Top Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students 2026

While Australia is preferred by many international students for its lower cost of studying as compared to that of the USA or the UK, the high overall expenses can still be a point of concern for many Indians. The great news is that the Australian government and universities realise the potential of Indian students, and hence, have designed numerous scholarships specifically for Indians.

In this guide, we will cover the maximum possible scholarships for Indian students to study in Australia in various graduate and undergraduate courses in different fields. Let us explore the award value, eligibility, exceptions, official website links, application process, and tips to make a strong application.

Government-Funded Scholarships for Indian Students in Australia

Scholarships to study in Australia can be funded either by the Indian government or by the Australian government. There are very few government-funded scholarships for Indian students in Australia. The handful of Australian government awards for Indians is listed below.

Maitri Scholars Program

This is one of the few government scholarships to study in Australia created explicitly for Indian students under the Australia–India relationship framework. It is funded by the Australian Government and administered through the Centre for Australia-India Relations. Participating Australian universities nominate qualifying and deserving Indian students.

Note: The Maitri Scholars Program has specific annual research themes, which favour Advanced Manufacturing and Critical Minerals. Hence, it is advisable to check your faculty's specific research priorities for the upcoming intake.

Destination Australia Cheung Kong Exchange Program

This is an official Australian government mobility scholarship programme that explicitly includes students from India. Not a full degree scholarship; the Destination Australia Cheung Kong Exchange Program is exclusively for short-term mobility/exchange programmes.

Beyond Australian aid, the Indian government provides substantial support for citizens heading to Australia. Popular funding programmes include the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS), which targets students from low-income backgrounds for Master’s and PhD courses, and the Agarkar Excellence Scholarship. Such Indian government scholarships to study abroad cover full tuition, airfare, and living stipends.

AECC Insider Tips for Government Grants in Australia

It is vital to mind the scholarship deadlines. The government award deadlines, such as the Australian Awards Scholarship (AAS), fall around April–May, while the university merit grants have a rolling or ongoing deadline based on your admission offer. For the 2027 intake, AAS applications closed on April 30, 2026; you should now prepare for the 2028 cycle starting in February 2027.

6-Month Scholarship Application Roadmap

Stick to the following six-month roadmap for the timely submission of a successful application, not just for scholarships, but also for the university and your Subclass 500 Student Visa in Australia.

AECC Expert Advice: Do not wait for the last minute to receive the admission offer from your university. Apply as early as possible to increase your chances of winning because the limited number of awards may fill fast.

Do not let funding barriers stop your global ambition. While government-funded awards like Maitri and NOS offer life-changing support, their selection criteria are incredibly rigorous. Whether you are targeting a PhD in Clean Energy or a Masters in Strategic Tech, our counsellors provide the strategic profile auditing you need to stand out. Register with AECC today to connect with our scholarship experts and begin your high-integrity application.

University-Specific Scholarships for Indians in Australia

While there are limited government-funded scholarships, numerous top universities in Australia offer scholarships explicitly designed to attract global students by region. Listed below are the popular university-specific scholarships specifically for Indians aspiring to study in Australia.

The University of Sydney: 3 Awards for Indians

The University of Sydney offers 28 annual awards under the Sydney Scholars India Scholarship Program.

#1 Dr Abdul Kalam International Postgraduate Scholarship

Named after the Missile Man of India, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, this award is especially intended to strengthen Australia–India educational collaboration.

#2 Sydney Scholars India Equity Scholarship (Postgraduate)

One of the rare Australian university scholarships, it exclusively combines India-specific eligibility and socio-economic equity criteria.

#3 Sydney Scholars India Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Indian citizens or residents with an unconditional offer of admission in any undergraduate course at the University of Sydney.

The University of Melbourne (UniMelb): 2 Awards for Indians

UniMelb offers several prestigious scholarships to support high-achieving Indian students, with two main options being the following.

#1 Melbourne India Postgraduate Academy Scholarships

This is a joint PhD scholarship for Indian candidates from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, Madras, Kanpur, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, in partnership with the University of Melbourne.

#2 Melbourne Business School: India Scholarship

The award is considered automatically for all Indians during their full-time MBA admission assessment.

UNSW Sydney: 2 Awards for Indians

UNSW Sydney offers two scholarships to high-achieving Indians who must submit a formal application and register for a scholarship account through the university’s official Apply Online portal.

#1 UNSW Sydney: Future of Change India Scholarship

The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) offers this Future of Change India Scholarship to high-achieving Indian students.

#2 UNSW Sydney: India Scholarships & International Student Award

UNSW has expanded India-focused recruitment and scholarship support and made this award combinable with other international student scholarships.

Master the art of the scholarship pitch. From the 500-word essay at UQ to the 'future of change' video submission at UNSW, your scholarship application is a high-stakes personal pitch. The majority of Indian students miss out on these outstanding funding opportunities simply because their SOPs lack the ‘social impact’ focus that universities in Australia offering scholarships crave. If you do not want to be one of those, let AECC give you 100% scholarship application support, including expert reviews of your essays and videos.

Deakin University: Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Program (India)

This is one of the strongest India-exclusive university scholarships currently available in Australia for Indians students.

Adelaide: Ashok Khurana Scholarship for Outstanding Indian Student

Previously offered by the University of Adelaide, this award will now be awarded by Adelaide University in collaboration with Professor Ashok Khurana. It has been designed for outstanding Indian students targets fields such as agriculture, education, health, and engineering to support academic excellence.

The University of Queensland: School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences Indian Scholarship

High-achieving Indian students of postgraduate coursework in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences can apply with a 500-word expression of interest, otherwise called as a Scholarship Essay/SOP.

