Australian Development Scholarships

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) is a bilateral program within the Australian Scholarships initiative.
Australian Development Scholarships are a highly-valued form of development cooperation that aims to contribute to the long term development needs of Australia's partner countries to promote growth and stability.
They provide opportunities for people from developing countries to undertake full time undergraduate or postgraduate study in Australia.
Fields of study are targeted to address agreed priority human resource and development needs of recipient countries, in line with Australia's bilateral aid program.
Australian Development Scholarships equips scholars with the skills and knowledge to drive change and influence the development outcomes of their own country through obtaining tertiary qualifications at participating Australian higher education institutions and technical colleges.
Scholarship holders are required to return to their country of citizenship for two years after they have completed their studies to contribute to the development of their country.
Up to 1000 Australian Development Scholarships are awarded each year across 31 countries with scholarships awarded equally between men and women.

Categories of Australian Development Scholarships

There are two categories of Australian Development Scholarships:
Public sector: Applicants are public sector employees who are nominated by their governments for an Australian Development Scholarships award through a competitive selection process. Applicants are required to return to their role in the public service at the completion of their award in order to strengthen public service capacity in their home country.
Open/equity: Applicants do not need to be nominated by their government or employer. Anyone who meets the selection criteria may apply under this category. Applicants are required to return to their country of citizenship after the completion of their award to contribute to the development of the identified priority sector in their country.

Scholarship benefits

Australian Development 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. The following benefits generally apply:

• Return air travel - Payment of a single return, economy class airfare to and from Australia, via the most direct route. A reunion airfare may also be available to eligible students.
• Contribution to initial visa expenses
• Establishment allowance - A once only payment of A$5,000 as a contribution towards expenses such as rental bonds, text books, study materials, additional medical insurance, home contents insurance, excess baggage upon return home etc.
• Full tuition fees
• Contribution to living expenses - a fortnightly contribution to basic living expenses paid at a rate determined by AusAID. For all students who have received an Offer to start in Semester 1, 2007 the stipend is A$19,616 per annum (or $751.10 per fortnight).
• Introductory Academic Program (IAP) - A compulsory 4-6 week program prior to the commencement of formal academic studies covering information on life and study in Australia. See information on IAPs below.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the award (for award holder only) - provided to cover the student's basic medical costs.
  Pre-course English fees - if deemed necessary may be available for students for in-country and/or in-Australia training.
• Supplementary Academic Support (Tutorial Assistance) - May be available when essential to improving the student's performance to ensure their academic success
  Fieldwork (for research students only) - May be available for eligible research students for one return economy class airfare via the most direct route to their country of citizenship or within Australia.

Eligibility

Applicants for Australian Development Scholarships must satisfy both the general eligibility criteria and specific criteria established for each country . Applicants will also need to satisfy all requirements of the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

General eligibility criteria

Applicants must:
be a citizen of an ADS participating country [see below]
not hold Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent resident status (unless you are applying as a citizen of the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau)
not married to/or a defacto of, or engaged to, a person who holds or is eligible to hold an Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent resident status
not hold or have held an Australian government funded scholarship in the preceding 12 months at the time of application
satisfy any specific criteria established by the applicant's country and/or government of citizenship
satisfy the admission requirements of the Institution at which the ADS is to be undertaken
satisfy all requirements of the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Country specific criteria
In addition to the above general eligibility criteria, applicants must also meet specific eligibility criteria imposed by the Government of their country of citizenship. Country specific eligibility criteria are available from the Australian Diplomatic Mission in your country of citizenship, or from the relevant link below.

Eligible countries

You are only eligible for ADS if you are a citizen of one of the countries listed below. Enquiries about ADS should be made with the Australian Diplomatic Mission in your country of citizenship.
Please note that Diplomatic Missions in other countries or AusAID Offices in Australia cannot provide country specific information about the availability of scholarships.

Country of Citizenship/Contact/Country specific criteria

Bangladesh Dhaka Bangaldesh [PDF 39KB]
Bhutan New Delhi Bhutan [PDF 39KB]
Cambodia Phnom Penh Cambodia [PDF 26KB]
China Beijing China [PDF 35KB]
Fiji Suva Fiji [PDF 30KB]
Indonesia Jakarta Indonesia [PDF 23KB]
Kenya Pretoria Kenya [PDF 39KB]
Kiribati Tarawa Kiribati [PDF 22KB]
Laos Vientiane Laos [PDF 32KB]
Lesotho Pretoria Lesotho [PDF 39KB]
Malawi Pretoria Malawi [PDF 39KB]
Maldives Colombo Maldives [PDF 39KB]
Mongolia Beijing Mongolia [PDF 20KB]
Mozambique Pretoria Mozambique [PDF 39KB]
Namibia Pretoria Namibia [PDF 39KB]
Pakistan Islamabad Pakistan [PDF 39KB]
Papua New Guinea Port Moresby PNG [PDF 33KB]
Philippines Manila Philippines [PDF 28KB]
Samoa Apia Samoa [PDF 21KB]
Solomon Islands Honiara Solomon Islands [PDF 36KB]
South Africa Pretoria Africa [PDF 39KB]
Sri Lanka Colombo Sri Lanka [PDF 39KB]
Swaziland Pretoria Swaziland [PDF 39KB]
Tanzania Pretoria Tanzania [PDF 39KB]
Timor Leste Dili Timor Leste [PDF 33KB]
Tonga Nuku'alofa Tonga [PDF 30KB]
Tuvalu Suva Tuvalu [PDF 25KB]
Uganda Pretoria Uganda [PDF 39KB]
Vanuatu Port Vila Vanuatu [PDF 33KB]
Vietnam Hanoi Vietnam [PDF 38KB]
Zambia Pretoria Zambia [PDF 39KB]

Application process

There is usually one annual selection round in each country. Each Country Program has different selection processes and timelines. Further information on individual country processes can be obtained from the Australian Diplomatic Mission in the country of citizenship or from the link to contact information above.

