The short answer
Full scholarships exist but are few and competitive. The routes that matter for African students are the government Australia Awards (mainly master's), the university-run Research Training Program for research degrees, and partial university scholarships. Most funded students combine a partial award with savings, a sponsor or a loan.
If you can only study in Australia with funding, the honest picture is this: full scholarships exist, but they are few and highly competitive, and most funded students combine a partial award with savings, a sponsor or a loan. The routes that genuinely matter for African students are the government Australia Awards, the university-run Research Training Program for research degrees, and individual university scholarships — mostly part-tuition discounts.
This page sets out what each route actually covers, who is eligible by country, what is open right now, and how to give yourself the best shot. Every figure and deadline below is checked against the official source and dated — because on funding pages, an out-of-date deadline is worse than no page at all. Last verified 27 July 2026; always reconfirm on the official link before you rely on a date.
Can African students get a scholarship to study in Australia?
Yes — but manage your expectations. There is no single scheme that quietly pays for any African student to attend any Australian university. Funding comes through a handful of defined routes, each with its own eligibility, level and calendar.
The three that are worth your energy in 2026 are the Australia Awards (a fully funded government scholarship, mainly at master’s level), the Research Training Program (for research master’s and PhD students, run by each university), and university merit or equity scholarships (usually a percentage off tuition rather than a full ride). One route you will still see listed elsewhere — Destination Australia — is closed to new applicants, and we explain that below so you don’t waste an application.
A scholarship does not replace the visa. Even a fully funded award does not waive the Subclass 500 student visa or its Genuine Student and financial-capacity requirements. You still lodge the visa and meet its conditions — see our guide to the Australia student visa (Subclass 500).
Australia Awards for African students
The Australia Awards are the Australian Government’s flagship scholarships, run by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). For African students they are the closest thing to a genuine full ride — and, for that reason, the most competitive.
They are aimed at mid-career and senior professionals studying at master’s level, chosen for their potential to contribute to development back home. That focus matters: a fresh school-leaver is not the target candidate.
What the Australia Awards cover
An Australia Award is fully funded. DFAT does not publish the exact dollar amounts for the allowances, so treat the living and establishment figures as “amounts set by the department” rather than a fixed number you can quote.
- Full tuitionThe course fee is paid in full for the standard duration of your degree.Full
- Return air travelEconomy flights to Australia at the start and home at the end of your award.Included
- Establishment allowanceA one-off payment to help you settle in when you arrive.Amount set by DFAT
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)Mandatory health cover for the length of your visa, provided for you.Included
- Fortnightly living contributionA recurring payment towards your living costs while you study.Amount set by DFAT
Source: DFAT / Australia Awards Africa — inclusions confirmed; specific allowance amounts are not officially published, so we do not quote a figure. Confirm current inclusions on the official site.
There is one condition African students must plan around: after finishing, you are required to return home and remain there for at least two years before you can apply for certain Australian visas. The award is designed to build skills for your own country, not as a migration pathway.
Which African countries are eligible?
Eligibility is set by an official list of participating African countries, and it is not universal — this is where a lot of online lists get it wrong. Below are the Craydel-market countries and their status. Check the current country list on Australia Awards Africa before you apply, as participating countries can change year to year.
| Country | Australia Awards status |
|---|---|
| Kenya | Eligible (master’s) |
| Nigeria | Eligible (master’s) |
| Uganda | Eligible (master’s) |
| Rwanda | Eligible (master’s) |
| Tanzania | Eligible (master’s) |
| Ghana | Eligible (master’s) |
| Zimbabwe | Eligible (master’s) |
| Mauritius | Eligible (master’s) |
| Burundi | Not eligible — not on the participating-country list |
Source: Australia Awards Africa participating-country list. Cameroon and Senegal appear for short courses only, not the master’s scholarship. Reconfirm your country’s status on the official site.
When can you apply? (Important)
The next intake is not open yet — do not apply now. The 2027 intake is closed; applications ran 1 February to 30 April 2026 and that window has passed. The 2028 intake is expected to open in February 2027. Any site telling you to apply today for 2027 is out of date. Mark February 2027 in your calendar and confirm the exact dates on Australia Awards Africa when they publish.
Research Training Program (RTP) for research students
If you want a research master’s or a PhD, the Research Training Program is the route to know. It is Australian Government funding, but it is awarded by each university, not applied for centrally — you apply to the university, and strong candidates are considered for RTP support.
An RTP place typically offsets your tuition and adds a living stipend. The stipend rate is reviewed each year. For 2026 it has been reported at roughly AUD 34,315 base and up to about AUD 53,608 at the top end, but treat these as reported figures and confirm the current rate with the specific university, since each institution sets and publishes its own amount.
How to chase an RTP place. Identify a supervisor whose research matches yours, contact them before you formally apply, and ask the university’s graduate research office how RTP scholarships are allocated for international students. A strong research proposal and a willing supervisor matter more than anything else here.
