What Are Australia Awards?
Australia Awards (formerly AusAID) are fully-funded scholarships funded by the Australian Government for citizens of developing countries including Nepal. They cover: full tuition, return airfare, living allowance (~AUD 32,000/year), establishment allowance, overseas health cover, and academic support costs.
Eligibility for Nepali Students
- Nepali citizen, not holding Australian PR
- Minimum 2 years post-undergraduate work experience
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) or equivalent
- Not currently in Australia or holding an Australian visa
Application Timeline
Applications open in February and close in April 30 each year. Results are announced in October–November. The scholarship starts in January/February the following year.
Selection Criteria
Leadership potential, academic excellence, alignment with the program's development impact priorities, and genuine capacity to contribute to Nepal's development after returning. Work experience in development-relevant sectors (education, health, governance, agriculture) is strongly favoured.
How to Write a Winning Personal Statement
Quantify your development impact. "I trained 40 health workers in rural Sindhupalchok" beats "I worked in public health." Connect every career step to Nepal's development needs. Be specific about your return plan — committees reject vague post-study plans.
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