Conditions of ADS

Applicants who are offered an Australian Development Scholarship will be asked to sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia declaring that they will comply with the conditions of the scholarship and in accordance with the ADS Manual, before the ADS comes into effect. Partner countries may impose their own separate conditions on the scholarship.
The most significant condition relating to the award of an ADS scholarship is that students are required to return to their country of citizenship for at least two years after completing their scholarship, to contribute to the economic and social development of their country. Failure to do so will incur a debt to the Commonwealth of Australia for the total value of the scholarship.
Australian Development Scholarship Handbook - revised April 2007
The Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) Handbook (formally called the Australian Development Scholarship Operational Manual) provides detailed information on all aspects of the program's operation including selection, processing and managing of ADS intakes commencing 2007. The Handbook is effective from 1 May 2007. Note that the Handbook may be revised and updated by AusAID at any time without notice.
See Australian Development Scholarship Handbook for 2007 [PDF 173KB]

Where can I study?

The following institutions will be able to receive ADS students commencing 2007. More information about these institutions and the courses available can be found at the Australian Course and Education Institution Search or Study in Australia [external websites]

From January 2007 (Semester One):

Australian Capital Territory
Australian National University
Canberra Institute of Technology
The University of Canberra
New South Wales
Charles Sturt University
Macquarie University
Southern Cross University
TAFE New South Wales
Hunter
Illawarra
North Coast
Northern Sydney
South Western Sydney
The University of New England
The University of New South Wales
The University of Newcastle
The University of Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney
The University of Western Sydney
The University of Wollongong
Victoria
Box Hill Institute TAFE
Chisholm Institute
Deakin University
Gordon Institute of TAFE
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE
Kangan Batman Institute of TAFE
La Trobe University
Monash University
Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE
RMIT University
Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology (TAFE)
University of Melbourne
Victoria University
William Angliss Institute of TAFE
Queensland
Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE
Bond University
Brisbane North Institute of TAFE
Central Queensland University
Gold Coast Institute of TAFE
Griffith University
James Cook University
Moreton Institute of TAFE
Queensland University of Technology
Southbank Institute of TAFE
Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE
The University of Queensland
The University of Southern Queensland
The University of the Sunshine Coast
Tropical North Institute of TAFE
Western Australia
Curtin University
Edith Cowan University
Murdoch University
TAFE Western Australia Education and Training International
The University of Notre Dame Australia
The University of Western Australia
South Australia
Flinders University
TAFE South Australia
The University of Adelaide
The University of South Australia
Northern Territory
Charles Darwin University
Tasmania
Australian Maritime College
The University of Tasmania

From June 2007 (Semester Two):

New South Wales
Australian Catholic University
Victoria
University of Ballarat

What can I study?

Australian Development Scholarships are generally available for full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study, from Certificate level to PhD at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions.
The number of scholarships and fields of study are determined annually by each ADS participating country and in accordance with the Australian Government's bilateral development assistance program.
Some countries may limit the level of study (technical, undergraduate or postgraduate) and give priority to certain fields of study to better meet development needs and Australia's specific aid objectives for each country.
Country specific information is available from the relevant Australian Diplomatic Mission or from the relevant contact link above.
Institution information kits
Once applicants have accepted an ADS offer and signed the contract with the Commonwealth of Australia, the relevant institution will provide each ADS student with an Institution Information Kit covering pre-departure information.
The pre-departure information provides details on areas such as the university and the student's course, reception information, climate details, local childcare and schooling options, long term accommodation, living costs, support services available, public transport options and contact details for the Institution.
Introductory Academic Program
Institutions are required to provide a compulsory Introductory Academic Program (IAP) of between 4-6 weeks duration to all ADS students after their arrival in Australia and prior to the commencement of their formal academic program. The IAP covers the following areas:
Living arrangements: study and life in Australia, accommodation options, budgeting and living costs, and assistance available to students facing difficulties adapting to their new environment
Academic matters: advice about academic and language skills and information about study requirements and options
Legal requirements and entitlements: information about welfare and health services, social adjustment activities, chaplaincy and prayer rooms, part-time employment services, and relevant State laws
Student Support Services for international students.

Accommodation

Institutions participating in the ADS scheme are required to meet new ADS students at the airport on arrival and take them to their initial accommodation. Institutions are also responsible for arranging accommodation for students and their families for the first seven days they are in Australia. Students are responsible for the cost of this accommodation, but institutions will try to find accommodation that is reasonably priced, with appropriate furniture and facilities. Students are responsible for finding and paying for their own long-term accommodation.
Information regarding dependants
Students wishing to bring family members to Australia must contact the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) directly to ascertain the current requirements for family entry. More information about DIAC's entry requirements and the visa process are available from the DIAC website [external website]. ADS students will be required to ensure all their dependants have medical insurance in place prior to their departure from their country of citizenship.
Students who bring family members to Australia are entirely responsible for their welfare, including all costs associated with visas, travel, medical, living, and schooling if applicable.
More information for international students living in Australia is available from the Australian government Study in Australia website.
See also Australian Development Scholarships Fact Sheet [PDF 97KB]