Scholarships for Vietnamese Students in Australia 2026/2027

Vietnamese students are one of the largest international student groups in Australia, and the scholarship landscape for 2026/2027 is unusually strong. The Australian Government runs a dedicated, fully funded master’s programme for Vietnam through Australia Awards Scholarships, the Vietnamese Government’s Project 89 co-funds PhD study with Australian universities, and every Australian university offers research scholarships built on the Research Training Program (RTP) that are open to Vietnamese applicants on merit. This guide brings all of those routes together in one place: what each scholarship covers, who is eligible, when applications open and close, and how a Vietnamese applicant can realistically maximise their chances.

Everything in this article has been checked against official sources — the Australia Awards Vietnam country programme, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and official Australian university scholarship pages. Where a figure applies to a specific intake year, we say so, because scholarship amounts and closing dates change between cycles. You can also browse the full StudyGraduate scholarships directory to compare these awards with options in other countries.

Scholarships for Vietnamese Students in Australia at a Glance

Two important framing points before we go further. First, Australia Awards in Vietnam funds master’s degrees only in the current programme design — Vietnamese applicants who want a funded bachelor’s or PhD need the university and Project 89 routes described below. Second, one programme you may see mentioned on older websites, Destination Australia, is closed: Australian Government funding for it ceased on 1 July 2024 and it is not open to new applicants. Do not build an application plan around it.

1. Australia Awards Scholarships for Vietnam

Australia Awards Scholarships are the Australian Government’s flagship awards, managed by DFAT. Vietnam is a long-standing participating country — the Australian Embassy in Hanoi notes that more than 7,500 scholarships have been awarded to Vietnamese nationals since 1974. For the intake commencing in 2027, applications for master’s study opened on 1 February 2026 and closed at 11:00 am (Vietnam time) on 30 April 2026. The programme runs on the same annual rhythm, so applicants targeting the next intake should expect a February opening and an end-of-April closing, and confirm the exact dates on the Australia Awards Vietnam website when they are published.

Eligibility for Vietnamese applicants

According to the official Australia Awards Vietnam eligibility criteria, you must:

• Be a Vietnamese citizen, residing in Vietnam and applying from Vietnam.
• Not hold Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, and not be married to, engaged to, or de facto partner of someone who does.
• Have completed a formal (“chính quy”) undergraduate degree.
• Have at least 24 months of relevant full-time work experience in Vietnam (measured as of 30 April 2026 for the 2027 intake). Applicants from disadvantaged rural backgrounds and people with disability need at least 12 months of full-time experience (or 24 months part-time for people with disability).
• Commit to returning to work in Vietnam for at least two years after completing your course.
• Not be applying for a degree at a level lower than one you already hold (for example, you cannot apply for a master’s scholarship if you already hold a PhD).
• Meet the English language requirement for your applicant category (see below).

English requirements are set by applicant group on the official Vietnam country profile. For example, applicants from Vietnamese NGOs and the private sector needed IELTS Academic 6.0 with no sub-band below 5.5 (or TOEFL iBT 73 / PTE Academic 51 equivalents) for the 2027 intake, while applicants from international NGOs needed IELTS 6.5 with no sub-band below 6.0. Test certificates had to be dated on or after 1 January 2025 and submitted by the closing date — late certificates are not accepted. Always check the current country profile, because these thresholds are intake-specific. Our test preparation guides can help you plan your IELTS timeline around the February–April window.

Priority fields

Australia Awards Vietnam prioritises fields aligned with Vietnam’s development needs, including agriculture, fisheries and forestry; digital transformation and ICT; education; environment, climate change and energy; governance and economic growth; gender equality, disability and social policy; health; and regional stability and human rights. Other fields (the country programme has excluded business administration, medicine and pharmacy in recent cycles) may be considered on merit. Women, people with disability and applicants from disadvantaged groups are actively encouraged.

Australia Awards Mekong–Australia Partnership (AA-MAP)

From 2026, additional master’s scholarships for Vietnam are funded through the Mekong–Australia Partnership. AA-MAP is open to citizens of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, in thematic areas such as water security, climate action, gender equality, disability equity and social inclusion, combatting transnational crime, and economic resilience and subregional integration. Scholars also join the Mekong Leaders Network. Applications run through the same Australia Awards country process and window.

