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.
Applicants are assessed on their professional and personal qualities, academic competence and their potential to impact on development challenges in Tonga. Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disability and other marginalised groups.
Priority Fields of Study
The priority areas of study for Tonga are:
- Governance, economic and private sector development – develop a more efficient public sector, including in procurement and financial management and promote private sector growth
- Health – reduce the prevalence of non communicable disease risk factors such as smoking and obesity and strengthen Tonga’s focus on primary health care and health systems strengthening
- Skills Development including Technical and Vocational Education and Training – improving quality of education and building a more highly skilled workforce linked to industry demand
- Cross cutting issues of Gender, Disability and Climate Change.
Level of Study
- Australia Awards Scholarships
- These scholarships provide citizens of Tonga with the opportunity to obtain postgraduate qualification at an Australian tertiary institution.
- Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships
- These scholarships provide opportunities to Tongans to study at a tertiary institution in the Pacific for the benefit of development in Tonga. This type of scholarship is available for study at the undergraduate and postgraduate level.
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:
- return and reunion 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 master’s by coursework which has a compulsory fieldwork component.
Eligibility Criteria
- English language proficiency:
- Host institutions may require English language testing as a condition of entry to a particular course. If required, applicants must have achieved an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 or higher (with no individual band score of less than 6.0) or an equivalent TOEFL or PTE score. Scores must be valid at 1 January 2022.
- Commencement of study:
- All scholarships must be taken up in the year for which they are awarded, this however also depends on travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
- Country-specific conditions:
- In addition to the eligibility requirements, candidates from Tonga must also meet the following specific conditions:
- Applicant must not be a dual citizen with either Australia or New Zealand;
- Applicant must not have held a long-term scholarship to study outside their home country in the 24 months preceding to time of application. In country awards do not apply in this instance;
- Applicant must not have been terminated from a course of study in the five (5) years preceding time of application; and
- Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS) applicants must have at least three years’ work experience in the chosen field of study.
For more information, visit https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/tonga-information-for-intake