University scholarships
Most Australian universities offer their own international scholarships. For African students these are usually the most realistic funding after the Australia Awards — but they are typically partial: a percentage off tuition rather than a full package. Below are the entries we could verify; for every other university, check the scholarship page on that university’s own .edu.au site, because values and criteria change each year.
| University | Award | What it covers | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian National University (ANU) | International Achievement Award | 20%, 25% or 50% off tuition; automatic consideration on application | Undergraduate / postgraduate coursework |
| University of Melbourne | Graduate Research Scholarships | Indicative: ~AUD 39,500/yr living stipend + ~AUD 3,000 relocation (verify) | Graduate research (master’s/PhD) |
| University of Sydney | International scholarships (various) | Check the university page — values vary | Various |
| Monash University | International scholarships (various) | Check the university page — values vary | Various |
| UNSW Sydney | International scholarships (various) | Check the university page — values vary | Various |
Source: ANU International Achievement Award — verified. University of Melbourne figures are secondary-sourced and indicative — confirm on the Melbourne graduate research scholarship page. Sydney, Monash and UNSW values could not be verified at the time of writing; check each university’s official scholarship page. Craydel partners with a subset of Australia’s 42 universities — ask us which of these you’re competitive for.
For help choosing where to apply, see our guide to the best universities in Australia. Remember that a tuition discount still leaves you to fund living costs — plan those using our cost of studying in Australia guide.
Is Destination Australia still open?
No. The Destination Australia Program is closed to new applicants, so it is not a route you can plan around in 2026.
The scheme once offered around AUD 15,000 a year to students at regional campuses, and you will still find it promoted on older listing sites. But the 2024–25 Federal Budget ended new funding rounds from 1 July 2024. Students already receiving it are honoured to the end of their studies, but there is no new intake to apply for. If a page invites you to apply for Destination Australia today, that page is out of date.
Not sure which scholarships you’re actually eligible for?
A Craydel counsellor will check your country, grades and course against the awards that are genuinely open — and help you build the rest of your funding plan. Free.
How to win a scholarship
Scholarships reward preparation as much as marks. The students who get funded are usually the ones who started early, applied to the right level of award, and told a clear story about why they should be chosen.
Work backwards from the deadline
For the Australia Awards, that means preparing well before February 2027. Gather transcripts, references and English test results early — a rushed application shows.
Apply where you actually fit
Australia Awards want mid-career professionals; RTP wants researchers; university awards reward strong grades. Applying to the wrong category wastes a slot.
Make the impact concrete
Selection panels fund people who will make a difference at home. Be specific about the problem you’ll help solve and how your course connects to it.
Combine sources
A part-tuition scholarship plus savings, a sponsor or an education loan is how most funded students close the gap. Don’t wait for one award to cover everything.
Whatever you win, you will still lodge a Subclass 500 visa and prove your finances for it. If you’re applying from Kenya, our study in Australia from Kenya guide walks through the local steps.
Study in Australia for “free” — the honest version
Genuinely free study in Australia is possible, but rare. It essentially means winning an Australia Award or a fully funded RTP research place — a small number of positions each year, awarded to exceptional candidates.
For most African students, “affordable” is the realistic target, not “free”. That usually looks like a part-tuition university scholarship combined with your own funds, a family sponsor, or an education loan, plus the part-time work a student visa allows during term. Anyone promising a guaranteed free ride to any university is not being straight with you. The good news is that a well-chosen course, a regional campus and a merit scholarship together can bring the total down a long way — see the cost guide for how the numbers stack up.
Frequently asked questions
Can African students get fully funded scholarships in Australia?
Yes, but they are limited and competitive. The main fully funded route is the government Australia Awards (mainly master’s level, for mid-career professionals), and some universities offer fully funded research places through the Research Training Program. Most other university scholarships are partial — a percentage off tuition rather than a full package.
What is the Australia Awards scholarship and who is eligible?
It is the Australian Government’s flagship scholarship, run by DFAT. It fully funds tuition, return air travel, an establishment allowance, health cover (OSHC) and a fortnightly living contribution — the exact allowance amounts are set by the department and not officially published. For Africa it targets mid-career and senior professionals at master’s level, and it carries a condition to return home for at least two years after you finish.
Are there scholarships for Kenyan or Nigerian students specifically?
Yes. Kenya and Nigeria are both on the Australia Awards participating-country list, along with Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mauritius. Burundi is not currently on the list. Students from eligible countries can also apply for university scholarships and, for research degrees, the Research Training Program.
When are the scholarship deadlines?
The Australia Awards 2027 intake is closed — it ran 1 February to 30 April 2026. The 2028 intake is expected to open in February 2027. University and RTP deadlines vary by institution, so check each university’s own page. Always reconfirm dates on the official source before you rely on them.
Can I study in Australia for free?
Only if you win a full award — an Australia Award or a fully funded RTP research place — and those are few. For most African students the realistic goal is to reduce costs with a part-tuition scholarship and combine it with savings, a sponsor or a loan, plus permitted part-time work. Be wary of anyone promising a guaranteed free ride.
Do scholarships cover the visa and living costs?
A fully funded award like the Australia Awards covers living costs and health cover, but no scholarship waives the Subclass 500 student visa itself or its Genuine Student and financial-capacity requirements. You still lodge the visa and meet its conditions. Partial university scholarships cover only part of tuition, so you must fund living costs separately.
Is the Destination Australia scholarship still available?
No. Destination Australia is closed to new applicants — new funding rounds ended from 1 July 2024. Existing recipients are honoured, but there is no new intake to apply for, so ignore older sites that still list it as open.
Sources
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) — Australia Awards. dfat.gov.au
- Australia Awards Africa — eligibility, participating countries and intake dates. australiaawardsafrica.org
- Study Australia — scholarships for international students. studyaustralia.gov.au
- Australian Government Department of Education — Research Training Program and Destination Australia. education.gov.au
- Australian National University — International Achievement Scholarship. anu.edu.au
- University of Melbourne — Graduate Research Scholarships (indicative; verify). scholarships.unimelb.edu.au
Want this built around your grades and budget?
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