Do you want to be a leader in your field and make a difference in Nepal? Applications for Australia Awards Scholarships are now open.
An Australia Awards Scholarship provides you with the opportunity to gain an internationally recognized master's degree from an Australian institution. It includes all the necessary support and funding to complete your study.
Your career will benefit from new knowledge, leadership skills, and the links you create both in Australia and through the Australia Global Alumni network. On your return home, you can make a vital contribution to the social and economic development of Nepal.
The application process is transparent and competitive, providing equal opportunity to all eligible applicants, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or disability.
Applications for Australia Awards Scholarships commencing in 2026 are now open.
Key Details:
Appilcation Opens : 1 February 2025
Submission Deadline : 30 April 2025 (11 :59 AEST)
Australia Awards Scholarships for Nepal will be offered to undertake Master’s degree study programs in the priority development sectors :
- Climate change
- Disaster risk reduction
- Economic development
- Education
- Gender equality, disability and social inclusion
- Governance
- Natural Resource Management
- Sustainable infrastructure development.
Supporting Documents
Applicants must submit all the relevant supporting documents listed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook. Applicants must also provide the following documents to meet the specific requirements for Nepal:
| Required document | OASIS (Online Australian Scholarships Information System) document type |
Certified by a notary public |
| Passport | Proof of citizenship | Yes |
| Copy of original degree certificates issued by examination boards including School Leaving Certificate (SLC) or equivalent and above (not character or migration certificates) | Degree certificate | Yes |
| Academic transcripts specifying divisions/ grades from SLC or equivalent onwards | Academic transcript | Yes |
| IELTS, TOEFL or PTE certificate (valid on 1 January 2025, or later per university requirement) | Proof of English language proficiency | Yes |
|
Master’s degree by coursework applicants only: two referee reports (one academic and one professional) (in specified format) Master’s degree by research applicants only: three referee reports (two academic and one professional) (in specified format) |
Referee reports | No |
| Development Impact and Linkages Plan (in specified format) | Other document | No |
| Curriculum Vitae* (in specified format) | Other document | No |
| Employment letter (if currently employed) and all past employment experience letters | Other document | No |
| Master’s degree by research applicants only: research proposal and evidence of communication with potential supervisor providing in-principle support for research proposal (in specified format) | Other document | No |
Applicants are requested to compile documents into single PDFs by document category, appropriately name files (e.g., ‘Degree Certificates,’ ‘Transcripts,’ ‘Referee Reports’) and ensure scans are complete, legible and in correct page orientation and order.
Where documents are denoted as requiring a specified format, applicants must download and use these current format on the website https://australiaawardsnepal.org/
Documents not complying with the specified format or using a format from a previous application round will not be accepted.
* For awards, honours, commendations and achievements listed, please upload supporting evidence compiled in a single PDF as ‘other document.’
To apply:
- read the supplied documentation and information on this website
- check your eligibility
- consider your goals and the development needs of your country
- research available University courses
- prepare required supporting documentation
- submit your application on OASIS.
English language requirements
Applicants must possess one of the following English language test scores valid on 1 January 2026 (If an institution requires an extended test validity timeframe, applicants must meet the institution’s requirements):
- IELTS (Academic) 6.5 or higher (with all band scores 6.0 or higher), or
- TOEFL (Internet-based) 84 or higher (with all subtest scores 21 or higher), or
- PTE (Academic) 58 or higher (with all communicative skill scores 50 or higher).
Women, people with disability, members of traditionally marginalised groups and public servants will be considered for eligibility with IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 or higher (with all band scores 5.5 or higher) or an equivalent TOEFL (Internet-based) or PTE (Academic) test score. However, if offered an Australia Awards Scholarship, these applicants must meet the English language requirements of their preferred university and degree before commencing study.
Applicants with disability who require testing accommodations are encouraged to register early for English language tests.
Eligibility Criteria
Personal criteria
Applicants must:
- be over 18 years old
- be a citizen of Nepal and currently residing in, and applying, from Nepal
- not be married to, engaged to, or a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency
- not be applying for a visa to live in Australia permanently
- not be current serving military personnel.
Study program criteria
Applicants must:
- have a proposed study program within one of the identified priority sectors
- be applying for a master’s program with a proposed course of study of no more than two years
- have not completed a qualification that is deemed to be equivalent to the Australian qualification they are applying for – Scholarships will not be available for courses of study in Australia where the applicant already has achieved that qualification, and the qualification is deemed to be equivalent to the Australian qualification at the same level.
Academic and work experience criteria
Applicants must possess one of the following:
- a minimum four-year bachelor’s degree and minimum three years’ relevant full-time work experience earned after the bachelor’s degree, or
- a three-year bachelor’s degree with at least a one-year master’s degree with a minimum of three years’ relevant full-time work experience earned after the bachelor’s degree, or
- a two-year bachelor’s degree with at least a two-year master’s degree with a minimum of three years’ relevant full-time work experience earned after the bachelor’s degree.
Please review the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook for a comprehensive list.
WHAT ARE AUSTRALIA AWARDS?
Australia Awards are prestigious international Scholarships and Short Courses funded by the Australian Government. Australia Awards equip recipients with the skills and knowledge to drive change and contribute to the economic and social development of their own countries.
All recipients of Australia Awards become part of the Australia Global Alumni network, connecting them to Australia and to each other — building an engaged and influential global network of leaders and advocates, and establishing a network of ambassadors for Australia and its first-class education system. An important area of focus for Australia Awards is the empowerment of women and the inclusion of people with disability and individuals from disadvantaged social groups.
WHAT ARE AUSTRALIA AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS?
Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term development awards administered by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They aim to contribute to the development needs of Australia’s partner countries in line with bilateral and regional agreements.
They provide opportunities for people from developing countries, particularly those countries located in the Indo-Pacific region, to undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian institutions.
For Nepal, Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for Master’s degree-level study in fields agreed with partner governments and aligned with Australia’s development, economic, and public diplomacy priorities. The indicative fields for study commencing in January 2026 can be found under the Australia Awards Scholarships-Key Infomration Section.
The study and research opportunities provided by Australia Awards Scholarships develop the skills and knowledge of individuals to drive change and contribute to development in their own countries.
For more information about Australia Awards, visit https://australiaawardsnepal.org/
WHAT BENEFITS ARE PROVIDED?
Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian higher education institution, including any preparatory training. Benefits include full tuition fees, return airfares, contribution to living expenses, and medical insurance. Please check the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook for detailed information about Scholarship benefits and entitlements.
SCHOLARSHIP CONDITIONS
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. Scholars are required to leave Australia for a minimum of two years after completing their Scholarship.
Click here to know the full information regarding Australia Awards.
Further information
For further information, contact the Australia Awards office in Nepal:
+977 1 4002614
inquiries@australiaawardsnepal.org