Macquarie University: Early Acceptance Scholarship for Indian Students

Macquarie University’s Early Acceptance Scholarship has become increasingly aggressive with India-focused recruitment scholarships.

ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship – India

The Australian National University offers this award to Indian students based on their academic merit.

University of Wollongong: 3 Awards

The University of Wollongong offers three different kinds of scholarships to Indian students with the same criteria and requirements, but with different award values. No separate application is needed. All three scholarships are automatically considered for qualifying Indian students with strong academic performance enrolled in undergraduate courses and postgraduate programmes by coursework. These scholarships cannot be availed of by research students.

The details are as follows:

This list of Australia scholarships for Indian students is non-exhaustive. You may also refer to the common scholarships for international students in Australia, from which many Indians benefit, such as the Australian Awards Scholarship (AAS).

Your Australian journey starts with a winning strategy. The difference between a self-funded degree and a 100% scholarship is a single, well-timed application. With university caps tightening, early planning is your only advantage. Register with AECC and let the architects of international success design your roadmap.

AECC Insider: Australia Scholarship Reality Check for Indian STEM Aspirants

We have put together a reality check on the suitability and success factors of scholarships for Indians aspiring to study STEM courses in Australia.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) prioritises high-integrity students, which is best supported by the Genuine Student (GS) Statement. Whether a partial 10%-20% award, winning one serves as a massive quality marker on your Subclass 500 Visa application, significantly reducing the risk of visa rejection.

Seek editorial help? Get your application documents reviewed by experts. They can guide you not only in drafting your documents to fit the university and scholarship requirements but also help you polish your interview skills. Register with AECC now for free end-to-end support from university shortlisting and scholarship applications to visa guidance.

How to Apply for University Scholarships in Australia from India?

Applying for a scholarship in Australia involves several crucial steps. Here is a 5-step guide to help you through the application process:

• Research & Eligibility: Identify scholarships matching your field of study, location, and level. Check specific deadlines and requirements.
• Prepare Documents: Compile academic certificates (consolidated marksheet), English proficiency results, such as IELTS/TOEFL/PTE, a strong CV, reference letters, and an impressive scholarship essay/SOP.
• Apply for Admission: Apply to Australian universities, check for the scholarship application windows, and apply early.
• Submit Applications: Apply for multiple scholarships via university portals or specific platforms, like OASIS for government awards, before deadlines.
• Follow Up: Monitor email for interview requests and official results that are announced weeks after the closing date.

Australia Scholarship Application Document Checklist

• Copy of your valid passport
• Transcript certificate
• English scores of IELTS Academic, TOEFL, or PTE Academic
• Academic CV
• Letters of Recommendation (1-2 LORs)
• Scholarship Essay/SOP

Please note that your SOP for scholarship is different from your SOP for your Australian university application, as well as your SOP for Australian Student Visa application.

Sources & References

Bilateral & Government Education Frameworks

• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Centre for Australia-India Relations - official administrative directives establishing the Maitri Scholars Program, research theme priorities, and postgraduate eligibility parameters under the Australia-India partnership.
• Department of Education - Destination Australia Cheung Kong Exchange Program - statutory parameters defining short-term exchange grants, mobility conditions, funding allowances, and approved partner institutions.

Institutional Scholarship Registries

• The University of Sydney - Dr Abdul Kalam Scholarship Portal - entry score thresholds, engineering faculty prerequisites, and 50% coursework fee remission instructions for Indian applicants.
• The University of Sydney - India Equity Scholarship Registry - assessment matrices for socio-economic equity evaluations, the AU $100,000 funding cap, and coursework level conditions.
• The University of Sydney - Sydney Scholars India Scheme - full-tuition undergraduate award allocation limits, academic criteria, and unconditional offer validation mandates.
• The University of Melbourne - India Postgraduate Academy Registry - structural PhD collaboration frameworks with Indian IITs and IISc, tuition remission rules, and research living stipend guidelines.
• Melbourne Business School - MBA Scholarships Schedule - automated assessment protocols for full-time MBA applicants, academic criteria, and partial fee-credit tiers.
• UNSW Sydney - Future of Change India Portal - application guidelines for the AU $10,000 to AU $15,000 annual awards, video screening instructions, and academic merit tiers.
• UNSW Sydney - India Student Awards Matrix - rules for combining the 20% international student tuition fee reduction with secondary regional merit bursaries.
• Deakin University - Vice-Chancellors India Scholars Hub - merit assessment rules, full-ride coverage limits, and selection processes for the Changing Lives subcontinental initiative.
• Adelaide University - Ashok Khurana International Scholarship - post-merger 2026 guidelines defining the 50% tuition fee waiver, postgraduate coursework restrictions, and approved disciplines like Agriculture and Engineering.
• The University of Queensland - SCMB Scholarship Database - coursework eligibility limits for biotechnology and bioinformatics, 25% fee waiver execution instructions, and 500-word SOP criteria.
• Macquarie University - International Fee Grants Schedule - early acceptance timelines, automated AU $10,000 fee offsets, and coursework level conditions for Indian nationals.
• Australian National University - Chancellor International Funding Portal - academic merit filters, 25% long-term tuition reductions, and programme exclusions for flexible double degrees.
• The University of Wollongong - India Bursary - automated entry assessment rules for the 10% and 20% India Bursary tracks and Global Start fee reductions.
• The University of Wollongong - India Scholarship - scholarship eligibility and automated entry assessment rules for the 10% tuition reduction programme.
• The University of Wollongong - Global Start India Scholarship - entry assessment criteria supporting the 20% tuition scholarship for eligible Indian students.