Australia Scholarship Guide 2026: From 100% Full Rides to Automatic Tuition Discounts

Australian universities offer some of the world's most generous scholarships for international students, but the system is notoriously confusing. Some scholarships require extensive applications, while others are awarded automatically based on your grades. Some cover everything, while others chip away at tuition costs.

Here's what most students don't know: you could be leaving lakhs on the table simply because you don't know which scholarships exist or how to access them. We've decoded the entire Australian scholarship landscape for 2026, organizing every major opportunity by funding level so you know exactly what to target.

Level 1: The "Full Ride" (100% Tuition + Living Stipend)

This is the ultimate scholarship tier. Highly competitive but offering complete funding, these are designed for exceptional research candidates and top undergraduate students.

Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)

• What You Get: 100% tuition fee waiver, living stipend of approximately AUD 35,000 per year (tax free), and health cover.
• Who's Eligible: Top tier Indian students applying for research based Master's or PhD programs.
• How to Apply: Most universities (Melbourne, ANU, Sydney) automatically assess you when you apply for your research degree. No separate application needed.

Maitri Scholarships Program

• What You Get: Fully funded PhD scholarship covering tuition, living expenses, and research support from the Australian Government.
• Who's Eligible: Indian PhD students with research focus in STEM fields like Clean Energy or Agribusiness.
• How to Apply: Separate formal application through the government grants portal.
• Deadline: January 14, 2026

Deakin Vice Chancellor's International Scholarship

• What You Get: Either 100% or 50% tuition fee waiver for coursework students.
• Who's Eligible: Exceptionally high achieving Bachelor's or Master's (coursework) students.
• How to Apply: Requires separate application demonstrating academic merit and leadership.

Level 2: The "Half Price" Merit (50% Tuition)

These scholarships target high performing students (90%+ marks) in coursework degrees. More common than full rides but still competitive.

Griffith Remarkable Scholarship

• What You Get: 50% reduction in tuition fees for your entire program duration.
• Who's Eligible: Outstanding students applying for Bachelor's or Master's (coursework) programs.

Level 3: The "Automatic" University Waivers (15 to 40%)

This is the most important category for most Indian students. These partial scholarships are automatically awarded based on your grades when you apply. No extra application needed.

• University of Sydney (Vice Chancellor's Scholarship): Up to AUD 60,000 tuition waiver
• University of Queensland (UQ International Excellence): 25% tuition reduction
• University of Tasmania (TIS): 25% tuition reduction
• RMIT University (Future Leaders Scholarship): 20% tuition reduction
• UNSW Sydney (International Student Award): 15% tuition contribution
• Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship: 25% fee remission

Level 4: The "Strategic" Grants (Fixed Cash Amount)

These scholarships provide fixed dollar amounts annually, often tied to specific government or university initiatives.

Destination Australia Scholarship

• What You Get: AUD 15,000 per year (approximately ₹8.5 lakhs) for tuition and living costs.
• The Strategy: Encourages students to study in regional Australia, including major affordable cities like Perth, Adelaide, and Gold Coast.
• How to Apply: Apply directly through participating universities.
• Deadline: Late November 2025 for 2026 intake

Monash Award

What You Get: Fixed amounts under Monash International Merit Scholarship (AUD 10,000 per year).

Level 5: The "Hidden" Departmental Scholarships

This is the insider tip most students miss. These scholarships are funded by specific faculties and rarely appear on main university websites.

What They Are: Grants for students in specific fields like MBA, Law, Engineering, or IT.

How to Find Them: Visit the scholarships or fees page of your specific faculty website (e.g., Melbourne Business School, UNSW Faculty of Engineering).

Examples:

• MBA: Melbourne Business School Dean's Scholarships or AGSM Global Reach Scholarship at UNSW
• Tech: CSIRO Data61 PhD Scholarships for data science students
• Law: University of Queensland Law Scholarship

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. I'm applying for a PhD. What scholarship should I target?

You have two main opportunities.

• First: The Research Training Program (RTP), a fully funded scholarship (tuition + stipend). Most top universities automatically consider you when you apply for your research degree.
• Second: If your PhD is in STEM fields like Clean Energy or Agribusiness, complete a separate application for the Maitri Scholarship before January 14, 2026.

Q. My grades are good (80 to 90%+). Are scholarships automatic?

It depends on the scholarship type.

• Automatic: Universities like Queensland, UNSW, and RMIT automatically offer 15 to 25% tuition waivers for good grades. No extra application required.
• Separate Application: High value scholarships like Deakin's 100% scholarship or Griffith's 50% scholarship require dedicated applications.

Q. What is the Destination Australia scholarship? Is it hard to get?

It's strategic rather than difficult. It provides AUD 15,000 annually to students studying in regional designated cities, including major centers like Perth, Adelaide, and Gold Coast. Apply directly to participating universities, but act fast as deadlines close in late November 2025.

Q. I'm applying for MBA, Law, or IT. Are there hidden scholarships?

Yes. These are the most overlooked opportunities. They don't appear on main scholarship pages. Go directly to your specific faculty website (Melbourne Business School, UNSW Faculty of Engineering) to find departmental scholarships other applicants miss.

Ready to Secure Your Scholarship?

Deadlines for Destination Australia and Maitri are approaching fast. Don't navigate this complex system alone.

Connect with a Leap Scholar expert today to build a strategy that matches your academic profile to the highest value scholarship you qualify for.