2. Project 89: Vietnam Government PhD Scholarships with University Top-Ups

Project 89 is the Vietnamese Government’s national programme (administered with the Ministry of Education and Training, MoET) to train the next generation of university lecturers and researchers. For study in Australia, Project 89 operates through joint scholarships with partner universities — this is verifiable today on the official scholarship pages of Monash University, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australian Catholic University (ACU) and Macquarie University, all of which currently advertise Project 89 awards.

The funding model is consistent across partners. For onshore study in Australia, the Vietnamese Government provides (2026 rates published by Monash and ACU):

• Tuition fee support of up to USD 25,000 per year.
• A living stipend of USD 1,120 per month.
• An international return airfare and travel allowances.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) support of up to USD 1,000 per year.

Because Australian PhD tuition usually exceeds USD 25,000 a year, the partner university closes the gap: Monash, UTS, ACU and Macquarie each commit to covering the difference between the Project 89 contribution and the full tuition fee, and to topping the stipend up towards their institutional research stipend rate (ACU, for example, tops up to the RTP rate of AUD 34,315 per year for 2026). Support is for a maximum of about 3.5 years at Monash and UTS. Priority research areas at Monash include digital technologies, physics, biotechnology, and energy and environment.

Eligibility generally requires Vietnamese citizenship, admission (or eligibility for admission) to the partner’s PhD — Macquarie also offers a Master of Research pathway — meeting the university’s English requirements, and approval through the Vietnamese Government’s Project 89 nomination process. Because nomination runs through MoET and your home institution, start conversations with your university in Vietnam early; the university scholarship page alone is not the whole application.

3. Research Training Program (RTP) and University Research Scholarships

The Research Training Program is the Australian Government’s block funding scheme for research degrees, administered by each university through competitive rounds. It is open to all nationalities, including Vietnamese students, and it is the single most realistic fully funded route for a Vietnamese PhD or master’s by research applicant who is not a government nominee. An RTP package typically includes a tuition fee offset for the standard duration of the degree and a living stipend. The government base stipend rate is AUD 34,315 per year in 2026 and AUD 35,550 per year in 2027; many universities set their institutional rate above the base, so check the rate on the specific university page.

In practice, each university bundles RTP funding with its own named scholarships — for example the graduate research scholarships at the University of Melbourne, research scholarships at the University of Sydney, and research training scholarships at the University of Queensland. The application is usually combined: you apply for admission to the research degree and indicate scholarship consideration, providing a research proposal and, at most universities, evidence that a prospective supervisor supports your project. You can compare these institutions in our university rankings section before shortlisting.

4. University International Coursework Scholarships

For bachelor’s and coursework master’s study, Australian universities offer a wide range of international student scholarships. Most are partial tuition-fee discounts rather than full funding, and many are awarded automatically on academic merit when you apply for admission. A smaller number of competitive awards cover larger shares of tuition. Because values, eligible countries and renewal conditions change every year, treat any percentage you see on third-party websites with caution and confirm it on the university’s own scholarship page for your intake. A partial scholarship still leaves you needing to meet the Australian student visa financial capacity requirement for the remaining tuition and living costs, so budget honestly — and never pay an agent who promises you a “guaranteed” full scholarship for coursework study.

A Note on Visas and Costs for Self-Funded Semesters

Scholarship holders still need an Australian student visa, and the Department of Home Affairs assesses financial capacity for tuition and living costs not covered by funding. If you are combining a partial coursework scholarship with family funds, prepare evidence early: scholarship offer letters stating exactly what is covered, and financial documents for the remainder, in the format Home Affairs currently specifies on its student visa pages. Figures for the financial capacity requirement are updated by the Australian Government from time to time, so check the current amount on the official Home Affairs website rather than relying on blog posts — including older StudyGraduate content. Fully funded Australia Awards scholars are supported through the programme’s own mobilisation process, and Project 89 scholars should confirm with their partner university which costs (such as OSHC for dependants, if any) fall outside the joint package before accepting.

