Scholarships in Australia for Indonesian Students
A complete, updated list of scholarships available to Indonesian and other international students in Australia, organised by study level, with current 2026/2027 deadlines, eligibility, and coverage.
Plan your Australia scholarship application with expert guidance
What you'll learn in this article
Australia offers one of the most extensive scholarship ecosystems for international students globally, spanning government programmes, university-specific awards, and external funding. Indonesia specifically holds one of the largest allocations of Australia Awards Scholarships worldwide, reflecting decades of education cooperation between the two countries. This page lists what's genuinely available, organised by source and study level, with current application status so you're not chasing deadlines that have already closed.
Plan your Australia scholarship application with expert guidance
Government Scholarships in Australia
Government-funded scholarships are the most prestigious and comprehensive options, but they also run the narrowest, most competitive application windows. Two of the flagship programmes below have already closed for this cycle, worth knowing before you plan around them.
Australia Awards Scholarships
- Level: Undergraduate and postgraduate
- Coverage: Full tuition, return airfare, a Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) of AUD 29,710+ per year (approx. Rp 309,984,000/year), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and an Introductory Academic Program on arrival
- Eligibility: Citizens of eligible developing countries; Indonesia is one of the largest recipient allocations globally, minimum IELTS 6.0 overall for Master's, 6.5 for PhD
- Current status (as of August 2026): the 2027 intake closed 30 April 2026, 14:00 AEST. The next intake (2028) typically opens in February 2027
- The application section that matters most: for Indonesian applicants specifically, the Development Impact and Linkages Plan (DILP) is widely considered the single most important part of the application; it's where you articulate how your study will contribute to Indonesia's development. A generic or vague DILP is one of the most common reasons strong academic candidates get rejected; give it as much preparation time as your academic documents, not an afterthought
- Note: Indonesian applicants are automatically considered for the enhanced Australia for ASEAN (Aus4ASEAN) Scholarship benefits, including participation in the Indo-Pacific Emerging Leaders Program; no separate application is needed; this is folded into your standard Australia Awards application
- Not a fit if: you're unwilling to commit to the two-year home return condition; you must return to Indonesia for at least two continuous years after completing your scholarship before applying for any other Australian visa
Australia Awards Garuda
- Level: Postgraduate
- Coverage: Similar to standard Australia Awards benefits
- Eligibility: A newly introduced stream specifically for the 2026 intake, targeting high-achieving Indonesian applicants with demonstrated leadership potential in priority sectors
- Note: This is a genuinely new pathway, not yet widely covered elsewhere; check the official Australia Awards Indonesia website directly for the latest intake announcements
LPDP-Australia Awards Scholarships
- Level: Master's only (maximum 24 months duration)
- Coverage: Full tuition, living expenses, travel expenses, pre-departure English and academic preparation
- Eligibility: All eligible Indonesian citizens, a joint programme between Indonesia's LPDP and the Australian Government; priority fields include blue economy, green/renewable energy, digital technology (AI, semiconductors), food security, health, industrialisation, maritime, and advanced materials; minimum IELTS 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0
- Current status (as of August 2026): applications for the 2027 intake ran from 2 April to 4 May 2026 and have closed. The next cycle typically opens around March/April
- Not a fit if: you already hold a master's degree; this scheme is closed to you regardless of other qualifications. You must hold a bachelor's degree (S1) or four-year diploma (D4) without already having a master's
Research Training Program (RTP) / Australia Government Research Training Programme (AGRTP)
- Level: Master's and PhD (research-based)
- Coverage: Tuition fees, living stipend, research costs
- Eligibility: International research students, competitive, based on research proposal quality and academic record
- Not a fit if: You are pursuing a coursework Master's rather than a research degree. This is research-only funding; look to university-specific Master's scholarships instead
Western Australian Premier's University Scholarship
- Level: Undergraduate, postgraduate, and research
- Coverage: One-off payment of AUD 50,000 (approx. Rp 522,000,000) for tuition and university fees; PG research students at ECU may receive AUD 50,000 plus a 100% tuition fee scholarship for the full programme duration
- Eligibility: High-achieving international students in West Australian priority sectors
- Note: Confirm current intake status directly with the Government of Western Australia, as terms are reviewed periodically
Fully Funded External Scholarships in Australia
Beyond government and university funding, several private and organisational scholarships offer full coverage for specific fields or leadership profiles.
