Undergraduate Scholarships in Australia for International Students 2026

An Australian bachelor’s degree is one of the most respected undergraduate qualifications in the world — and one of the most expensive for international students, with annual tuition commonly running into tens of thousands of Australian dollars before living costs are counted. The good news is that almost every major Australian university offers undergraduate scholarships for international students, and many of them are awarded automatically on academic merit, with no separate scholarship application at all. This guide explains exactly how undergraduate scholarships in Australia work in 2026: which awards are worth the most, what they actually cover, who is eligible, when to apply, and how to build an application timeline that does not miss a round.

Whether you are a school leaver from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Nigeria or Indonesia finishing Year 12 (or its equivalent), or a student completing a foundation program in Australia, this article gives you a realistic, verified picture. We cover the flagship merit scholarships at the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, Monash University, the University of Queensland, the Australian National University and the University of Adelaide, plus the Australian Government’s Australia Awards for eligible countries. You can also browse the full directory in our scholarships section and compare institutions in the universities directory.

Undergraduate Scholarships in Australia at a Glance

Before the detail, here is the honest headline: for undergraduate study, fully funded scholarships in Australia are rare. The one major exception is the Australia Awards Scholarship, the Australian Government’s flagship program, which covers full tuition, living expenses, airfare and health cover — but it is restricted to citizens of eligible partner countries and is far more commonly awarded for postgraduate study. For the vast majority of international undergraduates, scholarships take the form of tuition fee reductions: a one-off payment, a fixed amount per year, or a percentage discount of 20–50% (occasionally 100% for a very small number of top awards). A 25% fee reduction on a three-year degree can still save you well over AUD 30,000, so these awards are absolutely worth pursuing — but you must budget for the remaining tuition and for living costs, which no undergraduate merit scholarship except Australia Awards will cover.

Values above reflect published schemes verified at the time of writing. Award values, quotas and round dates change every year — always confirm the current value on the university’s official scholarship page before you rely on it in your budget.

How Undergraduate Scholarships in Australia Actually Work

Australian universities compete hard for high-achieving international students, and scholarships are their main recruitment tool. Understanding the mechanics will save you from the two most common misunderstandings: first, that you always need to write a separate scholarship application (often you do not), and second, that a scholarship removes the need to show money for your visa (it does not, unless it covers everything).

Automatic merit scholarships

Most large undergraduate awards are automatic: when you apply for admission, the university assesses your academic results and, if you meet the threshold, offers the scholarship together with — or shortly after — your offer of a place. Melbourne’s International Undergraduate Scholarship and ANU’s Chancellor’s International Scholarship work this way. Your job is simply to apply early, achieve the strongest grades you can, and accept your offer by the deadline stated in the scholarship terms. Because quotas are allocated by course and region and awards are made until places fill, earlier complete applications genuinely have an advantage.

Application-based scholarships

Some awards, such as the Monash International Merit Scholarship, require a separate step: you first receive an offer, then you are invited to apply (or become eligible to apply) for the scholarship with a short statement. These awards look beyond raw grades to your statement of purpose and achievements. Faculty-specific and country-specific bursaries — for example, awards reserved for students from South Asia or for particular degrees such as engineering or business — also usually sit in this category, and they are listed on each university’s scholarship search tool.

Government scholarships

The Australia Awards are in a different league: they are development scholarships funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), not marketing discounts. They are fully funded, highly competitive, and tied to your home country’s development priorities. For most participating countries the emphasis is on postgraduate study, and undergraduate Awards are available only in specific country programs — you must check your own country profile on the official site. We cover Australia Awards in depth in our companion guide to Australian Government scholarships.

