Yes. Indian students can get scholarships in Australia, but most of the money comes from universities and research programs, not from the Australian Government’s best-known schemes.
A scholarship in Australia is a financial award that reduces or covers tuition fees, living costs, or both. Three groups of awards exist for Indian applicants:
Australian Government awards. These include Australia Awards, Maitri Scholarships and the Research Training Program (RTP).
University awards. These are mostly tuition reductions of 10% to 50%, with a few India-specific awards.
Research stipends. These fund PhD and research master’s students with a living allowance and a tuition offset.
Key facts for Indian applicants (October 2026)
Australia Awards for India is a master’s-level program. Its applications are closed at this time.
Destination Australia is discontinued. The government funded no new rounds after 1 July 2024.
Maitri Scholarships support Indian STEM PhD scholars, and universities nominate the scholars.
The Sydney Scholars India Scholarship offers 28 awards each year. Its 2026 round closed on 24 May 2026.
The RTP base stipend for 2027 is AUD 35,550 (about USD 24,900) per year for research students.
Which scholarships are open, closed or discontinued?
Only a few scholarships are open to new Indian applicants right now. Many popular lists still show closed or discontinued schemes as if they were available.
The table below audits the main schemes by status. Use it to avoid wasting months on a scheme that is not open.
Scheme
Funder
Level
Value
Status for Indian students (Oct 2026)
Australia Awards (India program)
Australian Government (DFAT)
Master’s
Full funding
Closed at this time; future rounds are posted on the India page
Australia Awards (2027 global round)
DFAT
Varies by country
Full funding
Closed 30 April 2026; India is not on the South Asia and Mongolia list
Destination Australia
Department of Education
Certificate IV to PhD (regional)
Up to AUD 15,000 per year
Discontinued; no new rounds after 1 July 2024
Maitri Scholarships
Centre for Australia-India Relations (DFAT)
PhD, STEM fields
Set by the Centre
University nomination only; the 2025-26 round closed 14 January 2026
Research Training Program (RTP)
Australian Government, via universities
Research master’s, PhD
Stipend plus tuition offset
Open through each university’s research rounds
Sydney Scholars India
University of Sydney
Undergraduate, postgraduate coursework
AUD 10,000 to 100% undergraduate tuition
2026 round closed 24 May 2026
Sydney Scholars India Equity
University of Sydney
Postgraduate coursework
Up to AUD 100,000 (about USD 70,000)
Nomination by ASHA; no direct application
ANU Chancellor’s International (India category)
Australian National University
Undergraduate, postgraduate coursework
25% tuition reduction
Considered with your admission application
UNSW Future of Change
UNSW Sydney
Undergraduate, postgraduate coursework
AUD 10,000 per year (about USD 7,000)
Considered with your admission application
Deakin India awards
Deakin University
Undergraduate, postgraduate
20% to 35% tuition reduction
Open for 2026-27 starters; check the Deakin India page
Australian Government scholarships: which ones apply to Indians?
Three government routes matter for Indians: Australia Awards (closed), Maitri Scholarships (nomination), and the Research Training Program (open through universities).
Australia Awards Scholarships
Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term development awards funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The scholarships cover full tuition, return airfare, an establishment allowance, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), a living-expense contribution and support services, according to Study Australia.
India’s position is split into two parts:
The regional round. The 2027 intake opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026. The South Asia and Mongolia program lists Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Mongolia. India is not on that list.
The India program. The Australian Government introduced a master’s-level Australia Awards program for India. The Australia Awards India page states that applications are closed at this time and that future opportunities will be published there.
Scholars must leave Australia for at least two years after finishing. The India page also states that no money is paid at any stage for an Australia Awards opportunity. Anyone asking for a fee is not offering a real award.
Maitri Scholarships
The Maitri Scholarships Program is run by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, part of DFAT. The program supports high-performing Indian scholars completing STEM-related PhDs at Australian universities.
Australian universities submit applications and nominate Indian citizens. An individual student cannot apply to the Centre directly. The 2025-26 round opened on 16 September 2025 and closed on 14 January 2026.
To pursue this route, contact the research office or a prospective supervisor at your target university. Ask whether the university participates in Maitri and how it selects nominees.
Research Training Program (RTP)
The Research Training Program is an Australian Government funding program that supports research master’s and PhD students at Australian universities. International students are eligible. Students do not apply to the government. They apply through the university’s research scholarship round.
The Department of Education sets stipend rates each year. The 2027 full-time base rate is AUD 35,550 (about USD 24,900), and the maximum rate is AUD 55,537 (about USD 38,900). Universities choose rates within that range. The University of Sydney lists AUD 44,293 (about USD 31,000) for its 2027 RTP stipend, plus relocation and thesis allowances.