Rotary Peace Fellowships
- Level: Master's degree or Professional Development Certificate in peace and conflict resolution
- Coverage: Tuition, travel, living, and field study expenses
- Note: Confirm the current cycle's deadline directly with Rotary International; previous cycles have run on an annual basis
CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarship
- Level: PhD, in collaboration with CSIRO
- Coverage: 4-year scholarship valued at AUD 47,000/year (approx. Rp 490,740,000/year), project expenses, a development package of AUD 13,000/year (approx. Rp 135,720,000/year), and professional development training
- Note: Confirm current-cycle deadlines directly with CSIRO
ACIAR John Allwright Fellowship
- Level: Master's and PhD
- Coverage: Tuition, travel, living allowance, and research support
- Eligibility: Linked to the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research's development priorities
- Current status: The 2027 intake opened February 1, 2026, and closed April 30, 2026, alongside the broader Australia Awards cycle
Undergraduate Scholarships in Australia
University-specific undergraduate funding is where most Indonesian students will find the broadest, most accessible range of options. None of the government scholarships above (Australia Awards, LPDP-AAS, RTP) applies here; undergraduate funding runs entirely through individual universities.
| Scholarship | University | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship Scheme | University of Sydney | Up to AUD 40,000 (approx. Rp 417,600,000) towards tuition |
| International Undergraduate Scholarships | University of Melbourne | 100% tuition fee remission for the full course duration |
| Vice Chancellor's International Scholarship | Griffith University | 50% of tuition fees |
| Deakin Vice Chancellor's International Scholarship | Deakin University | 100% or 50% of tuition fees, based on eligibility |
| International Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship | Swinburne University of Technology | AUD 2,500 to 4,000/year (approx. Rp 26,100,000 to 41,760,000) |
Master's Scholarships in Australia
Postgraduate coursework funding at university level tends to combine tuition support with a genuine living stipend, worth checking both figures, not just the tuition line.
| Scholarship | University | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Research Scholarship | University of Melbourne | Full tuition waiver, living allowance of AUD 38,500/year (approx. Rp 402,090,000/year), relocation grant of AUD 3,000, OSHC |
| International Stipend Scholarship (USydIS) | University of Sydney | Full tuition, living allowance of AUD 40,000/year (approx. Rp 417,600,000/year) |
| Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship | Deakin University | 100% or 50% of tuition fees, based on eligibility |
| International Postgraduate Research Scholarship | Griffith University | Full tuition fees, OSHC |
| International Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship | Swinburne University of Technology | Up to 30% reduction in tuition fees |
MBA Scholarships in Australia
MBA-specific scholarships tend to run tighter, intake-aligned windows rather than fixed annual dates, and they assume you already meet the MBA programme's own admission bar. These scholarships won't substitute for missing prerequisites; most MBA programmes require a genuine business background or relevant work experience for admission in the first place.
| University | Scholarship | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| University of Sydney Business School | Future Leaders MBA Scholarship | Full tuition fee waiver |
| University of Queensland | MBA Student Scholarship (International) | Partial tuition fee waiver, amount varies |
| Monash University | Global Executive MBA Scholarships | AUD 10,000 (approx. Rp 104,400,000) |
| UNSW Business School (AGSM) | Full-Time MBA Scholarship | Full and partial tuition fee waivers |
| University of Sydney Business School | UN Women Australia MBA Scholarship | Full tuition fee waiver |
PhD Scholarships in Australia
PhD funding in Australia is genuinely strong; most research scholarships combine a full tuition waiver with an annual stipend for up to 3.5 years. One prerequisite before applying to any of these: you need a clear research proposal and, ideally, a willing supervisor already identified; that groundwork is central to every PhD scholarship on this list, not something to figure out after applying.
