Australia's 60 Lakh Full Scholarship for Select Indian Institutions: Apply by April 30

Indian students from select IITs, central universities, and top institutions can now apply for a fully funded Master's scholarship to study in Australia — with a hard deadline of April 30, 2026. The Australia Awards Scholarships 2027 intake covers full tuition, return airfare, living expenses, and health insurance, with a combined award value that can exceed ₹40–50 lakh depending on the programme and duration.

Applications opened February 1, 2026. With 37 days remaining, eligible students who have not yet started their application are running out of time.

Check study in Australia guide for Indian Students

What the Australia Awards Scholarship Covers

The Australia Awards Scholarship is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and is one of the most comprehensive fully funded scholarships available to Indian students. Unlike partial scholarships or tuition waivers, this award covers every major cost of studying in Australia:

INR value estimate (at AUD 1 = ₹65.30, March 2026): A typical 2-year Master's programme at an Australian university costs AUD 35,000–50,000 in tuition alone (approximately ₹22.8 lakh–₹32.6 lakh). Add living expenses (AUD 21,000–25,000 per year = ₹13.7–16.3 lakh/year), airfare, and health cover, and the total award value for a 2-year programme comfortably exceeds ₹50–60 lakh — fully covered by the scholarship.

Who Can Apply: India-Specific Eligibility?

The Australia Awards Scholarships are open to students from participating developing countries, and India is on the list. However, for Indian applicants, the programme has country-specific eligibility requirements that go beyond the general criteria.

You must:

• Be a recent graduate (from 2022 or later) or be in the final year of a degree from one of the target institutions listed below
• Have a minimum CGPA of 7.5 (on a 10-point scale)
• Hold a valid IELTS Academic score of 6.5 or above (no individual band below 6.0), or TOEFL iBT of at least 84, or PTE Academic overall score of 58+
• Submit a letter of endorsement from your target institution
• Be willing to return to India for a minimum of 2 years after completing the scholarship (mandatory condition — failure to comply results in a debt for the full scholarship cost)
• Not be applying for a qualification you already hold at an equivalent level

You are NOT eligible if:

• You are currently enrolled in or have completed a degree at an Australian institution
• You are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand
• You are applying for a course at the same or lower level as a degree you already hold

Target Institutions: Which Indian Universities Are Eligible

India's Australia Awards programme is restricted to graduates of specific target institutions — students from other universities are not eligible to apply. The current target institution list includes:

• IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras
• Indian Institute of Science (Bengaluru)
• Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi)
• University of Delhi
• University of Hyderabad
• Banaras Hindu University
• Calcutta University
• Jadavpur University
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education
• National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli
• Savitribai Phule Pune University
• Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai)
• Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
• Andhra University

Priority fields of study for Indian applicants include: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Construction, Energy and Resources, Engineering, and Security and Strategic Studies. Applicants in these fields are given preference during selection.

Before vs After: Why This Scholarship Matters More in 2026

In previous years, Indian students targeting Australia had a relatively straightforward path — apply, get a student visa, fund through loans or savings. That calculus has shifted sharply in 2026.

Australia doubled its post-study work visa (Subclass 485) fee to AUD 4,600 (≈ ₹3 lakh) from March 1, 2026.

The student visa (Subclass 500) fee stands at AUD 2,000 (≈ ₹1.3 lakh) — the most expensive study visa fee of any major destination. Proof-of-funds requirements now stand at AUD 29,710 per year (≈ ₹19.4 lakh/year). For a self-funded Indian student, the total cost of a 2-year Master's in Australia now exceeds ₹80–90 lakh.

The Australia Awards Scholarship eliminates every one of these costs. For eligible students from target institutions, it is the single most financially transformative opportunity available for studying in Australia in 2027.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step?

Deadline: April 30, 2026, 2:00 PM AEST (approximately 9:30 AM IST)

1. Check your institution — Confirm your undergraduate institution is on the target list above. If it is not, you are not eligible for the India-specific programme.
2. Check your CGPA — You need a minimum 7.5/10. Pull your official transcripts now.
3. Get your IELTS/TOEFL/PTE score — If your score has expired or you haven't taken the test, book immediately. IELTS results take 3–5 days; PTE results are available within 5 business days.
4. Secure your endorsement letter — Contact your institution's international office or registrar. This letter is mandatory and can take 1–2 weeks to obtain.
5. Identify two preferred Australian universities and courses — You must list two preferred programmes on your application. Check that you meet each university's English language and course-specific requirements.
6. Prepare your personal statement — Maximum 500 words. Focus on: your leadership potential, your development goals for India, and how an Australian education will help you achieve them.
7. Gather certified documents — Passport, degree certificates, transcripts, ID documents (PAN/Aadhaar/Voter Card), birth certificate, two academic referee reports (using the DFAT template only — other formats are rejected).
8. Submit via OASIS — All applications must be submitted online at oasis.dfat.gov.au. No paper applications accepted.

After submission, Shortlisted applicants are invited to an interview that includes a written exercise. Final selection is based on academic excellence, leadership qualities, and demonstrated commitment to Australia-India development linkages.

What Indian Students Should Know Before Applying?

• The 2-year return condition is non-negotiable. If you plan to stay in Australia after graduation, this scholarship is not for you. Scholars who do not return to India for 2 years incur a debt for the full cost of the award — which can run to AUD 100,000+ (≈ ₹65 lakh+).
• The endorsement letter is the most common bottleneck. Start this process immediately. Many institutions require internal approvals before issuing endorsement letters, and the April 30 deadline does not move.
• Priority fields matter. If your intended field is not in the priority list, your application is still eligible — but applicants in priority fields are given preference. Frame your application around development impact where possible.
• 37 days is not much time. Between gathering certified documents, obtaining the endorsement letter, booking and completing an English test (if needed), and writing a strong personal statement, the timeline is tight. Start today.