Scholarship for Indian Students in Australia 2026: Types, Benefits & Eligibility

Australia is one of the top study abroad destinations Indian students choose for higher studies. However, the living and cost of studying in Australia can be expensive. 

There are many scholarships for in Australia available for Indian students who will fulfill the requirements. These are offered by the Australian government, universities, and private groups, and they cover full or partial expenses. 

Some student scholarships to study in Australia even pay for both tuition and living costs. To apply for Australian scholarships for Indian students, students need good marks, English skills, some work experience, and Indian citizenship. This article will explain the benefits, eligibility, and how to apply.

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• Bachelor of Information Technology
• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Business Analytics

Australian Scholarships for Indian Students 2026

India is the second-largest source country for international students in Australia. Advanced courses, technological superiority, research opportunities, and improved lifestyle have attracted many Indian students.

Meanwhile, the high cost of studying in Australia is the most common barrier for Indian students. The estimated cost of living in Australia is around 221.2% higher than in India. Additionally, the cost of education is also comparatively higher for Indian students. 

Australia provides multiple scholarship opportunities for Indian students who wish to study there. Various educational institutions, including government agencies and universities, together with private organizations, offer the Australian scholarships for Indian Students 2026. 

Scholarships at Australian institutions accept student applications through merit-based or financial need assessment. A few industry-specific and diversity scholarships are also available for Indian students, however, their number is very small. 

Here’s the list of top Scholarship for Indian Students in Australia:

• Australian Government Research and Training Program (AGRTP)
• Australia Awards Scholarships
• John Allwright Fellowship (JAF)
• Maitri Scholarships
• University-specific scholarships

Also Read: How do scholarships work in Australia?

Fully Funded Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students

Can you get a 100% scholarship in Australia? Yes! Indian students can get a 100% scholarship in Australia to pursue higher education. 

The Australian government allocates approximately AUD 200 million each year for fully-funded scholarship benefits for international students.

The fully funded scholarship in Australia covers total education and living costs for international students. This includes the tuition fees, study resources, exam fees, accommodation, travel, health, and more.  

The fully-funded Australian scholarships for international students are offered to students pursuing a full-time master's, undergraduate, and PhD in the country. The amount and duration of the scholarships can vary depending on the type of program. Here’s a list of the top fully-funded scholarships in Australia offered to Indian students pursuing full-time courses from top Australian universities. 

Top Fully Funded Scholarship in Australia for Indian Students

Name of Scholarship	Offered By	Scholarship Amount
Australian Government Research and Training Program (AGRTP)	Australian Government	AUD 36,652 per annum
Australia Awards Scholarships	Department of Education and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT)	Full tuition fees and other allowances
John Allwright Fellowship (JAF)	Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)	PhD and master’s scholarships on an annual basis
Maitri Scholarships	Centre for Australia-India Relations	Full tuition fees and other allowances
University-specific scholarships	Founded by Universities	Full tuition fees and other allowances

The fully funded scholarships offered by Australia support all students' living and educational expenses. Let’s discuss various fully-funded Australian scholarships available for Indian students in detail:

Australian Government Research and Training Program (AGRTP)

This is a popular scholarship for Indian students in Australia. The scholarship is funded by the Australian Government for Research Doctorate and Research master’s degree students. AGRTP covers full tuition fees and health insurance for the candidates for up to three years. The university automatically considers eligible candidates based on their admission application. 

Entry requirements for the Australian Government Research and Training Program for Indian students are as follows:

• Candidates must have a valid Indian citizenship.
• Students must have an excellent academic background.
• A full-time doctoral program in Australia from a recognised university.
• The candidates must demonstrate their English language proficiency through IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.

Also Read: How to Study in Australia from India?

Australia Awards Scholarships

It is a long-term award funded by the Department of Education and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) for international students. 