The Flagship Undergraduate Scholarships, University by University

University of Melbourne — Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship

The University of Melbourne is consistently Australia’s highest-ranked university in global league tables — see how it performs in our rankings section — and its International Undergraduate Scholarship is one of the most generous automatic awards in the country. It is offered to high-achieving international students who have completed secondary school outside Australia, or foundation studies in Australia, and who receive an offer for a full-fee undergraduate place. The scholarship provides one of three benefits, awarded competitively on academic merit: a one-off AUD 10,000 tuition fee remission in the first year, a 50% fee remission for the standard duration of the degree, or a 100% fee remission for the standard duration. The 100% awards are extremely limited and go to truly exceptional applicants. There is no separate application: all eligible offer-holders are considered automatically, with quotas applied by course and region. To keep the scholarship you must remain enrolled and maintain satisfactory academic progress.

University of Sydney — Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships

The University of Sydney runs its Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme for commencing international students in undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees. According to the University’s official scholarship terms, five amounts are offered based on ranking against the selection criteria: AUD 60,000 payable for one year in two instalments, AUD 40,000 payable for one year, and AUD 20,000, AUD 10,000 or AUD 5,000 payable for one semester. Selection is purely on academic merit as assessed from your admission application. The critical practical condition is timing: you must accept your unconditional offer by the deadline attached to your scholarship round. Students who still have conditions outstanding — a final transcript, an English test result — when a round closes can miss consideration entirely, so clear your conditions early. Full terms are published on the University of Sydney’s official scholarship page.

Monash University — Monash International Merit Scholarship

Monash University in Melbourne offers the Monash International Merit Scholarship to high-achieving international students commencing undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degrees. The award is valued at AUD 10,000 per year for a full-time study load (48 credit points), paid towards tuition fees, up to a maximum total of AUD 50,000 depending on the length of your degree. Unlike the purely automatic schemes, Monash invites eligible offer-holders to apply and assesses a written statement alongside academic achievement; you generally need a strong average in your previous qualification (a minimum distinction-level average is typically required to retain the scholarship each semester). Monash also runs a large number of faculty and course-specific awards, so search its scholarship database even if you miss the flagship merit round.

Australian National University — ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship

The Australian National University in Canberra offers the Chancellor’s International Scholarship to international students commencing undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs. The award provides a tuition fee reduction of 25% or 50% for the standard duration of the degree, applied automatically to eligible offer-holders — no separate application is required. ANU divides its awards across regions and study areas, so the percentage you receive depends on your ranking within your category. Canberra’s lower living costs compared with Sydney and Melbourne mean a 25–50% tuition reduction at ANU goes further in real terms than the same percentage in a more expensive city.

University of Queensland and University of Adelaide

The University of Queensland (Brisbane) and the University of Adelaide both run international undergraduate scholarship schemes each year, typically structured as percentage-based tuition fee reductions for high-achieving commencing students, alongside faculty-specific awards for areas such as engineering, agriculture, business and health. The names, percentages and eligibility thresholds of these schemes are refreshed regularly, so treat any figure you see on third-party websites with caution and verify the current scheme — including whether it is automatic or application-based — on the university’s own scholarship pages for your intake year. Both cities offer noticeably lower living costs than Sydney, which matters when you compare total degree cost rather than headline scholarship value.

Eligibility: Who Can Apply?

While every scheme has its own rules, undergraduate scholarship eligibility in Australia generally requires the following:

• International student status. You must be an international student paying international tuition fees. Australian citizens, permanent residents and (usually) New Zealand citizens are assessed under domestic schemes instead.
• An offer of a place. For automatic awards, eligibility begins with an offer for a full-fee undergraduate place. For most schemes you must not have previously commenced tertiary study (foundation and Year 12 equivalent qualifications are fine).
• Academic merit. Awards are ranked on your secondary school results — A-levels, IB, HSC-equivalents, or national boards such as HSC/SSC plus foundation results, depending on your pathway. The stronger your results relative to the entry requirement of your course, the higher the award tier you can reach.
• English proficiency. You must meet the university’s English requirement for admission (commonly IELTS 6.0–6.5 overall for undergraduate entry, higher for law, medicine and education). The scholarship does not waive English conditions.
• No conflicting sponsorship. Recipients of Australian Government scholarships (such as Australia Awards) are generally not eligible for university merit scholarships on top, and vice versa.
• Maintaining conditions. Continued eligibility requires full-time enrolment, satisfactory academic progress, and remaining on a valid student visa.

