Scholarships for Indian Students in Australia (2026 Guide)

Priyam Ghosh
February 26, 2026
10:00 am
8 min Read

Summary

This 2026 guide covers the most relevant scholarships for Indian students planning to study in Australia, including fully funded government programs like Australia Awards, Research Training Program (RTP) funding for Masters by Research and PhD students, and high-value university merit scholarships. It explains current updates on Destination Australia, how regional campuses can improve affordability, and how students can strategically “stack” scholarships to reduce tuition costs. The guide also outlines eligibility factors, key documents, common mistakes to avoid, and a practical timeline to maximize scholarship success for the 2026 intake.

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Australia is still one of the most popular study destinations for Indian students – but it’s also one of the costliest. The good news: scholarships are widely available across three big buckets:

Australian Government scholarships (highly competitive, often fully funded)
University scholarships (merit-based, faculty-based, destination-based)
Research scholarships (PhD / Masters by Research funding, stipends, fee offsets)

This guide focuses on the most relevant, currently active pathways and how Indian students can realistically win them.

Start here: the official scholarships directory (Australian Government)

Before you shortlist anything, use the Australian Government’s Study Australia scholarships hub to explore scholarship categories and pathways.

Why this matters: scholarship names, eligibility, and deadlines vary by university + intake + course level, so the official directory is the safest launchpad.

1) Australia Awards Scholarships (Fully funded, Government-backed)

If you’re targeting a high-prestige, fully funded scholarship (tuition + living + more), this is the flagship option.

What it typically covers

Australia Awards Scholarships are designed as a development-focused program and commonly include major costs (tuition, travel, living support—exact benefits depend on the award and country details).

Who should apply

Best fit for Indian applicants with:

strong academic track record
clear development or leadership goals
strong SOP outlining impact after returning

How to apply (official process)

Applications run through the official Australia Awards process; you must check your country-specific opening/closing dates and requirements.

Practical note: Australia Awards is extremely competitive—treat it like a “top-tier” application and apply to other scholarship layers in parallel.

2) Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) – for Research Masters / PhD

If you’re applying for a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) (Masters by Research or PhD), RTP is one of the biggest scholarship pathways in Australia.

Key points (official)

RTP supports research doctorate and research masters students (domestic + international).
You do not apply to the Department directly—you apply via the university.

What RTP usually includes

Depending on university package/award type, RTP scholarships can include:

tuition fee offset
living stipend (where applicable)
possible relocation/research support (varies by institution)

Example university RTP pages:

University of Sydney RTP scholarship info
University of Melbourne RTP scholarship info
ANU RTP stipend scholarship info

Winning tip (RTP): your research proposal + supervisor alignment often matter as much as grades. A strong fit with a research group can move the needle.

3) “Destination Australia” scholarships: what’s actually happening now

You may still see “Destination Australia” scholarships listed by some universities—but it’s important to understand the current policy.

Official update

The Australian Government announced no further funding rounds of the Destination Australia Program (DAP) from 1 July 2024. Existing recipients continue to be supported (up to four years, subject to eligibility).

What this means for Indian students in 2026

You may still find Destination-Australia-labelled scholarships at certain providers due to continuing commitments and previously funded cohorts.
Some universities also run regional campus scholarships that look similar in value and purpose.

Example: University of Queensland published Destination Australia scholarship terms for international students (Gatton campus) for 2025.

Actionable takeaway: If your goal is affordability, consider regional campuses—they often come with stronger scholarship availability and sometimes lower living costs.

Also read: Study in Australia with Expert Guidance

4) High-value university scholarships (the most realistic wins for most students)

For many Indian students, the most “winnable” scholarships are university-funded merit scholarships for coursework programs (UG/PG). These often work as:

automatic consideration based on marks, or
simple additional form + documents

Example: Macquarie University — India $10,000 Early Acceptance Scholarship

Macquarie offers an India $10,000 Early Acceptance Scholarship, open year-round, typically offsetting ~20–25% of annual tuition (as a fee reduction).