The benefits of Australia Awards Scholarships are as follows:

• Full tuition fees for the duration of the studies
• Return air travel–payment (economy class)
• Establishment allowance (accommodation expenses, textbooks, study materials)
• Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE)
• Introductory Academic Program (IAP)
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
• Pre-course English (PCE) fees
• Supplementary academic support
• Fieldwork expenses within Australia or to the home country of the student

How to Apply: Students must register on the relevant OASIS portal or directly send mail to the administrative body to apply for the Australia Awards 2026. Visit the participating countries page and select your country to confirm eligibility, priority areas, and application dates. 

John Allwright Fellowship (JAF)

The Application Deadline for the John Allwright Fellowship (JAF) is 30 April 2026. Register online via the Online Australia Scholarships Information System (OASIS) to apply for the JAF in 2027.

The John Allwright Fellowship (JAF) is offered to PhD and master’s students studying in Australia. It is a merit-based program. The fellowship is offered by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). It is offered annually to candidates enrolled in full-time courses in Australia. Eligible candidates of the John Allwright Fellowship (JAF) are required to sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia, agreeing to their terms and conditions. Scholars must leave Australia for at least two years after completing their studies. If they don't, they must repay the full scholarship amount. 

The benefits of the John Allwright Fellowship (JAF) are as follows:

• Full tuition fees
• Return air travel–payment (economy class)
• Establishment allowance (accommodation expenses, textbooks, study materials)
• Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE)
• Introductory Academic Program (IAP)
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
• Pre-course English (PCE) fees
• Supplementary academic support
• Fieldwork expenses within Australia or to the home country of the student
• JAF Support Facility (JSF) - Additional pastoral care and facilitating networking events.
• JAF scholars also get Australia Awards

John Allwright Fellowship (JAF) 'Eligibility Requirements:

• Citizenship of India/ permanent residency in Australia
• Candidates who have applied for a visa to live in Australia permanently
• Proof of endorsement by the current employer, primary supervisor, and ACIAR Project Leaders
• The candidate should be employed in Australia on a permanent or long-term contract basis
• Candidates who are actively involved in an ACIAR research project or small research activity (within the last 24 months)
• The candidate must hold an academic background of an Australian Bachelor's degree relevant to the field
• Students who have/ have been appearing for an English language testing program, i.e., IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or others

Maitri Scholarships

The Maitri Scholarships Program is offered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations to high-performing Indian scholars. This scholarship is introduced to deepen the economic ties between Australia and India through educational links. Maitri scholarships are provided to meritorious Indian students who wish to study postgraduate Higher Degree by Research (HDR) – Master's (by research) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies in STEM-related fields in Australia. 

Maitri Scholarships Eligible Courses:

• Advanced Manufacturing 
• Critical Technology 
• Life Sciences  
• Medical Technology  
• Critical Minerals
• Clean Energy Solutions.

The eligibility criteria of Maitri Scholarships for Indian students are as follows:

• An Indian citizen
• Candidates must be enrolled in an Australian university
• An eligible Higher Degree by Research (HDR)
• A valid Australian Student (subclass 500) visa 

Important Dates: 

The application cycle for the Maitri Scholarship 2025–2026 intake has concluded. As of 2026, official registration dates for the 2026–2027 intake have not yet been announced. Eligible candidates should check the official website regularly for the 2026-2027 intake. 

Date	Event
Typically around September 2026	Applications open
Usually November 2026	Deadline for submission of applications at 5:00 pm AEDT
January–February of the following year (2027)	Successful proposals selected, proceeding to due diligence and contracting
Begins around May	Implementation begins

University-specific Scholarships in Australia

Indian students can also apply for university-specific scholarships in Australia. These scholarships are offered by the universities to enroll deserving candidates in popular Australian courses. The university-specific scholarships are generally available for both undergraduate and master’s programs. A few universities also offer doctoral scholarships to their potential candidates. These scholarships generally offer full coverage for the educational and living expenses of students. 

There are a total of 9 Australian universities that are ranked among the top 100 universities in the world. Most of these universities that accept Indian students offer a wide range of scholarship opportunities. Here are some top university-specific scholarships in Australia for Indian students in 2026-2027:

Which top Australian universities offer scholarships for Indian students?