For Australia Awards specifically, eligibility is far stricter: you must be a citizen of a participating country (the list includes Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Nigeria and many Pacific and African nations — note that India is not a participating country for long-term Australia Awards), be residing in and applying from your country of citizenship, meet the country-specific academic and (for some countries) work-experience conditions, and commit to returning home for at least two years after your award. Check your country profile on Australia Awards (australiaawards.gov.au) before assuming you qualify.

What the Money Means in Real Terms

A scholarship headline is only useful when you translate it into a total budget. The table below shows how the main award types change the cost of a typical three-year bachelor’s degree. Tuition figures are illustrative ranges for international undergraduates — your actual fee depends on your course, and you should take the exact figure from your offer letter.

Living costs are the part students underestimate. For the Subclass 500 student visa, the Australian Government requires you to show financial capacity of AUD 29,710 per year for living costs (plus your course fees and travel), with additional amounts for a partner (AUD 10,394) and each child (AUD 4,449). Holding a partial scholarship does not reduce that visa requirement — you evidence your remaining fees plus the full living-cost amount. You must also hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire visa period. The official Study Australia website and the Department of Home Affairs publish the current figures; verify them there before you lodge, because the financial capacity amount is updated periodically.

How to Apply: Step by Step

1. Choose your course and university (12–18 months out). Shortlist two or three universities using our universities directory and study abroad guides. Compare total cost — tuition after likely scholarships plus city living costs — not just prestige.
2. Check the scholarship page for your intake. On each university’s official site, note the award value, whether consideration is automatic, any separate application, and the round deadlines for Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (July) intakes.
3. Prepare documents. Certified copies of your passport, academic transcripts and certificates, English test results (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL), and a CV or statement if the scheme requires one. Documents not in English need certified translations.
4. Apply for admission early. Lodge your course application months ahead of the intake. For automatic scholarships, your admission application is your scholarship application — but only complete, assessed applications are ranked.
5. Clear offer conditions fast. Upload final results and English evidence as soon as they exist so your offer becomes unconditional before scholarship round closing dates (decisive at Sydney, important everywhere).
6. Complete any separate scholarship application. If invited (for example Monash Merit), submit the statement by the stated deadline; do not assume an invitation will be re-issued.
7. Accept the offer and pay the deposit. Scholarship offers lapse if you do not accept by the deadline in the letter. Pay the tuition deposit and OSHC so your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is issued.
8. Apply for the Subclass 500 visa. Lodge through ImmiAccount with your CoE, financial evidence covering remaining fees plus AUD 29,710 per year of living costs, OSHC, and your Genuine Student responses.
9. For Australia Awards applicants: apply through the OASIS portal during the annual window (for study commencing in 2027, applications opened 1 February 2026 and closed 30 April 2026) following your country profile’s instructions — this runs on a completely separate, much earlier timeline than university admission.

Deadlines and Timeline

How to Improve Your Chances

Grades are the currency. Every flagship undergraduate award is ranked primarily on academic merit. A result comfortably above your course’s minimum entry standard is the single biggest lever you control. Apply early — quotas by course and region mean late applicants compete for what remains. Keep conditions cleared: an unconditional offer is a hard requirement in Sydney’s scheme and accelerates assessment everywhere. Do not overlook smaller awards: faculty, country-specific and pathway (foundation/college) scholarships stack in some universities’ rules and can add up to a meaningful sum — but always check whether awards can be held concurrently. Write statements carefully where they are required: connect your achievements to your chosen degree and your plans after graduation, with specifics, not slogans. Finally, consider the total package: a 25% award in Brisbane, Adelaide or Canberra can leave you better off overall than a one-off AUD 10,000 in Sydney once living costs are counted. Our student tools, including cost-of-living resources, can help you model the real numbers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming a scholarship covers living costs. Undergraduate merit awards reduce tuition only; budget living costs and OSHC separately.
• Missing the unconditional-offer deadline for scholarship rounds because an English result or final transcript was still outstanding.
• Applying only to one university. Automatic consideration means applying to several universities costs little and multiplies your award chances.
• Trusting outdated amounts on unofficial websites. Award values and names change yearly; the university’s current scholarship page is the only reliable source.
• Ignoring maintenance conditions. Dropping below full-time load or failing subjects can cancel a multi-year fee remission.
• Applying for Australia Awards from a non-participating country (for example India) or outside the February–April OASIS window — such applications cannot be considered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a fully funded undergraduate scholarship in Australia?

