Call for Applications: Australia Awards Scholarship in Bangladesh

Deadline: 30-Apr-21

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

In Bangladesh, Australia Awards will support the Australian Government’s Partnerships for Recovery: COVID-19 Development Response Plan 2020-21 and 2021-22 and the Bangladesh Government’s 8th Five Year Plan 2021-2025.

The Australia Awards will focus on supporting health security, stability and economic recovery in Bangladesh by strengthening government systems, enhancing policymaking in priority sectors, improving economic governance, and building trade and business capabilities.

Priority Areas

Blue economy
Health
Development Environment Sustainability
Trade Industry
Public Policy Economics Governance
Infrastructure Science Engineering
Security Studies

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 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
- field work allowance for research students and masters by coursework which has a compulsory fieldwork component.

Eligibility Criteria

Country-specific conditions: In addition to the eligibility requirements, candidates from Bangladesh must also meet the following conditions:
- Must be from one of the following target groups:
  - Group 1: Cadre Officials from the Government of Bangladesh, officials of the Bangladesh Bank, and Judicial Services officials
  - Group 2: Workers from development organisations, specifically non-government organisations, civil society organisations, community-based organisations
  - Group 3: Entrepreneurs or employees of private sector organisations
  - Group 4: Individuals from academia, research institutions, media and cultural organisations
- be a citizen of Bangladesh and be residing in and applying for the scholarship from Bangladesh
- not be married, engaged to, or a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, at any time during the application, selection or mobilization phases
- not be currently serving as military personnel
- not be a citizen of Australia, hold permanent residency in Australia or be applying for a visa to live in Australia permanently
- not be applying for another long-term Australia Award unless they have resided outside of Australia for twice the length of the total time that they were in Australia must be able to satisfy admission requirements of the Australian institution where the Award will be undertaken
- must be able to satisfy all requirements of the Department of Home Affairs to hold a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade supported student visa
- must have achieved an IELTS (Academic) score of at 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
- women, people with disability, and members of traditionally marginalised groups will be considered for eligibility with an IELTS (Academic) overall score of 6 or above (with no individual band less than 5.5) or an equivalent TOEFL or PTE test score.
- However, if offered an Australia Awards Scholarship, these applicants must meet the institution’s English language requirements before commencing the approved main course of studies.
Qualifications/ work experience:
- Have at least four (4) years’ full-time relevant work experience (preference will be given to candidates who are applying for fields of study that builds on their work experience).
- Have completed a tertiary level qualification at least equivalent to an Australian Bachelor’s degree.
Special conditions: Applicants must also meet the following country-specific conditions:
- applicants wishing to study for a master’s by research degree must identify a potential supervisor and must show proof of in-principle support from their university/potential research supervisor scholarship recipients are required to return to Bangladesh for at least two years after completing their studies.
- The Program will request recognition of prior learning for all Scholarship recipients from Bangladesh. If this request is granted, the recipient may be placed in a degree program that may be shorter in duration than for that which they have originally applied.