5 Fully Funded Scholarships for Studying in Australia (2026-27)

A two-year Masters in Australia costs around A$180,000. Tuition, rent, food, flights, health cover, textbooks, transport. Most families don't have that sitting around, and most international students I talk to never apply for fully funded scholarships because they assume they won't qualify.

They're wrong. The five programs below pay for tuition, living costs, health cover, and in some cases your return flights. Every one of them is run by either the Australian government or a top Australian university. This post covers all five, who qualifies for each, how to apply, and the one deadline that catches most people out.

Why this matters

A two-year Masters can cost around A$180,000, and most students skip these programs because they assume they won't qualify. The money is real, and so is the clock. The big university research scholarships all close on 31 October for the following February intake, and the government and embassy programs open their windows up to a year ahead. Miss the window and you wait a full year for the next chance.

Who this is for

This is for you if:

• You're planning a Masters or PhD in Australia and need the full cost covered, not a partial discount.
• You're a citizen of a developing Indo-Pacific, ASEAN, or Quad country and haven't checked which program fits you.
• You're heading into a research degree and don't yet have a supervisor or proposal lined up.
• You assumed you wouldn't qualify for a fully funded scholarship and never applied.

1. Australia Awards Scholarships (DFAT)

The most generous fully funded program in the country. Run directly by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

What it covers:

• Full tuition at an Australian university or TAFE
• Return airfare from your home country
• Monthly living stipend
• OSHC (the international student health cover)
• Establishment allowance when you arrive

Who it's for: Citizens of eligible developing countries across the Indo-Pacific. The full list is on dfat.gov.au and changes year to year, so check it first. If your country isn't on it, skip to section 2.

You can study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Both universities and TAFE colleges are included, which is rare for a fully funded program.

How to apply: Through your country's Australia Awards office, not the university directly. The lead time is long. Applications for a February 2027 intake often open in early 2026, so check your country's specific timeline now.

One thing upfront: there's a two-year return rule. After the program you're expected to return home for at least two years. This is a development scholarship built to strengthen your home country, not a PR pipeline.

2. RTP Scholarship (Research Training Program)

Funded by the Australian government, administered by individual universities. Research degrees only.

What it covers:

• 100% tuition offset
• Around $39,500 per year living stipend
• OSHC
• Relocation allowance at some universities

Who it's for: Anyone applying for a Masters by Research or PhD at an Australian university. Coursework Masters students aren't eligible. You need a strong research background, a clear proposal, and ideally a supervisor already interested in your topic.

How to apply: Through your chosen Australian university's postgraduate research application portal. Most universities close applications on 31 October each year for the following February intake, so line up a supervisor, draft a proposal, and submit before then.

The RTP is the most practical program on this list. It's fully funded, there's no return rule, and the research output opens the door to post-study work visas and PR pathways the coursework Masters route does not.

3. Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship

University-specific. Automatic consideration with your course application.

What it covers:

• Full fee offset for the length of your research degree
• $39,500 per year living stipend
• $3,000 relocation grant
• Up to $135,000 total value across a three-year PhD

Who it's for: Masters by Research and PhD applicants to the University of Melbourne. 600 awards are made each year, making this one of the most accessible top-tier research scholarships in the country.

How to apply: No separate scholarship application. When you apply for your research degree at Melbourne, you're automatically considered for the GRS. The only hard rule is the 31 October deadline, same as the RTP.

Melbourne is consistently ranked in the global top 15 for research, so the GRS gives you a top-tier name plus full funding with no separate application. Apply for both the RTP and the GRS at once. They stack.

4. Quad Fellowship

A joint STEM program between Australia, India, Japan, and the USA.

What it covers:

• $50,000 USD annual stipend
• Tuition at a participating STEM institution
• Travel for program events

Who it's for: Citizens of Australia, India, Japan, or the USA with a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field, pursuing a Masters or PhD in STEM. If your undergrad was in business, humanities, or social sciences, this one isn't for you.

How to apply: Through quadfellowship.org. The window opens once a year; for the 2027 cohort it typically opens in mid-2026, so set a reminder.

This one is competitive: fewer than 100 fellows are selected across all four countries each year. The alumni network makes it one of the strongest pathways into a research career in AI, climate, biotech, quantum, or advanced manufacturing.

5. Australia for ASEAN Scholarships

The ASEAN-specific counterpart to Australia Awards. Masters only. Fully funded.

What it covers:

• Full tuition at an Australian university
• Return airfare
• Living allowance
• OSHC

Who it's for: Citizens of ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste. Your proposed field of study should align with one of the program's priority areas: maritime cooperation, regional connectivity, sustainable development goals, or climate resilience.

How to apply: Through the Australian embassy or high commission in your country. The process mirrors Australia Awards, but selection leans heavily on how your study contributes to ASEAN-Australia cooperation priorities.

If you're from an ASEAN country, apply for both Australia Awards and Australia for ASEAN. They run under the same DFAT umbrella, and eligibility overlaps.

Which one should you actually apply for?

Quick decision rules:

• Developing Indo-Pacific country? Start with Australia Awards.
• ASEAN or Timor-Leste? Australia for ASEAN plus Australia Awards together.
• Doing a Masters by Research or PhD? RTP is your baseline. Apply to Melbourne GRS at the same time, plus the research scholarship at any other uni you're applying to.
• STEM Bachelor's and ambitious research career? Quad Fellowship.

The biggest mistake I see is applying for just one. These programs are designed to stack, and a single application to a university often puts you in the running for several at once.

The 31 October deadline is closer than you think

The big university-run research scholarships (RTP, Melbourne GRS, Monash, Sydney, UQ, ANU) share the same 31 October closing date for the following February intake. To start in 2027, line up supervisors and draft your research proposal by July 2026 at the latest. Most students only find out in August and panic.

Australia Awards and ASEAN scholarships run on different calendars because they're embassy-administered, so check dfat.gov.au for your country's timeline.

This is general information based on public 2026 scholarship details, not personal migration, education, or financial advice. Scholarship terms and deadlines change. Confirm the current criteria and timelines on each program's official site before you apply.