How to win Fully Funded Australian Scholarships (General Scholarship Requirements for Research Degree Programs-Masters/PhD)

We all think that Australia is one of the most expensive countries to study as an international student🙉. That was my thought also until I moved to Australia😌. Yes, it is expensive, but the availability of many scholarships put in place by the government, educational institutions and many other external organisations make it cheap for international students to study and live in Australia. In this particular post, we will advise, guide and provide you with tips you need to secure a full scholarship(research degree MSc/PhD) to study in Australia.

As we mentioned before in our previous posts, though there are thousands of scholarships available out there for all students, the most common found scholarships are for HDR (Higher Degree by Research)Students, that is Masters and PhD's by research. There are more scholarships available for the HDR programs than the postgraduate coursework degree programs (Read more here). So if you are a research student, then this post is for you. 

Below are some of the requirements you must meet or possess if you wish to secure a full time or even partial Masters or PhD research degree scholarship position to study in Australia. Here are 7 essential requirements that you must meet/have to secure Masters or PhD by research admissions and scholarships to study in Australia:

• 1 Working Experience/Professional Experience

 Most Postgraduate scholarships in Australia require you to have extensive professional or working experience, especially in relation to your field of study and publications. This is used to evaluate your research development skills. Possessing some of these skills gives you a plus advantage to secure a sponsorship for your studies as it's one of the highest requirements. Take note that these professional development skills must not only come from a particular job experience. It could be your experience as a university research assistant, intern or any form of work experience you gained which is relevant to undertaking a higher degree by research. Gain these skills, and gain an advantage in securing a scholarship today to study not only in Australia but any other country abroad. The requirements for research degree scholarships are the same in most countries abroad

• 2 Academic Background/Qualification

Most Australian scholarships require you to have a postgraduate degree with a significant research component. You must have done research projects, have some publications, and completed a thesis or dissertation with an overall high great point average(GPA). You must possess or show significant project management, methodological and analytical skills.

• 3 Research Skills (Some Publications)

 This is another relevant area where you must develop or must have developed if you wish to secure scholarships in Australia. Australian Postgraduate scholarships require a significant research skill relevant to undertaking your higher degree research. Apart from your thesis or dissertation, you must have done some projects and have some publications in high impact journals. At least one significant publication. Two, and above publication is already a sure path to secure any sponsorship. This outstanding research background is used to evaluate your methodological, analytical and project skills which are essential to securing sponsorship.

• 4 Relevant Research Proposal.

Most Postgraduate scholarships will depend on how significant and relevant is your research proposal to undertake a higher degree by research. They want to see those research skills I analysed above. For further details about the research proposals, read more here on how to Develop a good captivating research proposal. An exciting topic you might want to cover also is this "Research Proposal Guide for Successful Admission/Scholarship applications"

• 5 English Language Proficiency

 It is really hard to get any admission or scholarship in Australia without a significant score on your English Language proficiency test. Most scholarship requirements will want you to maintain at least an overall band 6 scores with no component below 6 for IELTS. Some will require  6.5 overall, with no component below 6. Others will require an overall score of 7, with no component below 6.5. To stay on the safe side, a band score of 6.5 overall with no component less than 6 is your ultimate goal. Keep in mind that the Australian Immigration office also requires an English language score during your visa application. Read in detail about  Australian student visa application process and requirements

• 6 Good recommendations letters from work or supervisors.

Good recommendation letters from your supervisors or workplace are essential to secure a scholarship to study in Australia. Preparing your referees months ahead before your scholarship application is the major tip we can recommend here. You must give them enough time, and try to remind them again from time to time before the final day to submit your application. They are busy people, you must put that in mind, so give them enough time so that they can be ready before the deal day. A good recommendation is a good chance to secure that scholarship. How to Contact a supervisor asking for recommendation letters.

• 7 Your Determination and Commitment

Pro-tips: Securing any type of scholarship abroad is not a day's work. It is not something you just wake up and do. You must be determined and committed. It takes days, months and even years to prepare. 

• Take your time, prepare your research proposal, contact potential supervisors, contact your referees, follow them up, and revise your application several times before submitting it.

Now that you know about the general scholarship requirements for research degree programs to study in Australia, what is stopping you from applying? Besides, the majority of Australia's scholarships for international students are application-free for research degree applicants. Here is a guide on how to apply for research degree scholarships Masters or PhD to study in Australia. You will equally find some detailed tips here on how to be successful with your applications.

Apart from hundreds of University scholarships available for international students, it is equally worth knowing that there are numerous  Australian government-sponsored scholarships to apply for as international students aiming to study in Australia. This includes but is not limited to  Australia Awards (AAS), Research Training Stipend Scholarships Programs (RTPS), Destination Australia etc... You can find more details for this on the List of Fully Funded Government and Institution sponsored Scholarships in  Australia for international students( Undergraduate/Masters/PhD/Short courses)

Here is another post you want to check "where to find scholarships to study in Australia". This post provides vital information about the various sources or search engines for international student scholarships to study in Australia. You have the opportunity to browse directly through the list of  Universities scholarship databases, and major Australian government scholarship databases for international students including other private organisations.

Most students don't know the difference between scholarship types such as research degree scholarships or postgraduate coursework scholarships. The criteria and application process for these scholarships are quite different. Read here in detail about these different types of scholarships abroad and which one you should apply for and how to apply.

Having been searching for scholarships abroad and you don't know where to start? Here is how to find a scholarship to study abroad. Learn the difference between finding a scholarship and getting a scholarship

Learn more about how to find and apply for a course to study in Australia in detail. For those interested in  postgraduate coursework degree scholarship programs or non-STEMS, you can check out the general requirements here and some available scholarships

If you are after undergraduate scholarships requirements, please refer here for general undergraduate scholarships requirements to study in Australia and how to apply 

Other related links mentioned in this post you should equally check:

• Fully funded scholarships(Undergraduate/Masters/PhD)
• Scholarships guides 
• List of Fully funded Government scholarships in Australia(Undergraduate/Masters/PhD/short courses)  
•  List of Australian Universities with no application fee
• Research Proposal Guide for Successful Admission/Scholarship applications
• General Master/PhD Scholarship Requirements for Australian Universities(Research Degrees)
• General Masters/PhD scholarship requirements Course degree programs
• General Undergraduate scholarship requirements

Don't hesitate to leave a comment below, tell us about your experience in applying for a scholarship abroad, your difficulties and how we can assist you if you need any help... 

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