Studying in Australia is an exciting and rewarding experience. An Australian education gives students a qualification that is recognised internationally.
To be offered a scholarship to undertake your education in Australia further adds on to the prestige of graduating from an Australian university, as well as assisting financially.
Cost of Study in Australia
According to statistics from Australian Education International, a government initiative, there were 631,935 enrolments from full-fees paying international students across various educational sectors in 2009.
A full-fee business and commerce undergraduate program in Australia is estimated to cost an average of $27,000 per annum. A science, medicine or engineering undergraduate programme averages at $30,300 per annum. This estimation is set to increase every year, though the increment is capped at a maximum of 7%.
What types of scholarships are available?
Various scholarships are offered by the Australian government, private organisations and education institutions to enable students to pursue their higher or postgraduate education in Australia.
Some universities and education institutions provide partial scholarships where international students only pay a percentage of their tuition fees for selected programs. Scholarships for Vocational Education programs are also offered by selected education institutions.
There are two main types of scholarships: merit-based scholarships and equity scholarships, which are awarded to students from developing countries who may not have the opportunities to undertake quality education in their home countries.
A majority of the merit-based and equity scholarships cover the tuition fees and materials cost for the duration of the course and general living expenses. Generally, scholarship holders are expected to maintain their grade point average to have their scholarships renewed annually.
How to apply for scholarships
Before applying for a scholarship, it is important to research the academic criteria, English language requirements and other conditions set by the scholarships sponsors. Different scholarships have different application deadlines and some scholarships panel would require you to submit essays, personal testimonials or undergo an interview or selection test.
To find out which are the most appropriate scholarships available to you, the Australian government maintains a scholarships database where existing scholarships by education institutions, private organisations and the Australian government are listed.