| Scholarship | University | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Research Scholarships | University of Melbourne | Full tuition waiver (up to 4 years), living stipend of AUD 38,500/year (up to 3.5 years), relocation grant of AUD 3,000, OSHC |
| Postgraduate Research Scholarships | University of Sydney | Stipend of AUD 40,109/year (up to 3.5 years), tuition fee scholarship, OSHC |
| Graduate School Scholarships (UQGSS) | University of Queensland | Stipend of AUD 36,400/year (up to 3.5 years), tuition fee waiver, OSHC |
| Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS) | Monash University | Stipend of AUD 30,000/year (up to 3.5 years), tuition fee waiver, relocation allowance up to AUD 2,000 |
| Tuition Fee Scholarship plus Research Stipend | UNSW Sydney | Tuition fee scholarship, stipend of AUD 38,438/year (up to 3.5 years), OSHC |
How to Apply for Scholarships in Australia
The process varies by scholarship source; government schemes run through centralised portals, while university scholarships are usually tied to your admission application.
- Identify which category (government, university, or external) fits your study level and field.
- Confirm the current application window directly; several flagship government scholarships (Australia Awards, LPDP-AAS, ACIAR) follow the same February-to-April cycle each year.
- Prepare documents: academic transcripts, English proficiency scores, personal statement, and, for research scholarships, a research proposal.
- Apply through the correct portal; government scholarships (OASIS for Australia Awards, LPDP's own portal for LPDP-AAS) differ from university-specific application systems.
- Submit well before the deadline; government application systems experience heavy traffic and slowdowns in the final days before closing.
Tips to Apply for Scholarships in Australia
A few practical details that genuinely improve your odds, beyond just meeting the basic eligibility criteria.
- Track the annual cycle, not just one deadline. Australia Awards, LPDP-AAS, and ACIAR all follow a similar February-to-April window each year; if you've missed this cycle, mark your calendar for the same period next year rather than assuming you've lost the opportunity entirely.
- Treat your DILP or study proposal as seriously as your academic documents. For Australia Awards and LPDP-AAS especially, this is where applications are genuinely won or lost; connect your intended field explicitly to Indonesia's national development priorities (blue economy, renewable energy, digital technology, and food security are current focus areas) rather than writing generically.
- Don't underestimate the English requirement. LPDP-AAS specifically requires 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, a higher bar than many university-level scholarships; start your preparation early if this applies to you.
- Understand the return-service condition before committing. Australia Awards carries a genuine two-year home return requirement before you can apply for other Australian visas; this is a real commitment, not a formality; factor it into your longer-term plans.
- Check whether stipend figures are current. Many university PhD and Master's stipends listed online reference a specific year's rate (e.g. "2025 rate"); these are typically adjusted annually; confirm the current figure before budgeting around it.
Minimum Requirements Before You Apply
Rather than a generic checklist, here's what actually gets checked first across most Australian scholarships, and where Indonesian applicants specifically tend to fall short if they're not prepared.
- English proficiency thresholds are scholarship-specific, not universal: Australia Awards requires IELTS 6.0 overall for Master's and 6.5 for PhD; LPDP-AAS requires 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, a noticeably higher bar. Check the exact scholarship's requirement, not a general "Australia" benchmark.
- Government scholarships (Australia Awards, LPDP-AAS, RTP) are postgraduate-focused: if you're applying at undergraduate level, these three are not options for you regardless of your academic record; go straight to university-specific undergraduate scholarships instead.
- A prior master's degree disqualifies you from LPDP-AAS specifically: this is a hard eligibility line, not a competitive disadvantage; confirm this doesn't apply to you before investing time in the application.
- Nationality-specific access: Australia Awards Garuda and LPDP-AAS are both built specifically for Indonesian citizens; standard Australia Awards is open to Indonesia alongside dozens of other eligible developing countries.
- A development-impact narrative isn't optional for government scholarships: both Australia Awards and LPDP-AAS explicitly evaluate how your study connects to Indonesia's development priorities; this needs to be a genuine, specific part of your application, not a box-ticking afterthought.
