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Applications for Australia Awards Scholarships commencing in 2026 close on 30 April 2025.

Applications for Australia Awards Scholarships commencing in 2026 are now open and will close on 30 April 2025.

Australia Awards Scholarships for Sri Lanka will be offered to undertake master’s degree study programs in the priority development sectors of;

  • Governance and Public Sector Management
  • Economic Development
  • Management, Business and Commerce
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Gender Equality
  • Disability and Social Inclusion
  • Climate Resilience and Adaptation
  • Stability and Inclusion including Health, Education, and Political Science.

Apply now for your opportunity to gain world-class education and become an emerging leader for development with strong links to Australia.

The application process is transparent and competitive, providing equal opportunity to all eligible applicants, regardless of gender, ethnicity or disability.

 

To apply:

  • Step 1: check your eligibility
  • Step 2: consider your goals and the development needs of your country
  • Step 3: research available university courses
  • Step 4: prepare required supporting documentation
  • Step 5: submit your application on OASIS.
  • Step 6: submit your application before closing date.

The application process

Want to learn more about the application process? This video will take you through some crucial steps.

Watch the video

To be eligible for an Australia Awards Scholarship, you must meet certain standards in English language proficiency, with the results valid as at 1 January 2026 (If an institution requires a different test validity timeframe, applicants must meet the institution’s requirements).

At minimum, you must have:

  • an IELTS (Academic) overall score of at least 6.5 with no band less than 6.0; or
  • a TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) score of at least 84, with a minimum of 21 in all sub-tests; or
  • a PTE Academic overall score of 58 with no communicative skill score less than 50.

Applicants working in the identified priority districts listed below, and applicants with a disability or those working in the disability sector, will be considered with an overall IELTS band score of at least 6.0 with no band less than 5.0 (or equivalent TOEFL or PTE score).

Special districts
Ampara Batticaloa Trincomalee
Jaffna Kilinochchi Mullaitivu
Mannar Vavuniya Anuradhapura
Polonnaruwa Badulla Moneragala
Puttalam Ratnapura Nuwera Eliya

Australia Awards – Sri Lanka will be conducting information sessions at various locations across Sri Lanka commencing in February 2025 for potential Australia Awards Scholarships applicants for study commencing in 2026.

Interested applicants can apply via the following link.

Register here.

Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia will conduct online course advice sessions for potential Australia Awards Scholarships applicants to learn more about Australian universities and courses via Zoom.

Register here to attend a course advice session.

Below is a video recording of the course advice session from 2023.

View documents here.

USEFUL RESOURCES
Name of the site Description 
Australia Awards information – Australian Government website This is the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) dedicated page about how to apply for an Australia Awards Scholarship.
OASIS (User Guide) Applications for Australia Awards Scholarships must be submitted online through DFAT’s Online Australia Awards Scholarships Information System (OASIS). The OASIS User Guide will help you through the application process.
Universities and Courses in Australia The Australian Government’s Study Australia website has everything you need to know about studying, living and working in Australia as an international student, including a course search tool to help you find and compare courses before making your choice.
List of Australia’s universities Australia is home to 42 universities. The Study Australia website lists them all, including links to each university’s own website, and provides a map that shows campus locations across all Australian states and territories.
Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) The Australian Government’s Department of Education maintains a register of all Australian education providers that offer courses to people studying in Australia on student visas, and the courses that each provider offers.
Scholarship applicants must meet the English language proficiency requirements specified by Australia Awards for their country. DFAT will accept results from any of the English language tests outlined at these links.
Department of Home Affairs (Student Visa: sub class 500) To study in Australia, you must hold a valid student visa (subclass 500). This page from the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs provides more information.

 

For further information, contact the Australia Awards office in Sri Lanka:

+94 113 509 900 – 02

+94 (0) 77 882 3309

inquiries@australiaawardssrilanka.org

List of Public Holidays 2025

 

Please be wary of false advertising and scams. Only refer to this website’s resources and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website here for information regarding the application process for Australia Awards Scholarships. No money is paid for an Australia Awards opportunity at any stage of the process.