Australia offers a small but high-quality set of fully funded scholarship programmes for African postgraduate students. The flagship is the Australia Awards Africa Scholarship Program: a government-funded initiative that has placed thousands of African students in Australian universities since its inception.
Beyond the government programme, Australia's Group of Eight universities (Melbourne, ANU, Sydney, Monash, UQ, UNSW, Adelaide, and UWA) all have research scholarship programmes for international doctoral and master's students with strong academic records.
Australia's multicultural cities, English-language instruction, and relatively welcoming student visa process make it an attractive alternative to the UK and USA for African students who qualify.
The Australia Awards Africa Scholarship Program is funded by the Australian Government and administered through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It targets students from eligible African countries: the list changes annually but typically covers 30–35 Sub-Saharan African nations. The scholarship covers tuition, living allowance, return airfare, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and academic support costs. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required, and the programme prioritises candidates who work in development-relevant sectors.
The Student Visa (Subclass 500) allows full-time study in Australia. It is a straightforward process: you apply online after receiving your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your university. Scholarship holders are assessed as low financial risk because the scholarship confirms their funding. You must also show evidence of English proficiency (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) and health clearance. Processing typically takes 4–6 weeks. Australia operates a biometrics requirement for most African nationalities.
Australian universities offer Research Training Programme (RTP) scholarships, a federal government-funded scheme that covers tuition fees and provides a living stipend (approximately AUD$32,500 per year). These are awarded at the university's discretion to top international applicants for PhD and research master's programmes. Universities like Melbourne, ANU, and Monash additionally top up RTP scholarships with faculty-specific awards, resulting in total packages of AUD$35,000–$45,000 per year.
Eligible countries change each year. Consistently included countries include Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Malawi, among others. Nigeria and South Africa are sometimes excluded or have separate allocation processes. Always check the current year's DFAT eligibility list on the official Australia Awards website.
Australian universities typically look for a GPA of 3.4–3.5 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to a first-class or upper second-class degree from most African universities). The ANU, Melbourne, and Sydney have higher bars and expect top percentile performance. Having published research papers or strong supervisor recommendations can compensate for a GPA just below the threshold.
Australia and the UK both offer strong academic programmes in English. Australia has better post-study work rights and a relatively clear skilled migration pathway. The UK has more prestigious scholarships (Rhodes, Gates Cambridge) and a stronger brand globally. Australia is generally warmer, less competitive for scholarships, and has a growing African diaspora community, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney.
The Australia Awards Africa scholarship includes a dependant allowance if you have a partner or children. Your dependants can join you in Australia on a Student Dependent visa. This is one of the more generous provisions in the scholarship world, though the allowance does not cover all costs of bringing a family.
Yes. From 2023, there is no limit on working hours for international students in Australia (previously capped at 48 hours per fortnight during term). However, scholarship conditions vary, some programmes discourage full-time work to protect academic performance. Check your scholarship terms. Work authorisation is included automatically in your Student Visa.
Last updated: April 2026. Find scholarships on StudiePoint AI →