Tracking which scholarships are genuinely open right now and building an application that speaks directly to what each scheme prioritises, particularly the DILP for Australia Awards, is where most students either succeed or lose valuable time. AECC's counsellors follow these deadlines and eligibility changes directly and can help you build a shortlist and a genuinely competitive application, all at no cost to you.
Scholarships in Australia for Indonesian Students FAQs
Here are the questions Indonesian students ask us most often about Australian scholarships.
Yes, genuinely and substantially. Indonesia holds one of the largest allocations of Australia Awards Scholarships globally, and LPDP-Australia Awards and Australia Awards Garuda are both built specifically for Indonesian citizens, alongside broad access to university-specific scholarships.
Yes. Australia Awards, LPDP-AAS, and several university scholarships (like the University of Melbourne's International Undergraduate Scholarships) cover full tuition, and Australia Awards additionally cover airfare, living expenses, and health cover.
Most programmes and scholarships require IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE Academic, with government scholarships setting specific thresholds (LPDP-AAS requires 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0; Australia Awards requires 6.0 for Master's, 6.5 for PhD). Some universities accept alternative proof of English-medium prior education; confirm directly with your target institution.
This changes throughout the year. As of August 2026, Australia Awards, LPDP-AAS, and ACIAR's John Allwright Fellowship have all closed their 2027 intake (which ran February to April/May 2026), with the next cycle typically opening around the same window in early 2027. University-specific scholarships often run on rolling or intake-aligned schedules. Check directly with AECC or the provider for current status.
Studying in Australia doesn't grant PR automatically, but it's a genuine pathway. Most graduates apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after completing an eligible course, then work toward permanent residency through skilled migration (subclass 189, 190, or 491) or employer sponsorship, based on points, skills assessments, and occupation demand. This is a substantial, separate topic from scholarships specifically, worth a dedicated conversation with a migration-focused advisor once you're closer to graduation.
No, PR pathways genuinely require proof of English proficiency. Most skilled migration visas (189, 190, 491) require a minimum "Competent English" level, and higher scores (Proficient or Superior English) earn additional points toward the points test. IELTS isn't the only accepted test (PTE and TOEFL are also recognised), but some form of English proficiency evidence is unavoidable for PR.
This varies significantly by university and field; vocational and diploma-level courses at TAFE institutions tend to cost less than university bachelor's degrees, while healthcare, engineering, IT, and construction are currently the most in-demand fields tied to Australia's skilled migration priority lists.
No courses are genuinely free by default. Australia doesn't offer tuition-free study the way Germany does for its public universities. What can make a course effectively free is a full scholarship; Australia Awards, LPDP-AAS, and several university awards cover 100% of tuition, so "free" in Australia's context comes through scholarship coverage, not a structural tuition policy.
Both have genuinely comparable overall costs when tuition and living expenses are combined; the specific answer depends heavily on your chosen city, university, and course, rather than one country being universally cheaper.
Not as a widely established, dedicated category, but most structured scholarship programmes (Australia Awards, LPDP-AAS, university scholarships) apply at the undergraduate level and above. If you are exploring options at the high school level specifically, this is worth a direct conversation with AECC, since opportunities here tend to be less standardised and more institution-specific.
Trusted Expertise
About the Author
Published and reviewed by AECC counsellors who guide students through every step of their study-abroad journey.
Published by Joel Noronho
Australia & New Zealand Education Specialist | 20 Years Advising Students from India
Joel Noronho has spent over 20 years advising students from Karnataka and Kerala on study in Australia and New Zealand. A large proportion of the students he works with are thinking about permanent residency from the outset, not as a distant possibility but as the primary reason for choosing a particular course or university in the first place.
That means Joel spends a lot of time explaining things that standard course guides do not cover. How the ANZSCO code for a particular occupation affects post-study work eligibility, which courses on the Core Skills Occupation List are currently most viable for students from India, and how changes to the points test affect the value of a degree from a regional university versus a capital city institution. This is knowledge that takes years to build.
Joel writes about Australian and New Zealand universities the way a counsellor who has seen hundreds of post-graduation outcomes would, with an honest assessment of which pathways tend to work for students from India and which ones look better in the brochure than they do in practice. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is based at AECC's offices in Karnataka and Kerala.
