Summary

The Australia Awards Africa Scholarship program combines Masters, Fellowships and Short Course opportunities to build skills and capabilities in key sectors, thereby contributing to social and economic development outcomes for African nations. Australia Awards directly support Australia's interests in the security, stability and prosperity of the African continent by strengthening African leadership and skills in fields such as climate change, agriculture and food security, climate change and adaptation, mining and energy, foreign policy and international security and gender, disability and social inclusion. We focus on those sectors where Australia and African nations have shared interests and where Australia has world-leading expertise to offer.

The Australia Awards Africa program promotes and supports Australian development and economic diplomacy objectives in a variety of ways:

• alumni apply their new skills to contribute to their country's development
• Australia is recognised and valued by African nations as a reliable partner and source of expertise, and
• relationships are formed between Australian and African people and organisations, creating enduring partnerships and future cooperation.

Australia Awards are open to high calibre, mid to senior level professional applicants from the public, private and community sectors (civil society).

Since 2004, over 4,000 scholars from African countries have studied in Australia under the Australia Awards scholarship program. This includes nearly 2,000 postgraduate scholars who have undertaken Masters and PhD degrees in Australia.

Australia Awards Alumni

Australia Awards alumni represent an engaged and influential global network of leaders, advocates and change-makers. The growing number of Australia Awards Africa alumni who have gained qualifications from Australian education institutions occupy influential positions in government, regional organisations, civil society and the private sector.

There are currently 24 alumni associations across Africa.

Benefits

Australia Awards Africa scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian education institution, including any preparatory training.

Scholarship recipients will receive:

• return air travel
• a one-off establishment allowance on arrival
• full tuition fees
• contribution to living expenses
• introductory academic program
• overseas student health cover for the duration of the scholarship
• supplementary academic support
• fieldwork allowance for research students and masters by coursework which has a compulsory fieldwork component

How to apply

Masters applications are usually open between January and April of each year. Current Masters intake information is available at Africa Australia Awards intake information.

Masters scholarship applications must be lodged online through the Online Australia Scholarships Information System (OASIS). You will need to register and establish your eligibility before submitting your application. Applicants must also meet country-specific conditions and provide relevant documentation to support their application.

Australia Awards Africa scholarship applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook.

Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disability and marginalised groups.

Selection process

Applications will be shortlisted after eligibility checking and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The selection process will include an interview.

Applicants will be assessed on:

• academic competence
• potential outcome, specifically the contribution to development outcomes in eligible countries of Africa
• professional and personal leadership attributes including relevant work experience.

Travel will be subject to meeting the requirements imposed by the Australian Government, as determined by the federal Department of Education, and must meet the requirements imposed by relevant state and territory governments.

More information

For enquiries relating to the application process, email: enquiries@australiaawardsafrica.org.

Additional information is also available at the Australian Awards Africa website.