applicants.