Australia Awards Scholarship in Bhutan

Deadline: 30-Apr-21

The Australia Awards Scholarships are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of global leaders for development. Through study and research, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia.

Australia’s international development assistance in Bhutan helps promote prosperity, reduce poverty and enhance political stability.

Applicants are assessed on their professional and personal qualities, academic competence and, most importantly, their potential to have an impact on development challenges in Bhutan.

Priority Areas of Study

The priority areas of study for Bhutan are:

Data Science/Analytics
Economics
Education (Curriculum Studies)
Education Studies
Food Science/Technology
Forensic Accounting
Human Resource Management
Landscape Architecture
Professional Accounting
Tourism/Hospitality Management.

Level of Study

Australia Awards Scholarships provide citizens of Bhutan with the opportunity to obtain a qualification at an Australian tertiary institution.
Scholarships will be offered for master’s degree programs (by coursework or research) for study commencing in 2022.

Australia Awards Benefits

Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian education institution, including any preparatory training.
Scholarship recipients will receive the following entitlements:
- return air travel
- a one-off establishment allowance on arrival
- full tuition fees
- contribution to living expenses
- Introductory Academic Program
- overseas student health cover for the duration of the Scholarship
- supplementary academic support
- fieldwork allowance for research students and those undertaking a master’s degree by coursework that has a compulsory fieldwork component.

Eligibility Criteria

English language proficiency:
- Applicants must have achieved an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic) score of 6.5 or higher (with no individual band score of less than 6.0) or an Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 84, with a minimum of 21 in all subtests, or a Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic overall score of 58 with no communicative skill score less than 50. Scores must be valid on 1 January 2022.
Commencement of study:
- Scholarships for study commencing in 2022 must be taken up in the year for which they are awarded, this however also depends on travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
Qualifications:
- Scholarships will not be available for courses of study in Australia where the applicant has already achieved a qualification that is deemed to be equivalent to the Australian qualification.
Recognition of prior learning:
- The Australia Awards Scholarships program will request recognition of prior learning for all Scholarship recipients from Bhutan. If this request is granted, the recipient may be placed in a study program shorter in duration than originally applied for.
Country-specific conditions – In addition to the eligibility requirements, applicants from Bhutan must also:
- have completed a tertiary level qualification that is equivalent to an Australian bachelor’s degree
- be currently employed in an organisation on a full-time basis
- have at least three years of relevant work experience, including probation period
- fit the target applicant profile of a field of study advertised for study commencing in 2022
- provide an employer nomination letter from the Human Resource Officer of the parent organisation/agency. In addition, applicants under the purview of the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources must also submit a nomination letter from the Department of Employment and Human Resources.
Special conditions – Applicants from Bhutan must also meet the following conditions:
- Applicants wishing to study for a master’s degree by research must identify a potential supervisor and must show proof of correspondence with their university / research supervisor.
- Scholarship recipients are required to return to Bhutan for at least two years after completing their studies.