This type of scholarship is especially useful if you:

can accept offers early, and
want predictable savings across the course duration

Example: Monash - International Merit Scholarship

Monash lists an International Merit Scholarship designed to support international students (eligibility and award structure are set by Monash and can vary by intake).

How to use these effectively: shortlisting matters. Different universities are generous for different profiles—some reward grades, some reward portfolio, some reward specific faculties (IT, engineering, business), and some reward regional choices.

5) Where scholarships really come from (and how to “stack” them)

Most students don’t get one magical scholarship. They reduce costs by stacking:

Offer-based tuition scholarship (merit/early acceptance)
Faculty scholarship (for specific schools like Business, Engineering, IT)
Regional scholarship (for certain campuses)
Research scholarship (if HDR)

Many universities also list scholarships through national channels like StudyAssist’s scholarship guidance pages.

Eligibility: what Australian scholarship committees usually look for

While each scholarship is different, most decisions are driven by:

Academic merit

Strong grades in your highest qualification
Consistency (not just one strong semester)

English proficiency

IELTS / PTE / TOEFL results aligned to course and scholarship requirements

Profile fit

Why this course, why this university, why now
Clear post-study plan (especially for government-linked scholarships)

Extras that help a lot

internships, projects, publications (especially for research)
leadership roles, volunteering, competitions
a strong SOP that’s specific (not generic)

Quick Comparison: Top Scholarships for Indian Students in Australia (2026)

Scholarship Name	Funding Body	Study Level	Coverage	Typical Deadline / Notes
Australia Awards Scholarship	Australian Government	UG / PG / Research	Full tuition + living allowance + travel + OSHC	Applies for 2027 intake — opens Feb 1, closes Apr 30, 2026
Research Training Program (RTP)	Australian Government & Universities	PhD / Research Master’s	Full tuition offset + stipend + OSHC	Apply via universities — deadlines vary
Destination Australia Scholarship	Australian Government + Regional Unis	UG / PG	Tuition + regional living support	Regional focus; limited availability
Monash International Leadership Scholarship	Monash University	UG / PG	Up to 100% tuition fee waiver	Multiple rounds in early 2026
Macquarie University India Early Acceptance Scholarship	Macquarie University	UG / PG	~AUD 10,000/year off tuition	Open year-round (based on offer acceptance)
UNSW International Scholarships	UNSW Sydney	UG / PG	AUD 5,000–20,000/year or full tuition	Merit/need-based options
University of Sydney International Awards	University of Sydney	UG / PG	Up to AUD 40,000	Merit-based awards
Adelaide Global Excellence Scholarships	University of Adelaide	UG / PG	~50% tuition fee reduction	Varies by intake

Documents checklist (prepare once, reuse across scholarships)

Have these ready in a single Google Drive folder:

Passport
Academic transcripts + graduation certificates
IELTS/PTE/TOEFL scorecard
CV (Australia format preferred)
SOP / personal statement (base version + scholarship-tailored versions)
Letters of Recommendation (2 is common)
Portfolio (if relevant: design, architecture, media, etc.)
Research proposal + supervisor communication (for HDR/RTP)

Timeline: when to start for a 2026 intake

A clean timeline that works for most students:

6–10 months before intake: shortlist universities + build scholarship map
4–7 months: apply to universities early (many scholarships attach to offers)
3–6 months: scholarship forms + SOP polishing + LORs
2–4 months: finalize funding plan (scholarships + savings + loan if needed)

Common scholarship mistakes Indian students should avoid

Applying late (many scholarships are tied to early offers)
Using one generic SOP everywhere
Ignoring regional campuses (often more scholarship-heavy)
Not checking the “how to apply” rule (some are automatic; some require a separate application)
Not aligning course choice with scholarship category (especially for research funding)

How PFEC Global (India) can help

At PFEC Global, we typically support students with:

shortlisting scholarship-friendly universities based on your marks + budget
mapping scholarships by intake (so you don’t miss auto-consideration deadlines)
SOP/LOR strategy to improve scholarship odds
course + campus decisions (metro vs regional) to maximize affordability

If you share your target course, intake month, and highest qualification %/CGPA, we can turn this into a shortlist + scholarship map you can apply to immediately.