Apart from the national scholarships, some top Australian universities offer their own 'specific' scholarships. These University-specific Scholarships are not less than the famous scholarships since they are also very beneficial in quite many ways.

University	Scholarship Name	Amount
The University of Sydney	Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarships Scheme	Up to AUD 40,000
University of Melbourne	Graduate Research Scholarships	100% fee remission + up to AUD 135,000
Australian National University	ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship	Tuition fee for the entire study period
University of Queensland	UQ Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship	AUD 12,000 per year, up to 5 years for an undergraduate program
University of Western Australia	Global Excellence Scholarship	Up to AUD 48,000 over 4 years (Undergraduate)
University of Technology Sydney	Vice-Chancellor’s International Postgraduate Coursework Scholarship	Full tuition scholarship for the standard course duration
Monash University	International Study Grants for 2026	AUD 10,000
Macquarie University	Vice Chancellor's International Scholarship	Up to AUD 10,000 for academic excellence
University of Adelaide	Global Citizens Scholarship	Undergraduate & Postgraduate scholarships
Griffith University	Vice Chancellor's International Scholarship	Tuition fee coverage

Scholarship in Australia: Eligibility for Indian Students

The eligibility requirements to get Australian scholarship vary for each type of scholarship. The common requirements to get scholarship for Indian students in Australia are: 

• The minimum educational qualification to apply for any particular scholarship.
  • Undergraduate Scholarships in Australia: A high school diploma 
  • Master’s Scholarships in Australia: A bachelor's degree
  • PhD Scholarships in Australia: A master’s degree in the relevant field of study
• The English language proficiency must be demonstrated through exams like IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE.
• There are no particular age limits to apply for scholarships in Australia. As it can vary for different scholarships and types of programs.
• Candidates must enroll in a full-time program in a participating Australian university.
• For merit-based scholarships, high academic performance is mandatory. 
• Candidates must hold an Australian study visa.

Documents Required To Apply for Scholarships in Australia

Here’s the list of documents required to apply for scholarships in Australia for Indian students:

• Completed scholarship application form
• Copy of your passport/ID
• Recommendation letter
• Copy of your academic transcripts/diplomas
• Proof of your language proficiency, like an IELTS test
• Statement of purpose
• Required test scores (SAT, ACT, GRE, GPA)

How to Get a Scholarship in Australia for Indian Students?

Follow the below-mentioned step-by-step guide to apply for the Australian scholarships for Indian students:

• Step 1: Look for various scholarship for Indian students in Australia that match your academic goals and requirements. Some popular Australian scholarships for Indian students include Australia Awards, Maitri Scholarships, university-specific scholarships, etc.
• Step 2: Check specific eligibility criteria and required documentation for each scholarship in Australia. 
• Step 3: Prepare necessary documents in advance.
• Step 4: Australia accepts both online and offline scholarship requests from Indian students. 
  • Online Application: Most scholarships in Australia accept online applications through numerous scholarship portals. Create and log in to the official online portal using a valid username and password to fill out the application form. Attach the necessary documents with the application form and submit it before the deadline 
  • Offline Application: Fill out the application form and submit it via mail along with the mandatory documents. 
• Step 5: Many Australian scholarships ask for a formal interview to evaluate the skills and eligibility of students. Attend scholarship interviews and wait for the final result. 
• Step 6: Regularly check the official scholarship portal to follow up on your application.
• Step 7: Accept the scholarship for Indian students in Australia offer letter if selected.

Conclusion

Australia is opening its doors wider than ever for talented Indian students, and scholarships are your ticket to make the most of it. But scholarships don’t just land in your lap by magic. You have to fulfill the scholarship requirements to study in Australia. 

The earlier you start researching, preparing, and applying, the better your chances are.

So don’t wait for "the right time" — start today. Explore all the options available, put in your best effort, and you could be on your way to studying at a world-class university, without emptying your or your family's savings.

And if you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek expert help. Upgrad has experienced counselors who can guide you through the whole application maze — from picking the right scholarship to acing the final interview.