Benefits: What the Main Scholarships Actually Cover

How to Apply: Step by Step

For Australia Awards (Vietnam)

1. Check the country profile. Read the current intake information on the Australia Awards Vietnam website: eligible applicant categories, priority fields, GPA and English requirements for your employer group, and the exact opening and closing dates.
2. Choose your courses. Select up to the permitted number of Australian master’s courses that match the priority fields. Use the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to confirm course details.
3. Prepare your English test early. If your category requires a certificate at application, sit IELTS, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic in time for the result to be issued before the closing date; certificates dated before the validity start date (1 January 2025 for the 2027 intake) are not accepted.
4. Apply online through OASIS. Australia Awards applications are lodged through the Online Australia Scholarships Information System (OASIS). Compile supporting documents into single PDFs by category, in colour, legible and in the right order, as the country instructions require.
5. Shortlisting and interview. Shortlisted applicants complete further assessment, which may include an English test funded by DFAT and a panel interview focused on leadership, development impact and your plan after returning to Vietnam.
6. Await the outcome and mobilise. Successful applicants sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia, obtain their student visa, and attend pre-departure briefings and the Introductory Academic Program on arrival.

For Project 89 and university research scholarships

1. Confirm your nomination path. For Project 89, speak to your Vietnamese university and check MoET’s current nomination requirements; you need government approval as well as university admission.
2. Find a supervisor. For PhD and research master’s applications, identify potential supervisors whose research matches your proposal and contact them with a focused research outline and CV.
3. Apply for admission and scholarship together. Follow the partner university’s graduate research application process and its scholarship round deadlines — rounds typically close several months before each intake.
4. Meet English requirements. Research degrees have faculty-set English thresholds; plan your test so the score is valid at enrolment.

Required Documents

• Passport (identity page) and, for Australia Awards, evidence of Vietnamese citizenship and residency.
• Degree certificate(s) and full academic transcripts — with certified English translations where the originals are in Vietnamese.
• English language test certificate (IELTS, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic) meeting the requirement for your category or course.
• Curriculum vitae showing your work history — Australia Awards applicants must evidence the required months of relevant full-time work experience in Vietnam.
• Employment evidence: contracts or employer letters confirming roles, dates and duties.
• Referee reports from people who can speak to your academic ability, leadership and development potential.
• Research proposal (research degrees and Project 89) and evidence of supervisor support where required.
• Development impact statement: Australia Awards assesses how your chosen course connects to Vietnam’s priority areas and what you will do with it on return.

Deadlines and Timeline

Selection Criteria: How to Improve Your Chances

Fit the priority fields honestly. Australia Awards Vietnam is a development programme, not a general study grant. Applications that connect a specific course to a named priority area — say, climate adaptation in the Mekong Delta or digital government services — and to a realistic post-return role are far stronger than generic “study abroad” narratives.

Evidence your work experience. The 24-month work requirement is a hard eligibility rule, and assessors look for progression and relevance. Keep employer letters precise about dates and duties; gaps you cannot document weaken an otherwise strong file.

Treat English as a selection factor, not a formality. Meeting the minimum for your category gets you considered; exceeding it — and meeting your target university’s higher course requirement — removes a common reason for rejection at placement stage.

For research scholarships, the proposal is the application. A tight research question, a supervisor who has agreed to support you, and outputs (publications, conference papers, research employment) matter more than GPA alone. Our study abroad guides include advice on contacting supervisors and structuring proposals.

Plan the return story. Both Australia Awards and Project 89 exist to build capacity in Vietnam. A credible, specific plan for what you will do in Vietnam afterwards — employer, sector, problem you will work on — is central to selection.

