Deadline: 30-Apr-25
Submissions are now open for the Australia Awards Scholarship to promote prosperity, reduce poverty, and enhance political stability.
The Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS) are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of global leaders in developing countries. Through study and research, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia
Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
Priority fields of study
- The governments of Australia and Laos regularly review priority fields of study together and adjust the emphasis of the program. For Intake 2026, the following fields of study are human resource development priorities:
- Economic development and trade: economic governance, entrepreneurship and innovation, tourism and hospitality management, international trade, commerce, agribusiness, food science and technology, and quality and standard management.
- Environment, climate change and clean energy: environmental adaptation and resilience, waste management, clean energy, renewable energy, climate financing, disaster resilience and management, water resource management, forest and wildlife conservation, natural resource management, sustainable agriculture, and food security.
- Gender, disability, and social inclusion: gender studies, disability policy and practices, inclusive and specialised education, women’s studies, social work, development studies, community service, youth work and international community development.
- Governance and law: public policy, public administration and management, public relations, international relations, international law, law and development, social justice, human rights, intellectual property law, legal studies, and monitoring and evaluation.
- Health and wellbeing: public health, allied health, emergency operation management, communicable disease, epidemiology, animal health, aged care, medical technology, nutrition and dietetics, food safety, occupational health and safety, mental health, and psychology.
- Human resource development and education: human resource management and development, early childhood, basic education, teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), pedagogy and leadership management.
- Infrastructure and connectivity: engineering, cyber security, critical technology (AI, robotics, etc.), information technology, digital studies, data science and innovation, journalism and multi-media communication, logistics and supply chain management, construction and infrastructure management, urban planning, building design, graphic design, interior design, and architecture.
Benefits
- 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
- fieldwork 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 Laos must also meet the following conditions:
- be a citizen of Laos
- be aged between 18 and 50 years old as of 31 December 2025
- have been residing in the Lao PDR for a minimum of one year as of 30 April 2025 (exceptions may be considered for Government Officials who have had diplomatic postings overseas)
- declare all previous studies undertaken irrespective of whether it is complete or incomplete
- declare all previous and current international scholarships awarded
- In addition to the eligibility requirements, candidates from Laos must also meet the following conditions:
- VET applicants:
- must have completed upper secondary school, or
- will complete upper secondary school by 30 September 2025, or
- currently studying at tertiary level, or
- who already have a Diploma or a Bachelor’s degree, must have a minimum of two years’ work experience and be seeking qualifications to fill a skills shortfall or to change career direction.
- Master’s degree applicants:
- must hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and
- must have a minimum of two years’ work experience
- PhD applicants:
- must hold a Master’s degree
- must have a minimum of three years’ work experience and
- must submit an IELTS Certificate of overall score of at least 6.5 with no individual band less than 6.0 obtained after 30 March 2024.
For more information, visit Australian Government.