Destination Australia (discontinued)
Destination Australia funded scholarships for students at regional campuses. The 2024-25 Budget announced no further funding rounds from 1 July 2024, as the Department of Education states. Treat any page that lists it as currently open with caution.
University scholarships for Indian students
University scholarships are the most realistic funding route for Indian coursework students, and most reduce tuition by 20% to 50% rather than cover every cost.
Some awards are India-specific, and others are open to all international students. India-specific awards often target Indian citizens who live in India at the time of application.
University
Award
Value
Who it targets
How you are considered
University of Sydney
Sydney Scholars India Scholarship
2 awards of 100% undergraduate tuition; 10 awards of AUD 20,000 (about USD 14,000); 16 awards of AUD 10,000 (about USD 7,000)
Indian citizens living in India
Separate online form and personal statement
University of Sydney
Sydney Scholars India Equity Scholarship
Up to AUD 100,000 (about USD 70,000)
One postgraduate student from a low socio-economic background
Nomination by ASHA
Australian National University
Chancellor’s International Scholarship, India category
25% tuition reduction
Indian undergraduate and postgraduate applicants
Academic merit when you apply for admission
UNSW Sydney
Future of Change Scholarship
AUD 10,000 per year for the minimum program duration
Indian citizens who are not Australian permanent residents
Considered with your admission application
Deakin University
India Postgraduate Bursary
20% of tuition for the full course
Indian postgraduate applicants
Check Deakin’s India page for the process
Deakin University
India Bursary and Merit Scholarship (July 2026 announcement)
Up to 30% (bursary) and up to 35% (merit)
Indian applicants
Check Deakin’s India page for the process
Verify before you rely on a value. The Sydney figures come from the University of Sydney’s scholarship page. The UNSW figure comes from UNSW’s 2024 scholarship listing. The Deakin July 2026 figures come from a press report of the university’s announcement. Confirm all values on the university’s current page.
Which scholarships are fully funded and which are partial?
Fully funded scholarships for Indians exist mostly in research degrees. Coursework awards usually fund part of the tuition.
A fully funded scholarship covers tuition and a living allowance. A partial scholarship reduces tuition only. Compare them this way:
Type
Typical examples
What it usually covers
Level
Fully funded
RTP stipend and fee offset; Maitri (PhD)
Tuition offset plus living stipend
Research master’s, PhD
Full tuition only
Sydney Scholars India (2 awards)
Tuition for an undergraduate degree
Undergraduate
Partial tuition
ANU, UNSW, Deakin India awards
20% to 50% of tuition or a fixed yearly amount
Undergraduate, postgraduate coursework
Who should apply and who should not apply
Apply if you are an Indian citizen with strong marks, a clear course choice, and a plan to meet visa costs. Do not apply if your plan depends on a closed scheme.
Who should apply
Class 12 graduates with strong results who want an Australian bachelor’s degree.
Graduates with high marks applying for postgraduate coursework at universities that run India-specific awards.
Research-minded students with a STEM background who can find a supervisor and apply for RTP or Maitri nomination.
Applicants with leadership or project experience, because personal statements count at Sydney.
Who should not apply
Anyone waiting for Australia Awards in 2027. The India program is closed at this time.
Anyone counting on Destination Australia. The program has no new rounds.
Anyone who has not applied for admission. Most awards depend on a university application.
Australian permanent residents. Sydney’s India scholarship excludes them.
Part-time students. Sydney ends the award if the recipient starts part-time study without approval.
Applicants who cannot fund the visa floor. A scholarship rarely removes visa and living-cost requirements.
Step-by-step application guide
Apply in a fixed order: choose a route, secure admission, submit any separate scholarship form, accept the offer on time, then use the offer in your visa file.
Choose your route. Decide between coursework and research. Research routes can lead to full funding. Coursework routes usually lead to partial funding.
Shortlist universities by scholarship fit. Note which awards are automatic and which need a separate form.
Check your English test. Confirm the accepted tests and minimum scores for your course.
Apply for admission. Most scholarships depend on your admission application.
Submit any separate scholarship form. Sydney’s 2026 India round opened on 1 April 2026 and closed on 24 May 2026. Prepare the personal statement before the window opens.
Accept offers by the deadline. Sydney rescinds an award if you do not accept the unconditional admission offer by the date in your scholarship offer letter.
Prepare visa evidence. Use the scholarship letter alongside proof of living costs and tuition.
Lodge the Subclass 500 visa. You need your Confirmation of Enrolment and a Genuine Student statement.
Timeline guide. Start about 12 months before your intake. February (Semester 1) is the largest intake, and July is the second. Complete applications submitted early are stronger than rushed ones.
Required documents explained
Most scholarship files need academic proof, English proof, a statement, and identity proof. Research applicants also need a proposal and supervisor support.
