Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students 2026-27: Complete Guide

Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students: Full List

Note: Maitri is awarded through university nomination to CAIR and is not a scholarship that students apply for directly through a separate portal. The Australia Awards is not open to Indian citizens, while Destination Australia stopped accepting new applications on 1 July 2024. Therefore, neither is included in the table as a realistic scholarship option for Indian students.

Exchange rate used: 1 AUD = ₹68.40 as of September 2026. Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget. 

Maitri Scholarship: The Australian Government Scholarship for Indian Students

The Maitri Scholars Program is the scholarship that Indian students researching scholarships for study in Australia should actually be looking at under the category of ‘Australian government scholarship.’

• Administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR), an Australian government initiative
• Open to Indian citizens pursuing a postgraduate research degree, master’s by research, or PhD in STEM-related fields
• Covers tuition, a stipend, and travel support
• Australian universities nominate candidates directly to CAIR rather than students applying through a single open portal

Sources: Centre for Australia-India Relations, Maitri Scholarships

Counselor insight: Since Maitri works through university nomination rather than direct application, your real first step is contacting the international office or a potential PhD supervisor at your shortlisted Australian university and asking directly whether they nominate candidates for Maitri.

Research Training Program (RTP): Open to Indian Students, No Country Restriction

The RTP is the largest source of government-linked funding actually available to Indian students seeking scholarships in Australia for research degrees, and it’s the one figure in this guide with a precise, officially published rate.

• Funded through Australian Government block grants distributed to universities, which then award RTP scholarships individually
• Open to citizens of every country, including India, for Master’s by Research and PhD programs
• The Department of Education’s own indexed rate table sets the full-time base stipend at AUD 34,315/year (₹23,47,150) for 2026, rising to AUD 35,550 (₹24,31,620) for 2027, with individual universities permitted to top up to a maximum rate of AUD 53,608 (₹36,66,790) in 2026 and AUD 55,537 (₹37,98,730) in 2027
• No separate application form at most universities; students are automatically considered upon applying for research admission

Sources: Department of Education, Research Training Program, RTP stipend rates table

Counselor insight: The gap between the base and maximum rate is real money, roughly AUD 19,000/year (₹12,99,600) at 2026 rates, so it’s worth asking each shortlisted university which rate they actually pay before assuming the government minimum is what you’ll receive.

University-Specific Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students

Every major Australian university runs its own scholarships, and unlike Maitri and RTP, most of these are open to Indian applicants for undergraduate and coursework study, not just research degrees.

Exchange rate used: 1 AUD = ₹68.40 as of September 2026. Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget. 

Counselor insight: The University of Melbourne confirmed on its scholarships page that its flagship undergraduate scholarship rate dropped from 25% to 20% fee remission starting with the 2027 intake, while the number of scholarships awarded increased to at least 225. Always check the specific intake year on the university’s own scholarship page rather than relying on a figure you saw for an earlier year.

Note: The respective universities’ official scholarship pages provide the scholarship details and benefits. Availability, eligibility, award value, and intake-specific terms can change, so students should verify the latest details on the university’s own website before applying. 

Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students: Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility varies by scholarship, but most Indian applicants applying for scholarships in Australia are assessed against a similar core set of factors.

• Academic record: The single most weighted factor across nearly every scholarship on this list
• English proficiency: IELTS or equivalent scores set by the specific university or program, generally in the 6.5-7.0 range
• Course and level of study: Some scholarships are undergraduate-only; others target master’s or PhD research candidates specifically
• Nationality: aAways confirm this individually. Maitri, RTP, and every university-specific scholarship above have no restriction that affects Indian applicants

Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students Application Calendar for 2027-28 Intake

How to Apply for Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students

• Start your research 12 to 18 months ahead. Scholarship cycles for Australian universities typically run well before the intake itself.
• Check automatic consideration first. Most coursework and many research scholarships need no separate application; you’re assessed the moment you apply for admission.
• Prepare English test scores early. Several scholarships set a higher IELTS/PTE bar than the course’s base admission requirement.
• Apply to more than one university. Comparing offers across Melbourne, Monash, Adelaide, and ANU is realistic since none of their scholarships require exclusivity at the application stage.
• For Maitri or RTP, contact a supervisor first. Both work through nomination or automatic research-admission consideration rather than a single open portal.

Which Scholarship in Australia Should You Actually Target?

1. If you’re applying for a PhD or Master’s by Research: RTP is your primary, realistic option among scholarships in Australia for Indian students, open to all nationalities with no separate application in most cases. If your research area is STEM and aligns with Australia-India priority sectors, also ask your target university about the Maitri nomination.
2. If you’re applying for an undergraduate or coursework master’s degree: Focus on university-specific scholarships like Melbourne’s International Excellence Scholarships or Monash’s International Merit Scholarship, since neither Maitri nor RTP applies to coursework study.

What to Do If You Don’t Get a Scholarship in Australia

• Reapply the following cycle with a stronger profile. Most university scholarships are available every intake, so a rejection this cycle doesn’t mean you can’t apply again later.
• Look at partial fee-remission scholarships even without a full award. A 20-50% reduction from a university-specific scholarship still cuts your total cost meaningfully.
• Consider an education loan for the gap. An education loan can cover up to 100% of tuition and living costs for study abroad if scholarship funding falls short.
• Revisit university and city choice. LeapScholar’s MS in Australia cost guide breaks down how tuition varies significantly between Go8 universities and mid-tier or regional institutions, which changes how much a partial scholarship actually covers.

3 Key Takeaways on Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students

• Focus on Maitri and RTP for research degrees and university-specific scholarships like Melbourne’s or Monash’s for undergraduate and coursework study.
• Skip Australia Awards and Destination Australia entirely. Neither applies to Indian applicants, so they’re not worth the preparation time.
• Apply broadly and early, since most scholarships in Australia for Indian students use automatic consideration tied to your admission timeline rather than a separate late-stage form.

Verified by: LeapScholar’s Australia counseling team, with experience guiding Indian students through university and government scholarship applications.

Have questions about scholarships in Australia? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students