Submissions open for Australia Awards Scholarship in Sri Lanka

Deadline: 30-Apr-25

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is accepting submissions for the Australia Awards Scholarship to promote prosperity, reduce poverty, and enhance political stability.

Australia Awards scholarships 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.

Priority Areas

• The priority areas of study for eligible Sri Lankans are:
  • Governance and Public Sector Management,
  • Economic Development,
  • Management, Business and Commerce,
  • Information and Communications Technology,
  • Gender Equality,
  • Disability and Social Inclusion,
  • Climate Resilience and Adaptation.
  • Stability and Inclusion including Health, Education, and Political Science.

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 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

• Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disability, those working in the disability sector and people working in the following priority districts:
  • Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Monaragala, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Nuwera Eliya
• Country-specific conditions
  • In addition to the eligibility requirements, candidates from Sri Lanka must also meet the following conditions:
    • Applicants must meet the English language requirements as set out in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook. Scores must be valid as at the start of your nominated program of study and should be submitted with your application.
    • Applicants working in the priority districts, applicants with a disability and those working in the disability sector will be considered with an overall IELTS band score of at least 6.0 with no band less than 5.0 (or equivalent TOEFL or PTE score).
      • if offered an Australia Awards Scholarship, these applicants must meet the English language requirements of IELTS 6.5 equivalent before commencing study.
    • Be employed and the following criteria must be confirmed by an employment letter:
      • applicants from the public sector must have at least 3 years’ post qualification experience in the public sector with 2 years in a field relevant to the proposed course of study and be confirmed in their current positions.
      • applicants from the private sector and civil society organisation must have at least 3 years’ post qualification experience in a field relevant to the proposed course of study.
    • Have completed a tertiary level qualification at least equivalent to an Australian Bachelor’s degree.
    • Have an academic or professional background relevant to their proposed study program.
• Special Conditions
  • Public sector employees selected for an Australia Award scholarship will be required to provide a copy of their official leave approval document to the Australia Awards office prior to departure.
  • Awardees must return to Sri Lanka for at least two years after completing their scholarship, to contribute to economic and social development of the country. Failure to do so will incur a debt to the Commonwealth of Australia for the total value of the scholarship.
  • Applicants who want to accept an Australia Awards Scholarship will need to sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia declaring that they will comply with the conditions of the Australia Awards Scholarship.

For more information, visit Australian Government.