Document
Why it is needed
Common problem
Academic transcripts and degree certificates
Merit ranking is based on your results
Missing semester marksheets
English test result (IELTS, PTE or TOEFL)
Admission and visa evidence
Expired or below-requirement score
Passport and proof of Indian citizenship and residence
India-specific awards require both; Sydney asks for proof of residency
Name mismatches across documents
Personal statement or essay
Sydney selects partly on personal statements
Generic text with no specific goals
CV and references
Some universities request them
Referees who cannot comment on your work
Research proposal and supervisor support (research applicants)
Research awards rank research potential
No supervisor contacted before applying
Financial evidence for the visa
The visa needs living costs, tuition and travel
Funds that cannot be shown as genuinely accessible
Confirmation of Enrolment and OSHC
The student visa depends on both
Applying for the visa before receiving the Confirmation of Enrolment
Selection process explained
Selection is merit-based. Universities rank academic results, and some also weigh personal statements, leadership and research potential.
Sydney Scholars India. The award is based on academic merit, personal statements and your admission application. A selection committee appointed by the University of Sydney makes nominations. Awards depend on available funds.
ANU, UNSW and Deakin. These universities consider academic results as part of your admission application for their India awards.
RTP. Universities rank research applicants competitively on academic record and research potential.
Maitri. Universities nominate scholars. The Centre for Australia-India Relations decides funding.
Australia Awards. Selection weighs academic strength, leadership potential and commitment to development, based on the program’s published criteria.
Common mistakes applicants make
Most failures come from planning around closed schemes, missing separate forms, and ignoring visa costs.
Planning around Australia Awards or Destination Australia. Both are closed to new Indian applicants.
Assuming every “fully funded” list applies to India. Eligibility depends on nationality and level.
Missing the separate form. Sydney’s India scholarship needs its own application during a fixed window.
Ignoring ongoing conditions. Sydney requires a minimum semester average mark of 65, no suspension, and full-time study.
Holding two Sydney awards. Sydney terminates the India scholarship if the student accepts another Sydney scholarship worth more than AUD 10,000 per year.
Underestimating cash needs. A tuition reduction does not remove living-cost evidence.
Paying for a “guaranteed” scholarship. Australia Awards states no payment is part of its process.
Scholarships and the Subclass 500 student visa
A scholarship helps your visa file, but it does not replace the living-cost evidence the visa requires.
The Subclass 500 is Australia’s student visa. Applicants must satisfy the Genuine Student requirement, which replaced the older Genuine Temporary Entrant test on 23 March 2024. The Home Affairs Genuine Student page explains how it is assessed.
Current cost figures for planning:
Item
Amount
Visa application charge (from 1 July 2026)
AUD 2,500 (about USD 1,750)
Visa application charge (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026)
AUD 2,000
Living-cost benchmark for 12 months
AUD 29,710 (about USD 20,800)
Partner living costs
AUD 10,394
Child living costs
AUD 4,449 per child
Home Affairs generally accepts scholarships from recognised organisations as financial evidence. Where a scholarship covers tuition only, you still need separate evidence for living costs.
The 2027 National Planning Level is 295,000 new overseas student commencements, unchanged from 2026. Study Australia states the level is not a cap and that genuine students who meet visa requirements can still apply. Higher degree research students sit outside the Planning Level, which is another reason research routes are attractive.
Previous years’ trends
The trend is clear: government scholarships for Indians are narrowing, university awards are growing, and visa costs are rising.
Up to AUD 200,000 each for the first two winners in 2019
Two awards of 100% undergraduate tuition now
Australia Awards
Annual round, opens 1 February, closes 30 April
2027 round closed 30 April 2026; regional round reopens early 2027
Three patterns follow from the data:
Funding is moving toward universities. Government awards for Indians are limited, and university awards carry most of the volume.
Costs are rising faster than awards. The visa charge more than tripled between mid-2024 and mid-2026.
Research funding is the stable lane. RTP stipend rates have risen every year in the figures above.
Our research notes
These notes come from comparing the official pages and press reports used in this guide. They highlight gaps that many scholarship lists leave out.
Most Sydney India awards are small. Sixteen of the 28 awards (57%) are AUD 10,000. Only two (7%) cover full tuition, and both are for undergraduate degrees. Postgraduate applicants compete for the AUD 20,000 and AUD 10,000 tiers.
Check the payment schedule. The Sydney program page labels the AUD 20,000 and AUD 10,000 awards as first-year awards. The terms describe payments per semester after the census date. Confirm the schedule in your offer letter.
The visa cash floor is large. The living-cost benchmark (AUD 29,710) plus the visa charge (AUD 2,500) equals AUD 32,210, or about USD 22,500. That figure excludes tuition, health cover and flights.
Research is the cleanest path to full funding. RTP gives a stipend and a fee offset, and research students sit outside the National Planning Level.
List claims conflict. Some pages state that India is eligible for Australia Awards in 2027. The official regional page does not list India, and the India page says applications are closed. Trust the official pages.
