By Izza Imdad, Narr Contributor
What if getting a world class degree abroad didn’t drain your bank account — but actually came with tuition fee, financial support and most importantly, adventure of a lifetime? An experience free of stress of finding a job, living expenditures or student debts. It can be your reality if you secure an international scholarship. Australia facilitates this by having a perfectly established scholarship program for international students. Australia offers two main types of scholarships: institution-based and government-funded scholarships.
Government-Funded Scholarships in Australia
Australia Awards Scholarship — Government-funded scholarships are the most prestigious. It covers full tuition fees, return airfares, living allowance, health insurance, textbooks, and even pre-course English study. The scholarship is offered to students from developing nations and targets the development of future leaders.
The Destination Australia Scholarship — is an incentive for students to attend regional locations, with $15,000 per annum for living and study expenses. The Research Training Program (RTP) covers research students’ fees and, in most instances, a stipend for Master’s by Research and PhD students.
Research Training Program (RTP) —This category of scholarship is University-Specific, and it is offered by Australian universities directly. They can be awarded on academic merit, leadership, research ability, need, or area of study. For instance, the University of Sydney offers the Sydney International Student Award, and the University of Melbourne provides plenty of Graduate Research Scholarships which can consist of full fees and allowances for living. Most of the Australian major universities provide a number of scholarships to international students who are pursuing research and coursework degrees.
Where and How to Find Scholarships
Finding scholarships is easier than students expect. Begin at the Study Australia website for government scholarships, and then look at the scholarship page of individual universities for institution-funded awards. You can also contact the University postgraduate research office for inquiries. Carefully read the eligibility criteria, send your documentation in early, and have your applications in by the deadline—most scholarships open 6 to 12 months before the deadline.
The Application Journey: Hard But Worth It
Finding a scholarship may be a long and tedious process – full of forms, deadlines and endless hours spent on research and email, but trust me it will be worth every click and second of your time. Believe in yourself, keep applying, stalk university websites, and don’t be afraid to email professors with your proposals. In this journey, not giving is the secret ingredient. The day, when you step off the plane in Australia without spending millions in tuition fees- with your dreams becoming a reality, you will be able to say, “Yup, totally worth it Mate!”.
This article was written by Izza Imdad, a Pakistani student currently studying in Tasmania, Australia.
If you’re planning to study in Australia, you might also like to read What Pakistani Students Should Know Before Moving to Australia — a practical guide by Izza Imdad on what life is really like once you get there.