Common Mistakes Vietnamese Applicants Make

• Missing the 11:00 am closing time. The Australia Awards Vietnam deadline is late morning Vietnam time on 30 April, not midnight. OASIS congestion on the final day is a real risk — submit days early.
• Submitting an out-of-date English certificate. Certificates must fall inside the validity window stated for the intake and be submitted by the closing date; they cannot be added afterwards.
• Applying for the wrong level. Australia Awards Vietnam funds master’s degrees. Bachelor’s applicants and PhD applicants who apply anyway are screened out — use the university scholarship and Project 89 routes instead.
• Choosing a non-priority course. A course outside the priority fields, without a strong merit case, rarely survives shortlisting.
• Believing Destination Australia is still open. It closed to new applicants when funding ceased on 1 July 2024.
• Paying agents for “guaranteed” scholarships. Australia Awards and university scholarships are free to apply for and competitively assessed. No agent can guarantee selection, and paid “guarantees” are a scam warning sign.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Vietnamese students apply for Australia Awards for a bachelor’s degree?

No. In Vietnam, Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for master’s degree study (coursework or research). For undergraduate study, look at university international scholarships, which are usually partial tuition discounts, and budget for the remaining costs.

How much work experience do I need for Australia Awards Vietnam?

For the 2027 intake, most applicants needed at least 24 months of relevant full-time work experience in Vietnam as of 30 April 2026. Disadvantaged rural applicants and people with disability needed at least 12 months full-time (or 24 months part-time for people with disability). Check the current country profile for your cycle.

Is Project 89 still running for PhD study in Australia?

Yes — as verified at the time of writing, Monash University, UTS, ACU and Macquarie University all advertise active Project 89 joint scholarships for Vietnamese candidates, with the Vietnamese Government contributing tuition support up to USD 25,000 per year plus a USD 1,120 monthly stipend, and the university topping up tuition and stipend. You also need approval through MoET’s nomination process.

What IELTS score do I need?

It depends on your applicant category and your course. Australia Awards Vietnam set category minimums for the 2027 intake ranging from IELTS 6.0 (no sub-band below 5.5) for Vietnamese NGO and private-sector applicants to IELTS 6.5 (no sub-band below 6.0) for international NGO applicants. Your Australian university course may require more. Confirm both before you apply.

Can I stay in Australia after an Australia Awards scholarship?

The award conditions require you to return to Vietnam and work there for at least two years after finishing your course. Australia Awards is a development investment in Vietnam, and the return condition is contractual.

What is the RTP stipend for 2026 and 2027?

The Australian Government RTP base stipend rate is AUD 34,315 per year in 2026 and AUD 35,550 per year in 2027. Many universities pay their research scholarship stipends above the base rate; the exact figure will be in your scholarship offer.

Are there scholarships for Vietnamese students who are not working yet?

Australia Awards requires work experience, so fresh graduates are generally not eligible. Your realistic funded routes are university research scholarships (which assess academic merit and research potential) and partial coursework scholarships. Gaining one to two years of relevant work first also makes a later Australia Awards application possible.

Do I need an agent to apply?

No. Australia Awards applications are free via OASIS, Project 89 runs through MoET and partner universities, and university scholarships are applied for directly. Agents cannot influence selection.

Related Guides

Students from neighbouring countries face a similar route map in Australia: see our guides to scholarships for Indonesian students in Australia and scholarships for Filipino students in Australia, or browse all options in the StudyGraduate scholarships directory.

Sources & Verification

• Australia Awards Vietnam — official country programme pages (about scholarships and eligibility criteria, intake 2027 dates), australiaawardsvietnam.org.
• Australian Government DFAT — Australia Awards participating countries and Vietnam intake information, dfat.gov.au.
• Australian Embassy in Vietnam — news release on the 2027 intake applications, vietnam.embassy.gov.au.
• Monash University — Monash University–Vietnam Government PhD Scholarship (Project 89), monash.edu.
• University of Technology Sydney — Project 89 Scholarships, uts.edu.au; Australian Catholic University — ACU and Vietnam Government PhD Scholarship (Project 89), acu.edu.au; Macquarie University — Project 89 scholarship page, mq.edu.au.
• Australian Government Department of Education — Research Training Program stipend rates (base rate AUD 34,315 for 2026; AUD 35,550 for 2027), as applied across university scholarship pages.

Disclaimer: Scholarship details, amounts and dates change every cycle. This article reflects the official information verified at the time of writing; always confirm deadlines, eligibility and benefits on the official scholarship website before applying. StudyGraduate is an information portal, not an agency — we cannot promise or influence selection, admission or visa outcomes for any scholarship.