Deadlines repeat in a pattern. Australia Awards ran 1 February to 30 April in the 2027 round. Sydney’s India scholarship ran 1 April to 24 May in 2026. Watch the same months next year, but confirm the new dates.
Frequently asked questions
1. Can Indian students get scholarships in Australia?
Yes. Indian students can receive scholarships from Australian universities, the Research Training Program, and India-specific awards such as the Sydney Scholars India Scholarship. Most awards reduce tuition by 10% to 50% rather than cover every cost. Fully funded packages exist mainly for research degrees, so match your study level to the scheme.
2. Are Indian students eligible for Australia Awards in 2027?
The 2027 regional round closed on 30 April 2026, and India is not on the South Asia and Mongolia country list. A separate master’s-level program for India exists, but its applications are closed at this time. Check the Australia Awards India page for future rounds, and never pay anyone for a place.
3. Is Destination Australia still open?
No. The Australian Government announced in the 2024-25 Budget that no further Destination Australia funding rounds would run from 1 July 2024. Some regional providers may still advertise their own awards, so check each provider’s scholarship page. Treat any list that shows Destination Australia as currently open with caution.
4. Which Australian university gives the highest scholarship to Indians?
No single university leads on every measure. The University of Sydney offers two awards covering full undergraduate tuition and an Equity Scholarship worth up to AUD 100,000 for one postgraduate student. ANU gives India-category applicants 25%, and Deakin lists up to 35%. The best value depends on your course and marks.
5. Are there fully funded scholarships in Australia for Indian students?
Yes, mainly for research. The Research Training Program pays a stipend and offsets tuition for PhD and research master’s students, and Maitri Scholarships fund Indian STEM PhD scholars through nominating universities. Coursework awards for Indians usually cover part of tuition, so fully funded coursework places are scarce and competitive.
6. Can I get a scholarship in Australia after Class 12?
Yes. Undergraduate applicants can receive awards such as the Sydney Scholars India Scholarship, which includes two full-tuition awards for undergraduate degrees. Several universities also consider your marks automatically when you apply for admission. Apply early, keep your results strong, and read each university’s undergraduate scholarship page for any separate form.
7. What is the Maitri Scholarship, and can I apply directly?
The Maitri Scholarships Program, run by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, supports high-performing Indian scholars in STEM-related PhD studies. Australian universities apply for funding and nominate scholars, so individuals cannot apply directly. Contact the research office or a prospective supervisor and ask whether the university participates in Maitri.
8. Do I need IELTS or PTE for Australian scholarships?
Most universities require an English test for admission, and scholarships depend on admission. Accepted tests commonly include IELTS, PTE Academic and TOEFL, but required scores differ by course and university. Check your course’s English entry requirement on the university website before you book a test, and confirm how long your result remains valid.
9. Can a scholarship count as financial proof for the student visa?
Often yes. Home Affairs generally accepts scholarships from recognised organisations as evidence of financial capacity. However, a tuition-only award does not meet the AUD 29,710 living-cost benchmark, so you still need separate funds for living costs, travel and health cover. Include the official scholarship letter alongside your bank or loan evidence.
10. When should I apply for scholarships for the 2027 and 2028 intakes?
Start about 12 months before your intake. Sydney’s India round ran from 1 April to 24 May in 2026, and Australia Awards rounds open on 1 February and close on 30 April. Most university merit awards are considered with your admission application, so submit complete applications early and track each university’s dates.
11. What marks or GPA do I need for an Australian scholarship?
No single cutoff applies. Universities rank academic results, so higher marks improve your chances. The University of Sydney requires a minimum semester average mark of 65 to keep its India scholarship. Deakin guidance cites a 65% average as a minimum guide for its international scholarship. Check your course’s entry marks, then aim above them.
12. Can I work while holding an Australian scholarship?
Student visa work rules apply regardless of any scholarship, but scholarship terms can add limits. Sydney, for example, requires full-time study, and part-time enrolment without approval ends the award. Check your visa conditions on the Home Affairs website and read your scholarship terms before you accept any job.
13. Did the Australian student visa fee increase in 2026?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, the standard Subclass 500 application charge rose from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500, about USD 1,750. The charge is not refunded if the visa is refused. Lodgement date decides the fee, so check the Home Affairs pricing page before you pay and budget for health cover and flights separately.
Conclusion
Scholarships in Australia for Indian students exist, but the open routes are narrower than most lists suggest. Australia Awards for India is closed at this time, and Destination Australia has ended. The practical choices today are university awards for coursework and the Research Training Program, with Maitri nominations for STEM PhDs.
Scholarships4 months ago
Scholarships3 months ago
By Country4 months ago
Scholarships4 months ago
By Country4 months ago
Scholarships3 months ago
Scholarships4 months ago
Scholarships3 months ago