Only in narrow circumstances. The Australia Awards Scholarship is fully funded but restricted to citizens of participating countries, is awarded mainly at postgraduate level, and carries a two-year return-home obligation. A very small number of university awards (such as Melbourne’s 100% fee remission tier) cover full tuition but not living costs. For most students, the realistic goal is a substantial tuition reduction combined with careful budgeting and part-time work within visa limits (48 hours per fortnight during study periods).

Do I need to apply separately for Australian university scholarships?

Often, no. Melbourne’s International Undergraduate Scholarship, ANU’s Chancellor’s International Scholarship and Sydney’s Vice-Chancellor’s scheme all consider you automatically from your admission application. Monash’s International Merit Scholarship requires a separate application after you receive an offer. Always check the individual scheme’s terms.

What grades do I need for an undergraduate scholarship in Australia?

There is no single threshold because awards are ranked competitively within course and region quotas. As a rule of thumb, results equivalent to a strong distinction — comfortably above the minimum entry requirement for your course — are needed for the larger percentage awards, while modest one-off awards are more widely distributed. The highest tiers (50–100% remission) go to applicants near the top of their cohort.

Can I combine a scholarship with part-time work?

Yes. Holding a university scholarship does not change your Subclass 500 work rights: up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Part-time income helps with living costs but cannot be counted as evidence of financial capacity in your visa application.

Does a scholarship reduce the funds I must show for my student visa?

Only to the extent that it reduces your actual course fees. The Department of Home Affairs requires evidence of your remaining course fees plus AUD 29,710 per year for living costs and travel costs. A partial scholarship therefore lowers the tuition component of your evidence, but the living-cost component stays the same.

Are scholarships available for the July (Semester 2) intake?

Yes, most automatic schemes operate for both main intakes, but Semester 2 quotas are smaller and fewer courses commence mid-year. Australia Awards, by contrast, run on a single annual cycle for study commencing the following year.

What happens to my scholarship if I change course or university?

University merit scholarships are normally tied to the course and institution named in your offer and are not transferable. Changing course within the same university may be permitted with approval; changing university almost always ends the award. Check the conditions in your scholarship letter before making any change.

I am from India. Can I apply for Australia Awards?

No. India is not a participating country for long-term Australia Awards Scholarships, so Indian undergraduates should focus on university merit scholarships, which are open to Indian students on the same terms as other nationalities.

Sources & Verification

This guide was prepared from official sources, verified at the time of writing:

• University of Sydney — Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme, official terms (award amounts AUD 5,000–60,000 and unconditional-offer condition): sydney.edu.au
• Australia Awards — official program site for eligibility, country profiles, benefits and OASIS application windows: australiaawards.gov.au; country intake dates also published by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au)
• Study Australia — official Australian Government portal for international students (costs, courses, student life): studyinaustralia.gov.au
• University of Melbourne, Monash University, Australian National University, University of Queensland and University of Adelaide — official scholarship pages for award values and conditions (values change each intake; confirm on the university site)
• Department of Home Affairs — Subclass 500 financial capacity figures (AUD 29,710 per year living costs) as published for student visa applicants

Disclaimer: Scholarship details, amounts and deadlines change every year. Always confirm the current value, eligibility and closing dates on the official university or government website before applying or making financial commitments. StudyGraduate is an independent information portal, not an agency and not affiliated with any university or government; we never promise selection, admission or visa approval, and no one can guarantee those outcomes.